The document provides strategies for people returning to the job hunt after a long absence. It discusses how job searching has changed significantly with the rise of technology and social media. Myth #1 is that the old ways of searching, like newspapers and mailings, still work when in fact employers now use keywords and social media to screen candidates. Myth #2 is that searching is too difficult, when it mainly requires learning new digital skills. Myth #3 is that employers will accept you as you are, when you need to market your strengths and work on weaknesses. The final myth is that searching is a one-time thing, but people now change jobs every 3-5 years so an active search is a lifelong process.

1. Getting Back to the Job Hunt
Survival strategies for people who are
back in the job hunt after a long time.
By Kathleen Smith
CMO, ClearedJobs.Net

2. 4 Myths of Job Search

3. Myth #1
I can do it the way I
have always done it

4. A long time ago in
a galaxy far away…
A job search included….
Printed newspaper ads
Mailing or faxing a
resume
Calling on a landline
and speaking with
someone
Networking
And you more than
likely stayed in that job
for at least 5-10 years….

5. Today’s job search
You are found by keywords
Technology will control your access
to employers and their access to
you
Social media is not used by just
your kids, it is used by employers
to check up on you
You will change jobs every 3-5
years
However, networking is still very
important an d the key way to find
a job… you just have to leverage
the tools to support your
networking.

6. The many tools to the job
search….
Before it was just answering
advertisements and
networking…
Now it includes a variety of
tools and avenues…
Job boards
Job Fairs
Social and business networking
Online and offline networking
Blogging and self promotion
Employee referral programs

7. Myth #2
It’s hard, I can’t do it

8. Learning new skills…
Many of the same skills
you use now … project
management, multi
tasking and adapting to
new skills….
You will use of these skills
now in your job search
Introspection is always
difficult

9. Myth #3
They are just going to
have to like me the way
I am

10. You may not think
you need to do these
things…
The lack of information or
the wrong information is
going to hinder your job
search
Your reputation is already
established by our
colleagues, supervisors and
clients
How are you going to
market reputation?
Do you know what your
reputation “truly” is?

11. You might have to do a
SWOT analysis on “You”….
Strengths……
Skills, abilities, clearance, SME
Work style
Network
Weaknesses…..
Do you need more .edu or certs?
Holes in your network?
Opportunities…
Learning new skills
Ability to move
Threats……
Does your image need an overhaul?
Limited skill set?

12. Myth #4
Once I get a job, I won’t have
to do this “stuff” again….

13. Job Search is the New Career….
Every 3-5 years you will be looking for a new job.
Professionals will on average change careers 11
times.

15. Changing Your
Thinking
This is a life search not
just a job search –
who you are,
what you have to offer,
what you want,
how you are going to
package yourself
This will be an evolving
project
Making technology your
friend

16. Implementing New Tactics
Developing content for your
resumes, profiles and
networking
Thinking of your skills in terms
of keywords for your resumes,
your profiles and your searches
Developing ( or reviving your
network) and “working” it
online and offline
Doing research through your
networks to find out about
companies, contacts and job
postings

17. Promoting Yourself
Self promotion once thought of
an ego maniac pursuit, is now
at the crux of a job search
Packaging yourself – email, cell
phone, resume, profiles
Clearing up or cleaning up bad
credit or bad juju in your career
past.
Yes, you will have to upload a
picture

18. Finding New Sources of
Job Postings
Job Boards
Corporate Career Sites
Trade Associations
LinkedIn Groups
Job Fairs
Networking events

19. Ways to Use LinkedIn to
support your career
search and development
Crafting your Profile properly
which means:
Picture & Summary
List accomplishments
Blog, twitter, website
Update at least monthly,
more so if in an active search
Status Updates – 2-3 times a
week
Your Network – 500+

20. LinkedIn – How You
Connect with Others
Your network is part of your brand
Personalizing and customizing your
invitations
Providing recommendations for
current and previous co-workers
Groups for networking and job
postings
“Like” ing posts, commenting, being
an active part of the community
Following companies, organizations

21. Use Facebook to support your
career search
Active user of Facebook?
Be sure to set up the lists of people you
share information with between your close
BFFs and the general public;
Fill out your profile similar to your resume if
you are in an active search
Not on Facebook?
Set up a minimum profile to be able to
communicate and be found
“Like” companies, organizations ,
government agencies
Be part of key trade association groups in
the industry

22. Use Twitter to support your
career search
Customize your “bio” to include your
skills & info recruiters to search
Follow companies that you are
interested in and/or their job posting
feed
Follow/ connect with recruiters &
SME’s in your industry
Gather information on key topics,
comment on it and share with your
network
Quality not quantity

23. "You can make more friends
in two months by
becoming interested in
other people than you can
in two years by trying to
get other people interested
in you.“
Dale Carnegie, How to Win
Friends and Influence People

24. Thank you!
Kathleen Smith
ClearedJobs.Net