Job Search - The Voice of Job Seekers

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

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Job Search Strategies You’ll Hate, But Results You’ll Love

The job search in 2014 requires you to be an expert at being you. Therefore, your job search will require you to encompass skill critical to landing a career that will lead to other future opportunities. This includes things that you hate to do, but there are benefits once you sort through the emotions.

1. Informational interviews
To achieve the best results from writing your resume, plan on doing a few informational interviews, then complete your resume.

You’ll hate: The cold calling (which doesn’t have to be if you are using networking contacts), and not begging for a job.
You’ll love: After getting the inside information to build your resume from the right people, you will receive more meaningful contacts that lead to interviews.

2. Writing cover letters
Yes, I also recommend writing a cover letter for each resume as many other career coaches do. In spite of the statistics indicating employers ignore the cover letter, it is an opportunity to tell why an employer should read your resume.
You’ll hate: There should be a story line that complements your resume, but does not regurgitate it. It is not easy writing a persuasive one page ditty about why you would fit the organization.
You’ll love: That a well told story leads to intrigue of your resume. It should be more personable and persuasive than your resume.

3. Interviewing like a consultant
This means you can’t hide behind canned answers although you want to practice, practice, practice!
You’ll hate: The extensive research that means more than looking at one blog or website for answers. Trying to find your potential boss, teammates, and the interviewer is tough and time-consuming.
You’ll love: That you can offer solutions and suggestions that solve problems than defending any lack of skill sets or experience. Then it is more of a business meeting and consultation instead of an interrogation

4. Timing your follow-ups
It is hard to apply the “less is more” rule because it requires patience that you may not have.
You’ll hate: Calling to ask if the employer received your resume. You’ll hate that they may not answer your question the first and second time. You’ll hate that the employer will probably not give you an accurate timetable to call back to follow-up. You may feel that you harassing someone, and that is natural, but necessary. Likely, they will think you are uninterested if you don’t follow-up. A week or two between calls is a good rule until they confirm receipt of your resume.
You’ll love: When you show patience and kindness, people will appreciate it when you call. There is not an exact science, but you can trust your instincts if these are your strengths.

5. The salary question
Salary questions are difficult to answer if you are unprepared.
You’ll hate: If you didn’t research the salary range for 2014, you would hate the silent rejection. Many job seekers do not include this part of research in his or her initial investigation of the position. Probably, you may hate the surprise of the question asked in a phone interview. Your answer will likely determine your fate.
You’ll love: Tools such as salary.com clarifies much of the value you want to bring and leverage. The more value you offer employers, the more respect you’ll earn. Salary isn’t the only thing you prepare to negotiate, especially since there is a life that you want to live.

What do you hate about the process? What are the results you love?

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About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Four Job Search Lessons to Learn from Martin Luther King

There is no man who Americans celebrate more who is not a President nor a Military hero as widely and prominently as Dr. Martin Luther King. He is quoted and heralded in many facets of American life in ways that shapes our faith and beliefs. Truly Dr. King is still a polarizing figure, and one that many people find moral and racial differences in what did and what he represents.

Job Seekers are generally looking for inspiration from many different sources, and Dr. King offers wisdom that inspire steadfastness in a difficult job search.

1. Answer questions directly, thoroughly, and with temperance. We’re not talking about interviews, but generally conversations. People will inquire of you in an unkind, not so cordial manner, and you must ignore the behavior that may otherwise drive you crazy. Even when people in a business setting may not say “hello,” “good morning,” or “good evening.”

Dr. King exemplified temperance in everyway, and trained people that marched with him the same way. People who marched were trained to respond non-violently where they were the object of hostility, violence, and hatred. In the same way, train yourself for adverse reactions through rejection. Sometime strange interview questions are given to test your reaction.

2. Dr. King had unswerving focus. If you never read “A Letter from the Birmingham Jail,” then you will never know how to tactfully thwart haters and take a stand without being personal in your response. During your job search, people will give you bad advice about finding a job. It is likely antiquated advice that doesn’t apply anymore. Dr. King’s response to a bunch of his peers asking him to stop his marches was generally, a resounding, “NO!” He just didn’t tell them no, but examined and disseminated his reasoning soundly and profoundly.

3. Constantly collaborated. People came from all over the country to help in the marches, but ultimately, many risked their well-being and their havens to be associated with the movement. As part of my coaching with job search clients is to help them form coalitions because it takes a village to find a job and/or advance your career. We all need people to “join the march” to fulfill our career purpose. You must make this an intentional strategy to build this “village,” and they must believe in you.

4. Dr. King understood his purpose requires longevity. I recently heard from a former client who is still enduring a job search for a couple of years now. She is hanging in there and realizes how important to stay engaged in every way possible. Dr. King’s speeches often point to “…one day.” I am only suggesting that patience is a part of any job hunt, and it takes time even you are doing everything right.

A job search from any perspective challenges your patience, confidence, and faith in people. Don’t let the day go buy without improving your social profiles, or to start that blog that you’ve thought about, or to call someone to help them.

Make a difference today.

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