Volunteering can be a significant leg up in your job search. An ariticle in Fast Company, Volunteering Will Save Your Career (Or Put You In A New One), showed that 20% of hiring managers make decision based on volunteer work. It can serve the same basic function as an internship: it can grow your network and give you additional experience to put on your résumé. Read More
Video Friday: Getting “Found” Online
In today’s video we explain how to use social media and the web to boost your online presence. Having a strong online presence increases your chances of being found by a recruiter or company. Read More
How to Get a Job as a Developer in Less Than Six Months
Today our guest blogger is Jeff Baird. Jeff is a Ruby on Rails developer at Medivo.com. You can find Jeff hacking at http://github.com/jeffreybaird and documenting the process at http://learnwithjeff.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @Jeffrey_Baird.
So the month of June came and went, and so did July. A lot has happened, but I wasn’t able to complete my goals.
I did, however, make huge strides in my programming skills — so huge, in fact, that I was hired as a junior developer at Medivo!
This post is about how I got hired for my dream job with less than six months of programming experience. Read More
Variety is the Spice of Networking
We’ve all heard the saying, “variety is the spice of life.” Variety also adds flavor and zest to networking and is a critical ingredient in your job search.
Ned is a market manager looking for work in his field. He has an active network of people he’s worked with in his field. But here is how he explains his problem: Read More
Recognizing Unique Networking Opportunities
Are you taking advantage of networking opportunities in your everyday life? You encounter these opportunities often but may miss them because they are not strictly job related. Any community where you have built a reputation is an opportunity to network – don’t let your best networking opportunities get away from you because haven’t recognized them as such. Read More
Making the Most of the August Slowdown
Many job seekers notice a slowdown in openings, interviews, and hires during the warm weeks of August. Hiring managers and recruiters may be on vacation and it can feel like not much is happening. If you’ve noticed this, don’t let it discourage you and do not put your job search on hold. Read More
Surefire Ways to Ruin a Networking Conversation
You’ve identified a great networking contact and set up a conversation. Whether at a networking event, a networking meeting, or a chance encounter, this is your big opportunity. Don’t blow it with these networking blunders:
Dull opening. Beginning a conversation with “How is it going?” is hardly compelling. Instead be prepared with a strong opening line that shows you have a clear purpose for the meeting and begins the conversation. Examples of interesting opening lines are, “You have a fascinating background and I would love to hear more about your career path,” or, “I’m very interested in the work you are doing and the skill set required.” At networking events you might try, “What brings you to this event?”
Transition from Being a Big Company Employee to Working at a Startup (Part 2 of 2)
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a talk by Bryan Starbuck (on Twitter @BryanStarbuck), a serial tech startup entrepreneur and a former Microsoft Engineering Manager, about how to transition from a big company (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, etc.) employee to a career at startups. Bryan provided great insights and practical advice for people interested in this process. I’d like to share with you a summary of this talk and the main takeaways. Read More
Transition from Being a Big Company Employee to Working at a Startup (Part 1 of 2)
Last week I attended a talk by Bryan Starbuck (on Twitter @BryanStarbuck), a serial tech startup entrepreneur and a former Microsoft Engineering Manager, about how to transition from a big company (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, etc.) employee to a career at startups. Bryan provided great insights and practical advice for people interested in this process. I’d like to share with you a summary of this talk and the main takeaways. Read More
Using Conversation Marketing When Networking
Today I’d like to share about an internet marketing strategy for businesses, called Conversation Marketing, and saw how it can also help job seekers with their job hunt.
I attended a talk by Ian Lurie, President of Portent Interactive, discussing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for online content producers. Portent Interactive is a Seattle-based Internet Marketing and SEO company, helping businesses practice intelligent internet marketing. Read More