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TweetMyJobs, and Follow Up Advice for Job Seekers

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TweetMyJobs was created and formed in 2009 during the worst economic downfall since the depression. Gary and Lauriana Zukowski leveraged Twitter to help job seekers get the competitive advantage quicker than the job board that were on the market. Steve Levy is an industry leader and mentor in the career recruiting space, who stated the obvious in our conversation, “job seekers, follow-up so you won’t fall behind in your job search.”

TweetMyJobs, a division of CareerArc Group, is the leading social and mobile recruitment and job distribution network matching job seekers with employers. Gary Zukowski (@GaryZukowski) is the co-founder (along with his wife, Lauriana) of TweetMyJobs launched in 2009. The Zukowskis found a way to leverage Twitter to deliver job leads to users, and create a competitive advantage to most of the current job boards. Gary has been seen on CNN, MSNBC, and Tweet My Jobs is often featured on “best of ” career site lists.

Here are some of the highlights of our conversation:

The company was started in 2009, and Gary shares the story of how he and Lauriana started the company in the middle of the Great Recession
Since Twitter is considered a public domain, and more searchable than most of the other social media platforms, was easiest to build job channels to serve job seekers
We discussed how the acquisition of TweetMyJobs by the CareerArc Group brought access to other resources such as internships.com and brilliant technology personnel and eventually opened the door to power jobs to cities as a platform like Atlanta, Newark, and Houston.

Steve Levy (@levyrecruits) is self-described as an “Old School”/”New Cool” Player-Coach-Strategist who recruits to retain, and mentors recruiters to think and perform better as well as employees at all levels to become Talent Scouts. I wanted to discuss follow-up with Steve inspired by his article on YouTern’s, The Savvy Intern Blog, “The Best Rule EVER for Following Up: Promised Plus 1.” During our conversation, I quoted from his article as a good model for following up with a recruiter:

““Steve, while I’m certain you’re the busiest person at XYZ Company, I’m very much interested in becoming the second busiest person there – if not the first. So I’m calling now to follow-up. For me to become the second (if not the first) busiest person at XYZ, I need to hear from you. I can be reached at…”

Other highlights from our conversation:

Steve says that it is not good business if you do not follow-up shortly after an interview with the recruiter
We also discuss that the lack of follow-up says something about the job seeker’s confidence
Picking the phone and not waiting is as much a part of networking and the other components of the job search

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Cover Letter Strategies, and Don’t Trash Talk Your Employer

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Cover letters are an essential part of your job search arsenal. Without them, your story would be incomplete. Despite whether many recruiters and hiring managers don’t read them, if they are asked for or not, many expect cover letters to accompany the resume.

Debra Ann Matthews (@LetMeWriteIt4U), is the founder of Let Me Write it 4 U at jobwinningresumes.net. She is affliliated member of the National Resume Writers Association and Career Thought Leaders Consortium. Her features in CareerBuilder, Monster, and the Chicago Tribune, displays her depth of knowledge of the career space, resumes, and cover letters.

In portions of our conversation, I play devil’s advocate to help contrast what people normally think about cover letters and the way that Debra Ann offers as an effective document.Here some of the highlights that Debra and I covered:

Cover letters are a small part of our story to pique the interest of an employer to read the resume
She has clients write 3-5 things of the career to help springboard the cover letter process
Debra Ann also states that the cover letter must be focused and strategic, and help the hiring manager and the application tracking system to fill in the blanks that you understand the problems, and bring solutions to your industry
She explains using a cover letter writing strategy using the 3 C’s: The Carrot, The Corroboration, and The Close
Debra Ann emphasized that before writing the cover letter you must understand the needs of the workforce
She also that the cover letter speaks the language of the role, and demonstrate the evidence of practical success

In segment 2 of the show

I offer reasons why no job seeker should negatively and publicly talk about their boss. I provide two scenarios that the person or a close friend could be an influential factor if you should be the one venting. Here are the scenarios:

My theatre professor was quite eccentric. He was very much into taking risks, and liked students to call him “Marvin.” I liked him, and gave me opportunity to do my thing in class, although I was the least talented actor. His introduction to us was acting like us, while sitting among us while the rest of speculated.

“He’s fifteen minutes late!”

“Who is this guy?”

“What does he look like?”

One person was more concern about the waste of money he was paying for the class (after all, the semester was only 16 weeks long).

Fortunately, none of us slandered him or said anything inappropriate but to think that the opportunity was there. Marvin bearded, long thin build, and looked like Kenny Loggins (add round spectacles and 20 pounds less).

In the next scenario, this is an excerpt from a note that a friend/client sent about how my point rings true:

“…talking about your old boss especially with people you don’t know will kill your job chances. Went out with friends, woman joined us and talked trash about her current boss. That trash talker had filled out an application for an opening we currently have at our company. Her application was great. Had planned to meet with her to actually offer her the job today! Emailed her last night and canceled the interview. She still doesn’t know I was in that group of ladies at the lunch.”

by Mark Anthony Dyson

7 Ways to Sharpen Your Mind During Unemployment

If your mind is not sharp for job interviews, and meeting important people, then you’re dull. No excuse.

Many people go the job interview unprepared, and others just not ready to respond directly to areas of competency. I’ve seen it happen too often.

Here are suggestions to keep your mind active and engaged:

1. Read articles, blogs, and tweets related to your industry

If you do not target a career, and are just looking for a job, you are missing an opportunity to expand your perspective, know the latest technology, and engage industry related hot topics.

2. Read books, I mean the 200-400 pages or more books!

We become pretty dull keeping up with the latest television show or catching up on seasons missed of our favorite show. It’s a good time to read 200-400 page books that go into depth. You choose the subject, but read something that you can implement immediately and often.

3. Hit the Gym/Catch up on health related appointments/Take care of health

Improving your health will always shift to your mind as well as your heart. Memory retention and cognitive reasoning. More importantly, stay healthy for the right reasons. If your unemployed and extra income opportunities are sparse, then it is best to take care of self first.

4. Update certifications and computer skills

In 2014, there is no excuse in failing to find courses (even college level) to take (wait for it, wait for it) for free. MIT and Cambridge are just two universities offering free college courses. If you look around enough, there are city and community colleges that offer evening classes that are worth invest $25 to $70 dollars.

5. Iron sharpens iron relationship

It helps when there is a professional relationship that will help you become sharper, smarter, stronger, and better all of the way around. Partner with someone whom you consider on the same professional track you are and help each other with your goals and aspirations.

6. Networking

Everything is networking at this point. You turn to the person behind you in line and start talking. What that may mean is dressing like you are not going to vegetate on the couch for the rest of the day when running to the store for milk.

7. Listen to podcasts

Good podcasts in the unemployed phase in your job search seem like classes or webinars. That is what my podcast attempts to do–educate. Good podcasts engage your thoughts and drive you to improvement and empowerment.

Suggestions? How are staying sharp during your job search? Let us know.