When was the last time you used an actual Yellow Pages book? Perhaps the online version? Yesterday, I was inspired by a Yellow Pages ad which featured a "360 degree online marketing strategy." The six aspects of the strategy all directly applied to an online marketing strategy for your job search.
1. YellowPages.com
Job Search Solution: Try using Twellow.com to funnel your search.
2. Site Optimization Solutions
Job Search Solution: Make the most of optimizing your social media profiles. For example, if you are networking on LinkedIn, maximize your visibility by showering your summary and profile with keywords. It is these keywords that make you easier to find by hiring managers and recruiters. And yes, Google does like LinkedIn for site optimization!
Ensure all of your social media platforms are communicating the same professional brand. Use the same keywords, if possible, on your other social media platforms. You want to be visible to potential employers with a clean online identity, as opposed to dishing out "digital dirt," or unsavory online messages. If you tweet or comment on something regarding a potential employer, you may show up prominently in a Google Alert. What a compliment to your professional brand!
3. Mobile Apps
Job Search Solution: Sign-up for mobile apps for your job search. You'll be glad you did. Twitter is often portrayed as a real-time job board. Tweeters can take advantage of job posting apps. Why not increase your accessibility to jobs by signing up for job alerts on your iPhone, Blackberry or mobile phone. The instant a recruiter or employer posts an opportunity, you'll be alerted on your mobile.
Some of my Twitter followers who specialize in this category include:
@Locita
@briteapps
@wiredtweets
4. Digital Media Advice
Job Search Solution: Seek out the sages. Join groups; there's strength in numbers. Especially if you're unemployed, read about the latest trends in your industry. Ask questions, share resources, and swallow your pride by asking for advice on how trump up your digital marketing activities. Set a weekly goal by choosing some new activities. With the current unemployment statistics you cannot afford to dismiss the notion of constantly revamping your digital marketing efforts. Competition is fierce out there!
5. Performance Reports
Job Search Solution: There is no better solidifier than offering a potential employer a testimonial. When I have helped outgoing military members who are transitioning to the civilian world, (based on my personal and professional affiliation to the military), I have suggested they use their PER's or Performance Evaluation Reports for resume writing and interview preparation. Likewise, civilians can use their exemplary performance evaluations to be highlighted in their profiles and resumes. These can be considered testimonials. And speaking of testimonials, use some social media apps such as BranchOut.com to feature powerful endorsements about you. On Facebook, you can use BeKnown.com to highlight your stellar reputation. On LinkedIn, ask for influential contacts to write you a recommendation.
6. Website
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by creating your PURL (personal URL) or web site. There is a plethora of sites to promote your professional brand. Some ideas may include:
Visualize.me - You can turn your resume into an info-graphic.
About.me - This is another platform that allows you to promote you. You can see my example here.
On Twitter, check out @proovn to prove your skills to others.
The concept of 360 degrees has been applied to human resources practices. It is widespread and relies on multiple sources of information and applications. Now's the time to apply your 360 degree digital marketing strategy. "Fortune favors the bold," the ancient Romans said. Wisdom isn't just ancient, it becomes contemporary.
Melissa C. Martin is a bilingual career coach who specializes in offering career counseling by phone.Read more » articles by this approved career expert | Click here » if you’re a career expertImage from Morena Valente/Shutterstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
Bigstock
Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
Bigstock
Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
Bigstock
Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
Need more help with your job search?
Become a member to learn how to land a job and UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.