Career Development & Placement Center Newsletter
Spring 2009… Volume XI

Federal Jobs and "Seems Too Good to Be True..."

Recently a City College student who lost her job discovered that the federal government’s official job-posting website, USAJobs.gov, had been the victim of hackers. Since that time, some of the government agencies are also using a different website, avuecentral.com, to post open positions.  Those students who have used the USAJobs.gov website are offered the following advice: “You should change your password now. Choose a sensible password that is not a dictionary word and that is hard to guess. And then change your passwords at any other site where you might be using the same password.”  It is always a good idea to use a different password for each site on which you register—makes it more difficult for hackers to steal your information.

On another matter, beware of scam jobs!  Many positions posted on sites like craigslist are not legitimate. If you see an offer that seems too good, google the position and see if anyone has posted “scam alert” information. For example, a City College student we saw had scheduled an interview for a job promising $30/hr for recruiting child actors for TV and film auditions. A 30-second google search revealed that there was NO $30/hr salary, and recruiters were only paid for each family they brought in that then made the bad decision to pay lots of money for audition tapes for nonexistent jobs. Remember, do a google search, and NEVER pay money to get a job. You are getting a job to earn money, not give it to an employer.

Electronic Social Networking: Do you Twitter or are you LinkedIn?

In today’s increasingly competitive job market, successful job seekers must begin to utilize all the new technological tools and strategies at their disposal. Networking with relatives, friends, co-workers and anyone who will listen to you has always been one of the best ways to tap into those “hidden” jobs. The worldwide web has now taken this very useful strategy into the digital age. If you use facebook, myspace, twitter, or LinkedIn to connect with a network of contacts, you are on the cutting edge. If not, then here is an overview of one of the most popular electronic social networking tools out there: LinkedIn.com
LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com) is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals.

Latest LinkedIn Facts

• LinkedIn has over 36 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world.
• A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of the members are outside the U.S.
• Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

Relationships Matter

Your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return.

When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then form enduring connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. Through your network you can:

• Manage the information that's publicly available about you as serious job seeker
• Find and be introduced to potential clients, service providers, and subject experts who come recommended
• Create and collaborate on projects, gather data, share files, and solve problems
• Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners
• Gain new insights from discussions with likeminded professionals in private group settings
• Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals.

Tips for Job Searching Using LinkedIn (from “LinkedIn for DUMMIES” by Joel Elad)

• Make sure your profile is up to date, accurate, and matches whatever you provide to a hiring manager or recruiter.
• Stay on top of your Network Updates so you know if someone in your network has been promoted or moved to a company where you would like to work.
• Use Advanced People Search to find 2nd or 3rd degree network connections who work at a desired target company.  Request an Introduction to that person and ask for advice or an informational interview.
• Advertise your skills and knowledge by answering questions posted in LinkedIn Answers.
• Connect with everyone you have worked with, since these people know your professional capabilities well and could potentially recommend you on LinkedIn.
• Make sure your profile highlights measurable accomplishments that you achieved at your jobs.  For example, instead of saying that you “managed the sales force,” it would be better if you stated that “I managed a 37% growth in revenue in the last four quarters.”
• Do a search and connect with as many recruiters as you can to find jobs in your target industry or job focus.
• Use LinkedIn Company Profiles to see if your network connection works at a particular company, and specific information about the company that you need for your cover letter and interview.
• Don’t forget to use LinkedIn’s job board.  Currently, there are over 5 million postings available when you search the Web on LinkedIn’s job board.
• If you find and apply for a job using LinkedIn’s job board, see if the job poster is someone in your extended network.  If so, ask for a referral or Introduction to that person so you can connect with him or her and make a great impression!

Post with Caution: Your Online Profile and Your Job Search (NACE, Job Choice Magazine, 2009)

If you are like many students, you probably have a profile on one of the many social networks found online. And, like many students, you may not have considered the potential damage your profile could do to your job search.

Because social networking sites are designed for social, not professional, purposes many students mistakenly believe that employers can't or won't look at their online profile. Wrong. Legally if you've put it out there for the world to see, the world including potential employers can see it. Some employers do check such sites to find out about candidates they are considering. In fact, a recent survey found that nearly 2 in 10 employers expect to use social networking sites in their search for potential employees, and more than one-third of those say they will check the profiles of potential hires.

Anything out there is fair game, and if your profile casts you in the wrong light, that could spell trouble. Advertising yourself as a party animal may enhance your image among some people, but most employers are going to be put off. Similarly, be careful that what others are posting about you doesn't reflect badly on you and that photos don't show you in questionable situations.

Many social networking sites allow you to omit who can have access to your profile, so take that step. But even with that security, it's a good idea to review your profiles and postings. Use the grandma test: Would you let your grandmother see your online profile? If not, clean it up.