ConnectDirect Guide
June 10, 2010 by Jon Ciampi · Leave a Comment
Your Preptel ConnectDirect Guide
Is your job search energy level running low? Has the job board runaround left you dry? Charge up your job search with ConnectDirect! ConnectDirect will get your resume and your career connected to the referral and information resources you need. With ConnectDirect, you’ll get plugged into the social networking world, and be introduced to company insiders who can get you and your resume noticed. Networking is the most effective way to find a job. Let ConnectDirect turn up the power on your job search today!
Preptel’s ConnectDirect turns social networking into that powerful job search tool you keep hearing about. Preptel’s FREE ConnectDirect Guide introduces you to the most effective job-search social networking possibilities. Our Membership ConnectDirect will introduce and recommend you to the hiring and employment representatives that can move your resume to the Top 10 stack. Unlock the power of employee referrals in your job search now. Move your job search and your career network forward with ConnectDirect.
The FREE ConnectDirect Guide
You know the secret; you know there’s a big beautiful world of job networking out there, just waiting to be turned into hot new interviews and opportunities. Unfortunately, knowing that networking is a fundamental key to job-search success is not the same as knowing how to get it to work for you. That’s where Preptel’s FREE ConnectDirect Guide comes in. Learn how your social media and networking connections can get you great job-search results with this FREE ConnectDirect Guide.
What you’ll get with Preptel’s FREE ConnectDirect Guide
- Summaries of the most popular social media and networking sites that will help you decide which approach is right for you.
- Strategy guidelines for working with your networking connections.
- Tool templates to help you make introductions, get support from your fellow friends and connections and gain valuable referral sources.
Preptel’s Membership ConnectDirect Services
When you become a Preptel Member you’ll get connected to hiring managers and employees who can directly impact your job search.
- Meet the right people – people who will help you on the road to your new job.
- Grow your professional network with our powerful Preptel ConnectDirect social networking tools.
- Enjoy the many insights and applicant assistance resources made available to you through Preptel’s exclusive ConnectDirect company partner relationships, including:
- Search , Interview & Hire Mentoring
- Insight Company Reports
- Full position keyword disclosures
- Contacts and internal network connections
- Assistance from Preptel Job Search and Interview Experts to help you make the professional connections you need
- Preptel Quality-Assured Applicant status
- Direct introductions to an extensive hiring network
Make sure your job search techniques are up-to-date.
Best Networking tips for 2010
Even though about 80% of all jobs are found through networking, developing a professional network is not about looking for a job. It’s about creating professional resources for information, referrals, expertise and collaboration that last well beyond your current job search. Networking offers long-lasting benefits, and exponentially increases your exposure to people who need your talent.
So, what are your specific talents? You’ll need to be able to succinctly tell the world about your “product” – that’s you! What do you do; why are you unique or different; where have you provided your services or talents, and what was an outcome? A 30-second “elevator speech” is the first tool you’ll need to develop your network.
Your 30-second “elevator speech” can be derived by working with your keyword statements in the Preptel Resume Writer & Resumeter Guide
Once you’re armed with your elevator speech, you’ll need to get out and meet people. The easiest place to start is with family and friends. Talk with former work associates, PTA parents, school contacts, and fellow church members. Consider volunteering at events and community meetings to expand your pool of networking possibilities.
Research your career field or a particular industry you’re curious about, and find out about professional associations and professional clubs in the field. Many of these groups have monthly networking meetings you can attend. If you’re drawing blanks, start with your Chamber of Commerce monthly business mixer. Your local college or university can provide additional sources for discovering events and activities. (Excellent sites to help build your network)(www.meetup.com, www.workit.com ) And while you’re out there, don’t forget to inquire whether your new networking acquaintances are on any of the popular social networking sites!
People love to talk about themselves, but to be a good networker, you’ll need to be an interested listener too. Keep conversation focused and simple; frame your conversation around 3 specific networking questions and be prepared with your own responses as well:
- What do you do?
- How long have you been doing it?
- What did you do before?
Try to keep conversations under 5 minutes. Your ultimate goal is to gain more time with people who can add to your resource network, so remember to close your conversation with more than just a business card exchange. Be sure to ask when and how you can contact them again. “Can I phone you this week?” “I’d love to get together again and see if we can connect each other with some of the great folks we know!” are perfect closing remarks for your new networking partners.
Email address and/or URL:
Over the last several years, email addresses have become an important, if not mandatory, job search tool. Many employers are no longer set up to accept paper resumes! Email also provides a quick and efficient way to communicate with employers, recruiters, personal and social networks. You must have an email address to sign up and register on job sites, job boards, and social networking sites. Although you really need a phone number too, you can almost get by without one if you have an email address!
| If you don’t have a personal email account, it’s time to set one up today!
Visit this link site: http://email.about.com/od/freeemailreviews/tp/free_email.01.htm to check out a number of free email services, or find an email service on your own. Just remember a few important things about your email:
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Social Network Memberships (Linked-In, Facebook, etc…)
It’s a fact; the best way to find a job is through networking. Networking can take on the traditional forms; networking meetings, friends, friends of friends, and people you meet through informational interviews, at trade and job fairs and other types of networking events. In addition to the traditional networking methods of meeting and sharing or passing on resources, today’s social media networking can be a great way to reach people you might never be introduced to through other channels. Social media networking is proving to be a great way to find possible networks for jobs. Several research organizations find that social networks allow you to better search for and reach your job search target.
There are a few things to consider when you’re signing up for a social networking site. Remember it will take time to build your network! Most sites don’t allow you to randomly approach strangers, so people have to “approve” your requests to connect. Many sites aren’t just for job hunting and building professional connections so you will have to wade through a lot of viral marketing and “games” and stay focused on why you’re there. Before you start “friend-ing” people from your high school days or the last party you attended, ask yourself if these people are really important enough in your present life or job search to add them to your contact lists. You can always add them later when your job search is completed and you have more time and focus for real social schmoozing. Some sites feature ways you can group your contacts into separate lists that will help keep them organized and off your front page, but remember, connecting with folks takes time, so choose wisely how you spend yours while you’re searching for a job!
LinkedIn: On LinkedIn you can connect to people you know, see profiles of literally millions of professionals, and take advantage of both free and premium services that are specifically designed to enhance your professional network.
- Company Search – Connections to people you know, or with a premium fee of $30 per month, you can connect to others too.
- Job Postings – Job posts and possible connections to the people and companies they’re for.
- Email – When I was first laid off, I sent a large email to everyone in my LinkedIn network, letting them know of my situation, and asking for any help or people they could put me in touch with.
- Blog Link – LinkedIn now gives you the ability to link your blog post to your profile. New blog posts appear on your profile, and in the weekly update emails that go out to your connections.
- Twitter Link – Similar to Blog Link, LinkedIn also pulls your conversations from Twitter. So, anyone who is not on Twitter, can see what you are tweeting about.
The trick to using social networking sites in your job search lies in establishing a network of people you know, then, once you have 20-30 “connections” search for company information and connections – you’ll get a list of people who work at the company who know your friends, and connections are easier once you know someone in context. It’s also easier to get “strangers” to join you network if you come with a social introduction.
Twitter: One part social networking, one part worldwide chat, Twitter is one of the fastest growing phenomena in the world. A mini-blogging service that lets you update your friends on what you are doing at that moment, Twitter was launched in late 2006 and had explosive growth in 2007.
Facebook: Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was designed as a social networking site for Harvard students. It now connects millions of “friends” all over the world, and has surpassed the other sites as the most popular social media network. Facebook is designed for business and professional networking, but know that while it is an incredibly effective professional tool, you’ll be bombarded with lots of games, viral marketing and other, perhaps, unwanted and obtrusive applications. Security has gotten better in 2009-2010, but be sure to monitor your settings for the best results.
Noddle Place: A community of job-seekers helping one another in their search for job placement — providing a social network just for job-seekers, as well as providing resources on how to use other networking sites, like LinkedIn and Twitter. No cost to job-seekers.
Squidoo.com: A social bookmarking site, this site gives users a chance to showcase expertise in one or more areas by creating knowledge pages, called lenses. Of course, you’re called a lensmaster. Using this site gives you a chance to showcase your knowledge and link and promote your site.
Once you’ve decided who you’d like to approach on these networks, you’ll want to figure out the best way to do so. Typically, you’ll need a referring source to be able to connect direct with people, but with a little ingenuity and exposure on your social networking site, you’ll be able to make a surprising number of connection in no time! Try checking into special site events and discussions that are meant for people to connect with each other. And get used to letting people know that you’ve joined the social networking crowd!
Social Networking Tools to Use:
Linked In Companies:
Even a basic member on Linked-In can access valuable information about a company. Topics available include profiles and links to new hires, recently promoted employees, and popular profiles, along with information about the company, stock performance and Career Path info created from following before and after Linked-In member profiles.
Squidoo
Sqidoo offers a way for creative expression to pave your way to social and professional introductions.
Sample Cover Letter/Email for Social Networking Introductions
How can you approach someone you don’t know about acting as a company referral for your job?
Start with this sample Cover Letter for your first approach.
About Jon Ciampi