Social Networking and What it Can do For You

social-networkingThere are dozens of social networks out there and all of them have something to offer you. Though each and every one of these social networking can vary to some extreme degrees there is one thing they all have in common. They are all there to help you build a network. Networks not only help rebuild old friendships but nurture new ones. And that goes for connections related to your line of work as well.

One of the greatest parts of having a large social network is how strong and how much it can help you when you least expect it. One of the most important things to remember about building a social network is that it doesn’t grow over night. So it’s important to work at it everyday. You never know when someone in your network is going to come across a job or an opportunity tailor made just for you. And you never know when you may suddenly find yourself out of work and needing to tap into your network to find another job.

Here are four social network sites that you should be actively building a network on.

  • LinkedIn – This has become one of the go-to sites for professional networking. If you want to stay in synch with folks in your industry or the industry you’d like to break into. With the opportunity to get recommendations from colleagues you find that the stronger your network is the more of an edge you’ll have when performing a job search on LinkedIn. The Q&A section and groups give you other opportunities to network with other people in your field of interest as well.
  • Facebook – No surprise here. Facebook gives you a much more conversational and casual atmosphere than LinkedIn. It also gives you a broader opportunity to connect with both online friends as well as real life friends. I’ve seen people do everything from sell furniture, get animals to finding work by posting things on Facebook. As people get to know each other on Facebook they create more and more opportunities to open doors for one another when new opportunity arises.
  • Twitter – Many people consider themselves either Facebook people or Twitter people. But in reality they compliment each other quite well. Twitter is probably the best place to meet new people. And with the ever growing search functions and hash tag system you are really able to comb the world for news and opportunities relating to just about anything. The conversations move fast but the networks built can be tight and help you just when you need them the most.
  • Ning – Ning networks are do-it-yourself social networks that anyone can create for any topic they have an interest in. GovLoop & Twittermoms are two of the most heavily populated sites that have connected people in thousands of ways. From GovLoop has sprouted job opportunities, conferences, connections, and a much smaller world for Government employees across the country. Sites like “jobs in Social Media” among hundred of others provide numerous opportunities to connect with anyone in any industry.

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The Top 10 Best and Worst Places to Look For Work in 2011

It’s not exactly a secret that right now is not the best time to be looking for a job. No matter what field your searching within. But have you ever stopped to wonder if possibly the area in which you live poses more of challenge then other metro areas in the country? That could very well be according to the job search engine Juju.com a leading search engine.

Juju recently updates their Job Search Difficulty Index, which measures the difficulty of finding employment in major cities around the country. According to Juju.com, “The Index was calculated by dividing the number of unemployed workers in each metro area, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), by the number of jobs in Juju’s comprehensive index of millions of online jobs in the United States, which is compiled and updated continuously from thousands of employer career portals, recruiter websites, and job boards all over the Internet.”

Location plays a huge part in a successful and serious job search. Thinking outside the box and looking at the place YOUR searching for a job can make a big difference.

The 2011 Top 10 “Least Difficult” Metro Areas to Find a Job
1.    Washington, DC
2.    San Jose, CA
3.    New York, NY
4.    Baltimore, MD
5.    Hartford, CT
6.    Boston, MA
7.    Cleveland, OH
8.    Salt Lake City, UT
9.    Austin, TX
10.    Milwaukee, WI

The 201  Top 10 “Most Difficult” Metro Areas to Find a Job

1.    Las Vegas, NV
2.    Miami, FL
3.    Riverside, CA
4.    Los Angeles, CA
5.    Detroit, MI
6.    Sacramento, CA
7.    St. Louis, MO
8.    Portland, OR
9.    Buffalo, NY

10.    Memphis, TN

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How To Ace Your Job Interview

3485785271_eb19121b90Previously on the blog we posted Tips for updating your Resume. So what happens next, now that you’re updated and snazzy new resume has landed you the interview you’ve been hoping for?

Well now it’s time to prep for that interview to make sure you charm you’re way into that new job. What a way to start 2010, right? Take some time and review these steps for preparing for your next job interview.

  • Do your homework! Always make sure you read up on the company before you go in for the interview. It will give you a huge edge to be armed with knowledge about the company you’re applying for.  The beauty of Google is that you have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
  • Dress for success. You’ve probably heard it before, but it’s always important to remember not to show up to an interview in jeans and a tennis shoes.
  • Attitude is everything. If you walk in confident with a positive attitude it will show and set the tone of the entire interview.
  • Ask questions. Nothing shows that you’re interested in the job more than asking questions about the company and the job you’re interviewing for.
  • Follow Up. Always, always, always send a follow up email, letter, or phone call after an interview. It can sometimes be the final act that will help you win the job over another candidate.

Good luck!

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Tax Tips for the Unemployed

3317985650_bca6e41c1aTax time is upon us once again. And for the many people who spent the majority of 2009 looking for work they may be a little confused about what expenses they can and can’t deduct this year while doing taxes. We gave a pretty detailed list of deductions you can take in general here and here.

But the following deductions are just related to people who spent a portion of 2009 looking for work.

  • Travel and Transportation – If you visit an area for your current job while looking for work in the same occupation you can deduct those travel expenses. Pretty much any trip you make that includes a job search while there is fair game.
  • Resume – You can deduct pretty much anything related to the creation of your resume. Paper, mailing expenses, copying time spent writing it, professional writing services, etc.
  • Employment or Job Placement Services – Though you can’t make this claim if your company has paid the fees, but as long as it’s for help seeking employment in your current occupation you can write these off.
  • Phone Calls Long distance calls related to your job search re also fair game.
  • Career Counseling Services – These can also qualify for a deduction if you’re looking to continue in the same line of work.

Important Tips to Remember:

  • You CANNOT write off job search expenses if you’re looking for a job for the first time.
  • Don’t forget if you’re collecting unemployment that you have to report that income.
  • Severance pay, bonuses, 401K and/or other pension distributions may be taxable
  • None of the above listed deductions are allowed if you’re looking for work in an entirely new line of work.
  • They are also not allowed if there was a large span of time between your last job and your current job search.

And MOST importantly remember that these are just a few tips, you should always look to the IRS for complete details as to what you can and cannot deduct when doing taxes. Good luck and happy tax day!

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Tips on Staying Employed

422670456_68dd9265e3Here on the blog we are always looking for at the future. How and where you can find your next job or a new career. But what if you’ve already got one? Sometimes keeping the job you already have is a challenge in it’s own. Today we’re going to take a look at a few ways you can work to keep the job you have.

With a pretty large number of people looking for work in this day and age it’s important that if you’re happy with the job you’ve got you may want to make an extra effort to ensure you keep it

  • Keep Your Skills Updated – Take a class at your local college or adult community education center. Something that will help keep your skills sharp and show you even better ways to do your job. And remember there’s a good chance your employer will foot the bill. If there is certifications you can achieve related to your field, go for it!
  • Play nice – When you get along with your co-workers and maintain a pleasant air around the office you can keep your office a pretty happy place. Avoid the gossip and office drama you’ll also stay on everybody’s good side.
  • Do Your Job – And do it well. Show up to work on time, do your job and don’t complain. A simple task that should remain at the top of your to-do list.
  • Stay Involved – Follow along the success of the company and whatever else is going on related to the company. Attend meetings as often as you can. Show your bosses your interested in the welfare of the company, not just your job.
  • Take Care of Yourself – Eat right, get enough sleep and exercise. Work out and be sure you make sure you take some time for yourself on the weekends. If you stay healthy and happy, that attitude will carry over into the workplace as well.

Happy Working!

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