A logical place for recruiters to search for information online about candidates is Google. Google is one of the largest search engines on the Internet.

When recruiters search for you, what will they see?

Nothing!

If you are not present on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook, recruiters will never see you at all. And that means you could miss out on job opportunities as a result. According to MSNBC, “These days, small and midsize companies aren’t even posting jobs, instead going to sites like LinkedIn in search of their ideal candidate.” (“Using LinkedIn to Maximize Your Job Search,” MSNBC.com, March 12, 2009)

A Google search will show results for your name from these different social media sites, but of course if you haven’t completed a profile, you are invisible to recruiters.

Negative Press

You may be present on different social media sites, but if the information there is negative, you are in a worse position than if there were no information at all. A sloppy profile filled with typos is negative press for you. And if you have responded with a comment to a video or article from a periodical with profanity or other negative information, this can show up on Google as well and hurt your professional image.

Great Press

If you have been intentional about your online presence, what Google says about you can give recruiters a reason to take a second look at you.

Here are some pointers on what you can do to enhance your online presence:

• Google yourself to see what comes up. You need to see what recruiters will see when they search for you. That way you can make any needed adjustments to your online presence. 
• Take charge of your ZoomInfo profile. ZoomInfo is a site that automatically collects data about people online from different sources on the Internet. Sometimes there will be erroneous information on ZoomInfo under your name because the site confused you with someone else with the same name. Also, there may be information that is omitted about you that should be included. You can go to ZoomInfo for free and claim your name and correct any mistakes there may be. You can also post your picture to your profile if you choose to.
• Create profiles on social media sites for visibility. LinkedIn is the most popular site for professionals, and there are hundreds of thousands of recruiters on LinkedIn searching for candidates. Make sure your profile is complete and it represents you well.

If you follow these tips you will have Google singing your praises.

Cheryl Palmer, M.Ed., CPRW is a career coach and a certified professional resume writer. Ms. Palmer is the founder of Call to Career, a career coaching firm that assists people in finding their niche or calling in life as well as finding new employment in a difficult economy.

Google search image from Shutterstock

For those of us with Career ADD, long-term planning is not something we generally consider – too many distractions and for some, just making ends meet to stay afloat gets in the way. However… the cool thing about a Plan B is you can start it and take your time getting there. And with so many opportunities available at very reasonable price points, there is no reason not to get started today. Just start something. Most importantly, your Plan B Business should be doing something that makes you happy, just as in your primary career, and is simple to manage (for obvious reasons).

I started my own Plan B about a year ago. As a Baby Boomer, I finally realized if I’m going to have the life I really want, I’m going to have to build something in addition to my Career Counseling practice. The good news is that it is my business and I can go at my own pace. I am finding the experience to be a never-ending source of skill building, financial surprises, fun and a great social AND business network. It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is and how it works so well with my ADD. Even if you haven’t found the perfect career yet, a Plan B business can help you grow in unexpected ways and is a great confidence-builder.

Here are some things to consider for your Plan B:

• Find a residual income opportunity such as network marketing. You may be thinking – “You mean one of those Pyramid schemes.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. Pyramids are illegal. You know you are in one if you paid money and received nothing in return such as a product or service. This actually happened to me many years ago, and was disguised as a spiritual program. Being ADD, I jumped in and lost $5,000. I regret that investment to this day. A true Plan B business in a network marketing company will always be legal in all 50 states and very often throughout the world, and will offer great products and services and well thought out compensation plans that make sense.
• Choose something that is pure FUN for you. There are thousands of opportunities out there. Mine happens to be travel so I picked something that fits with my other passion.
• Make sure the investment is low, but has the potential to create an income that will replace the one you have and beyond. Remember retirement should never mean that you live below your current means.
• Commit to whatever amount of part-time hours you can spend per week, but decide how many and when. For us ADDers, we can’t really leave it up to when we feel like it or, chances are, it won’t get done.
• Be consistent.  Use the training available because it could change your life.  Many companies offer incredible training from leaders who have transformed their lives, yet started out with very modest means.  Training increases your belief in your product or service, which in turn increases confidence in sharing it with others.
• Make sure that it is an opportunity where others benefit from your triumphs and visa versa and are available to help you grow.
• Get an accountability partner who is there to push you when you need it and support you along the way.
• Know and understand thoroughly that the pace you go and the effort you put forth will be reflected in the results. When things are not always going the way you want, and there are definitely going to be ups and downs, as in anything, look to your own actions before “blaming” others for your results. Doing small amounts consistently will reap huge rewards. That is what I love about my Plan B and is in alignment with my ADD “afflictions.”
• Love what you do and your Plan B could turn out to be a transformational.

More on this exceedingly important topic of Career ADD next week.

Shell Mendelson, founder of NB Careers, specializes in guiding individuals with Career ADD and Career Paralysis to define an authentic career direction. Click here » to download a FREE “Six Minute Quick Goal Setting” exercise and take the first step on your job search journey.

Career ADD plan B image from Shutterstock

It’s about not taking entertainment career advice from people who are personally invested, such as friends who don’t want to lose you or those around you with their own unfulfilled entertainment career dreams. But a couple of readers contacted me about my inclusion of concerned parents in the list. Here’s one response I got via LinkedIn:

“You mention in the post that there are instances when people, mainly your parents, question you about your choice to pursue an entertainment career because they know how unstable it can be. This is a fear that I have developed over the past year, mainly because I don’t want to rely on my parents for financial needs for too long. Could you give me a few examples of jobs in the entertainment industry that tend to be more stable than others? Also, because this fear has lingered with me for a while, do you think it might be worth me considering a different, more stable career?”

These days, the phrase “stable career” referring to any possible vocational path is more likely to be met with a derisive snort than anything else. Banking used to be considered a stable career path. That tells you everything you need to know right there.

Stability is hard to come by in any field. But in entertainment, as in many fields, there are more and less riskier paths to pursue. And with hundreds of jobs in the industry to choose from, you have more flexibility than you might think.

Of course, when you talk about uncertainty of success in entertainment, leading the pack job-wise is performer. Whether that means being an actor, a musician, or a stand-up comedian, pursuing any of these careers means your chance of making a living, much less being a star, is extremely low.

Right behind those pursuits are these long shots: film/television director, film/television/music producer, film/television writer, and songwriter. These are called “dream careers” for a reason and success usually involve lots of years of hard work and a heaping helping of luck, and even then, the long haul is very uncertain.

Working on film and television crews is also hit and miss. Competition in every position, especially department heads such as Director of Photography and Production Designer, is fierce. Everyone on a crew is freelance and the work can dry up without warning. If you get on a hit television show, that can provide you with several years of stable employment, but after that, you are out looking again.

That’s the bad news.

The more stable careers are to be found within large corporate entities – major studios, television networks and cable channels, large production companies and event promotion companies, and the like. Think Paramount Studios, NBC, Discovery Communications, AEG, etc. This can mean work in any department: Marketing, Programming, Post Production, Human Resources, etc.

The competition for jobs is stiffer in the creative departments, such as Development and Production, and it is less stiff in the jobs that require advanced degrees and other special training, such as Finance and Business Affairs. So if you want to have the best chance for stability in entertainment, stay away from the “sexier” departments or come to the biz armed with a degree in finance or a JD.

But what do you do if you want a dream career, if all you want to do with your life is be onstage or behind the camera? Do you have to listen to your parents (or your own more cautious voice within) and go into something else, abandoning all those years of training and envisioning what you feel you are meant to do?

If you really want it – and I mean enough to deal with years of hard work and sacrifice and rejection and more hard work and sacrifice and rejection – there is a way to mitigate the risk that I would recommend to anyone, no matter how confident they are in their talents. I call it pursuing parallel careers.

This strategy involves finding something relatively stable – not just a day job, but something you treat as a career track – that you can do alongside going for your dream career. I know an actress who is an awesome bookkeeper. She is freelance to allow herself the freedom to audition and do parts, but she could go within a company at any point she felt she needed to. I also know a singer who is a paralegal, an aspiring costume designer who works in ultra high-end retail, an indie producer who is a film sales agent, and several lawyers who write screenplays on the side.

These are not day jobs. They are parallel career paths. It’s trickier to pull off having two careers side-by-side than single-mindedly pursuing the dream while doing low-level administrative work or waiting tables on the side, but it’s a way to hedge your bet when you are betting on something with long odds. And that is something even your dear old mom and dad can get behind.

Jenny Yerrick Martin, founder of YourIndustryInsider.com, has amassed 20+ years as an entertainment industry professional including almost 15 as a hiring executive and five as a career consultant. She’s become an indispensable resource for people who want to break into entertainment, as well as those in entertainment looking to reach the next level or course-correct in their already-established careers.

Career stability chart image from Shutterstock

It can be a challenge whether you are doing a search while working a job or in between jobs, juggling the time and tools it takes to get your next gig is an art form. I have discovered there are six key areas in effective job searches.

1. Target
2. Tools
3. Timeline
4. Tackle daily
5. Talk your story
6. Take the job

Today let’s discuss timeline – planning your job search from beginning to end.

Timeline

As for a timeline for your job search, be realistic. If you are just getting started, most job searches are taking 6 – 12 months. The average for those unemployed is about 10 months. Though working with a coach will make this shorten, sometimes significantly. But don’t tell your coach at the end of May you want that perfect job by July.

Not going to happen for most people.

Job transition takes time and a whole lot of thought but it doesn’t have to wipe you out.

First off, all job seekers should have a project plan developed for their search. It can be as basic or elaborate as you want it to be. The key is to have one. I have seen too many of my clients come to me for one area of the job search but then flounder horribly in the time management and planning aspect. This is usually the area we tackle next. Below are some of the tools I utilize with my clients.

Attached are two documents. Pick the one that feels best to you and how you work.

The key to planning your search is to plan. Sit down and write out the steps you will take and when and how. If you have no idea how to do this, call me. We can talk it through.

Write the tasks in the left column. Break them down to as small a step as you can, as in  project Plan 2 or in more general terms but still a functional task, such as in project Plan 1. All tasks listed must be defined enough to be able to be checked off all by itself.

Job Search Project Plan 1

Job Search Project Plan 2

Note: On this plan, the weeks can go out as far as you want. So it breaks the search down by weekly segments. There is more detailed plan which ensures a step is not missed or overlooked and that all chosen steps are assigned to the appropriate parties.

I think you get it by now. You have to have a written job search plan and to take action on it. Next up – tackle daily.

Lisa Adams, founder of Fresh Air Careers, is a certified career management coach and job search strategist, specializing in helping young professionals navigate the waters of their first career transition.

Job search project plan image from Shutterstock

They are the distracting and annoying mistakes that could put an end to all the hard work you’ve done in writing your resume, targeting employers, and scheduling and preparing for interviews. That’s pretty bad. But the good news these mistakes are all avoidable.

Those who’ve read my other blogs and How to Get a Legal Job: A Guide for New Attorneys and Law School Students know I don’t just rely on my own opinions for these tips. I spend a great deal of time talking to hiring decision-markers, including hiring directors, interviewers, personnel managers, and recruiters—in other words, the people who will be interviewing you.

You stink. Maybe you smell like cigarette smoke. Or you used too much perfume or cologne. Maybe your breath is horrible. Whatever it is, it’s making your interviewer’s nose wrinkle and eyes water, and she’s counting the minutes until your interview is over. Air out (or better yet, clean) those dress clothes that have been stored in your smoke-filled home. Don’t smoke before your interview. Keep applications of cologne, perfume, and scented products to a minimum. Save your pungent and spicy snacks until after your interview. In other words, don’t be remembered as the guy that caused your interviewer to Febreeze her office and that sent her running for her asthma inhaler.

You should have done something about that facial hair. Yes, this does apply to men and women. Unruly—or unexpected—facial hair is a distraction to your interviewer. He doesn’t want to stare at the tufts of hair coming for your ears or your hairy lip, but he can’t help himself. Guys, keep in mind that—fair or not—facial hair is a no-no in some work places. So keep your mustache, beard, and sideburns in good order, and be aware that you may be better off clean-shaven for your interviews.

You’re sweaty. Of course we all sweat, and even more so when we’re nervous. But the old adage, “Never let them see you sweat” holds true for job interviews. A sweaty handshake is an unpleasant way to start the interview—both for you and for your interviewer. So bring a handkerchief with you to dry off those sweaty palms before you walk in the door. And while you’re at it, dab down your forehead, nose, upper lip, or any place else you’re prone to visibly sweat. Wear your antiperspirant and deodorant, and dress in natural fibers that allow your skin to breathe and sweat to evaporate.

Shauna C. Bryce, Esq., founder of Bryce Legal Career Counsel, is a career industry leading expert in the development of strategic resumes for attorneys.

Grooming before interview image from Shutterstock

Dan Citrenbaum is a Franchise Coach and Entrepreneurial Consultant, and is a franchisee himself. He has spent over 25 years helping small business owners start and grow their businesses, in order to achieve their dreams.

Mr. Citrenbaum can be reached at DCitrenbaum@gmail.com or at 215-367-5349.

Ever dream of being your own boss? Have you walked into a franchise and thought, “I could own one of these.”

The franchise industry is booming with opportunities for smart professionals looking to own a turn-key business. What surprises most people is how many affordable and even low-cost franchise options there are. Some booming franchise options like senior care, offer rewarding work that provides an excellent income too. So, what are you waiting for?

Join the franchise experts from TheEntrepreneurOption.com for the kick off of their new web TV show, Franchise Advantage.

In this info-packed half-hour show, you’ll learn why owning a franchise could be the best career move you make in 2012.

Sign up below to get FREE access to the first episode.

Thank you for your interest in this webinar. Please use the green box below to register. If you cannot see the sign-up area, please e-mail our staff at help@careerealism.com.

Franchise reasons image from Shutterstock

Watch the three-minute video clip below to understand how these realities could be holding you back too.

Are you a female looking for a career change? The financial education industry is hiring and needs confident, entrepreneurial women… like you!

If you’re interested in a financial career then speaking with a recruiter needs to be your first step. Let us organize a complimentary meeting between you and a recruiter from a Fortune 500 financial services company.

Speak With a Financial Recruiter »

J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com and CEO of CareerHMO.com, a web-based career development company.

Business woman with open arms image from Shutterstock

One way for job seekers to get an “in” with their preferred employer is to find out if they have any existing connections already working for the company. Until now, this was a pretty tedious and time consuming task. However, virtual networking just got a lot easier with Glassdoor.com’s launch of Inside Connections^TM earlier this week. The tool connects Glassdoor’s existing functionality with Facebook’s networking capabilities to allow users to view their friends and where they work now or have worked in the past.

For most job seekers, friends and family are the go-to people for finding out about companies. If your best friend raves about her employer, you’re probably more inclined to consider jobs with that organization. In fact, according to a recent Harris survey, people rate their friends and family as the most trusted resource for learning about companies (52 percent), followed by feedback and reviews from other people who work at the company (14 percent). The least trusted resources are the company’s website (5 percent) and the company’s recruiters (2 percent).

I had the opportunity to speak with Tim Besse, the co-founder of Glassdoor.com, and he said the goal of Inside Connections^TM is to help job seekers make informed decisions about companies by providing one place that is a comprehensive research tool on where the jobs are, what they are and who you know there. After doing a brief pre-release demo of the tool, I’m convinced this is going to change the way people search for jobs. It’s also going to save a lot of time for job hunters and hopefully give them better odds at being noticed by a recruiter.

Employee referral programs have been hugely popular for helping organizations find qualified leads. Essentially, Inside Connections^TM takes the employee referral concept one step further and puts the information in the hands of the job seeker. Depending on the security settings of your Facebook friends, you may also be able to see job information for friends of friends. This will allow you to expand your networking reach even further. Once the connections are listed, you can make contact with them by sending brief messages via Facebook and inquiring about their companies and opportunities.

A personal contact with someone in the company is more effective than submitting your resume unsolicited to the general jobs e-mail address. It’s even more likely that you’ll be successful in landing an interview if your friend is willing to speak with the recruiter for the position on your behalf.

According to Glassdoor, their site includes connections at more than 150,000 companies around the world. Chances are good that at least a few of these companies are hiring someone with your skill set.

Amanda Haddaway is passionate about helping you ace your interview. She is the author of “Destination Real World: Success after Graduation,” which helps new and soon-to-be college graduates with navigating the world of work.

Connections inside networking image from Shutterstock

Working for someone you don’t like is the absolute worst. And yet, it can be a great learning experience if you approach it with the right attitude. Here are four reasons you should love that boss you hate:

1. Personal Insight

You can actually learn a lot about yourself in a situation like this. Consider the following questions:

• Why does this person get under your skin?
• What values are being stepped on here?
• How are you possibly contributing to the situation? (Ouch! Don’t skip this question; it will give you amazing insight.)
• What do you really want from a boss? Are you, perhaps, expecting too much?
• What kind of leader would YOU be?

2. Practice

Look, the business world is full of jerks. Consider this great practice for the future. You’re exercising patience and your ability to not take things personally. With practice, it gets easier.

3. Future Wisdom

After working for someone with whom you don’t click, you’ll be on the lookout for a better match in the future. Next time you’re interviewing for a new position, you’ll be more aware of the impact a supervisor has, and you’ll have more understanding of what you want in a boss. Perhaps you’ll see red flags you might have missed before.

4. Opportunity

I know this sounds a little nutty, but that jerk of a boss is giving you a great opportunity. You have the chance to adapt, to implement new strategies and, ultimately, build a bridge in some fashion. It might never be the perfect relationship, but there’s always a chance you can improve things. So don’t give up! Look for openings to strengthen your partnership. Use your relationship building skills and develop new ones. There IS room for growth here.

Want some help fixing this relationship? Join my FREE webinar!

How to Repair Damaged Professional Relationships

Date: February 9
Time: 2:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM PT

Description: When it comes to career success, there’s nothing that can make or break you more than your professional relationships. They can be your biggest strength or your greatest weakness. If you aren’t paying attention to them, and doing everything within your power to strengthen them, you’re potentially causing damage to your career and missing out on exciting opportunities.

If you’re currently experiencing tension in the workplace—with a co-worker, superior, subordinate, client or anyone else—you don’t want to miss this FREE webinar session.

Attendees will learn…

• How to recognize damage in your relationships
• How to identify the cause of the damage
• 6 steps to repair damage (and prevent it from happening in the future)

Register here »

Chrissy Scivicque (pronounced “Civic”), founder of Eat Your Career, is an award-winning freelance writer/editor with a passion for two things: food and helping others. Please visit her website and download her FREE mini-workbook called, “How Nourishing is YOUR Career?”

Love the boss you hate image from Shutterstock

Of special note, one of my clients wrote, “I feel there should be a website for mature adults who have worked all their lives. Give us a chance.” Very moving… there was no way I could turn my back on this request.

Here is what I asked my current clients:

• What do you miss about working?
• What are some of your biggest job search obstacles?
• What are your biggest job search fears?

Most of the answers were along the lines of what I expected to hear – I have been counseling injured workers for a long time… I want to assure you that you are not alone and what you are feeling is entirely normal!

Here are some of the answers I got to my brief survey:

What do you miss about working?

• Being out in public and seeing people
• Filling up my day with different activities
• Earning money, having freedom and independence
• Having something to look forward to
• Doing something I’m good at

What are some of your biggest job search obstacles?

• Use of my injured body part
• Memory and concentration
• Lack of skills
• Finding a job in a new field or industry
• Age

What are your biggest job search fears?

• Not being able to do the job
• Interviewing
• Not being able to make enough money
• Not being hired
• Learning new skills

It is hard enough to look for and find work, but to add another obstacle such as a work related injury just makes it that much more difficult. There are steps you can take to overcome your concerns, obstacles, and even your biggest job search fears.

Click here » to watch an exclusive interview I recently had with CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell where I talk about the number one mistake injured workers make.

Mary Sevinsky is master’s-prepared and has over 18 years of experience in vocational assessment, counseling and testimony, primarily assisting clients who are changing careers.

Injured worker image from Shutterstock