Finding the Work You Love

Getting LinkedIn

The old fashioned Rolodex seemed like such a great invention in its day. The device managed to hold all your scribblings and business cards in a single circular wheel and if you were ambitious or motivated enough to alphabetize everything and keep the information current, you could actually keep track of business associates, customers, and friends. Unfortunately, the Rolodex had one major drawback: If someone changed jobs or moved your card was toast. In fact, you could find yourself back to square one and completely out of touch.

Fast forward to the Digital Age. The Rolodex is DOA, though I'm certain you can still find one at an office supply store near you! More than 35 million people have turned to LinkedIn, which allows you to post your essential contact information and a resume online. This alone makes it a valuable tool for connecting to others. After changing jobs or moving, a quick update to one's profile keeps everyone connected. No more falling out of touch.

But LinkedIn serves as more than a way to post data and stay connected. It's also a way to network with others, ask questions and hold discussions, mine leads, and possibly find a new job. Corporate recruiters routinely scan LinkedIn for promising candidates. You can also check a job listings section, reverse check on hiring managers and other executives at a company, showcase your expertise or talent by participating in industry discussions, and let others know you are looking for work.

Meanwhile, small business owners can also use LinkedIn to amp up opportunities. You might expand your network and find new customers, give and receive references and recommendations, conduct market and business research, and post job listings of your own.

One of LinkedIn's most valuable features is the ability to view the connections of friends and colleagues. This creates a sort of "six degrees of profesional separation" that harnesses the full power of the Internet. It doesn't take a genuis to figure out that these individuals could represent new clients or customers as well as employers. But it can also help you reconnect to former colleagues and alumni groups.

Here's how LinkedIn works: When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your education, accomplishments, and work history. You then invite colleagues, clients, partners, and others of your choosing to “link in” to your network (and, conversely, they invite you). Once a person accepts, you can view his or her profile and other connections—as well as the additional people those connections know. LinkedIn offers a basic service that is free. For $20 to $200 per month, it also provides premium business accounts with more powerful features.

As with any networking tool, the bigger your investment in time and energy the greater your return. Last week I talked about using Twitter, the latest online service. While it's tempting to fire off a string of cliches (i.e. "Don't fix it if it ain't broke"; "Why reinvent the wheel?") just remember this disturbing fact: in today's business environment, standing still is the equivalent of moving backward. As other adopt these tools and use them to gain an advantage, you may find yourself a relic of a bygone era. Not exactly a comforting thought for an older worker.

But the opposite is true as well. Don't think that LinkedIn, Twitter, or any other service is going to automatically and single-handedly solve all your problems and catapult you to the top of the job market. In the end, finding the work (and job) you love is all about embracing a well-rounded approach and achieving balance in the quest for success.

The Working World is All Atwitter

Finding a job is never easy. For fifthysomething workers (or older) it may seem as though a foray into a new career or job is akin to entering an alien world straight out of Star Wars. You may hear words like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter and feel completely overwhelmed.

Today, let's take a look at Twitter and how it can help you land work. The microblogging site lets you post 140 character updates and ramblings. Think of it as text messaging on steroids. Other people follow you and you follow those you are interested in. You can message others and carry on public or private conversations online. Hence, the reason this service is called social networking. It's really all about exchanging news, thoughts, and ideas with others from all corners of the globe.

Here's where Twitter can prove valuable: If you have expertise on a subject--whether it's budget travel, marketing, or Web design--you can post news, tips, information, and more. Over time, and assuming you are providing valuable information and useful links--followers will gain respect for you and look to you for expertise. In essence, you're branding yourelf and establishing a reputation in a given field.

But gaining a following is only half the task. You also need to figure out who to follow. Some individuals play the numbers game and follow as many people as they can, in the hope that others will follow them back. But it may be wise to look toward a narrower group that's in line with your professional interests and aspirations. You can use the Twitter search tool for areas of keywords and common interests. Once you identify people who match your criteria, you can follow them and hope that they follow back. Again, over time, your trusted circle becomes larger and more powerful. If you're doing things right, you will find yourself connecting to other experts and authorities in your professional field.

This is where Twitter emerges as a powerful tool. It's then possible to expand these connections beyond Twitter and into e-mail, the telephone, even in person. Coffee or lunch isn't outside the realm of possibility once people get to know and trust each other. Moreover, many companies and professional recruiters monitor Twitter and look for promising candidates.

If all of this seems like a good deal of work, well...it is. But like any effort, the time and energy you invest will pay dividends down the line. A few things to know, however:

1. Don't expect overnight results. You must build a following and establish connections with others you want to follow well before you actually need it. This process can take weeks or months. It requires that you post items regularly and participate in discussions. Remember, the more you give the more you get back.

2. You must learn how to use Twitter effectively. You need to set up a good profile. Not surprisingly, there are rules and eqitquette you must follow. Step outside the boundaries and you are like to find yourself spinning your wheels and going nowhere.

3. Be careful what you say. Don't badmouth anyone and understand that although you don't see all the people out there in Twitterland, they are there...and seeing your Tweets. More than a few individuals have short-circuited their job or career search by posting something dumb.

4. Enjoy the process. Try to have some fun with networking online and getting more familiar with social netowrking in general. As with anything in life, good things often happen when you're not trying too hard and forcing the action.

5. Don't think of Twitter as simply a way to find a job. Building a network can lead to many additional dividends, including new friends, emotional support, and freelance or consulting gigs. Keep your radar up and remain open to new opportunties.

Finding the work you love can take many forms. Twitter is just one of them. But these days it pays to think social--and in networking.

Laying the Groundwork for a Career Move

If you’ve ever taken a long road trip, you know how important it is to do some serious planning before you grab the steering wheel and head out on the highway. Your preparation can determine whether you drive on smooth roads, see the sites, stay at nice inns and eat good meals—or wind up on a bumpy road to headache and heartburn. In the recareering arena, traveling from Point A to Point B requires a career map that leads you to your destination with a minimum of detours and breakdowns.  Those who spend the time and energy developing a plan are likely to experience a smoother and more enjoyable journey. Let’s look at how you can move your career planning initiative into the fast lane.

 Use Social networking sites. A virtual network can pay enormous dividends. For example, LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com)  allows you to build a professional network by, you guessed it, linking to others but also viewing their circle of trusted individuals. The idea is that by establishing groups of professional colleagues, it’s possible to create connections that lead to jobs, new clients, business opportunities and more. However, just as it takes time to build a network in the physical world, you must lay the foundation in the virtual world before you need it. Other services, including, ZoomInfo.com and Congoo.com, let you create or edit a profile and search for job leads. Recruiters often use it to spot job candidates. Also, don't overlook Twitter and Facebook. More than a few job offers and professional connections have taken place at these sites.

Connect with a corporate alumni group. More than 500 major companies and organizations now operate alumni groups in one form or another. The list includes Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Ernst & Young. Those belonging to an alumni group find that staying in touch with former colleagues often generates new business, enhances networking opportunities and sometimes leads to a new job. Corporate alumni networks operate in much the same way as university alumni groups. Participants hold regular events and meetings, host job-referral programs, publish alumni directories, offer professional training sessions and provide career-placement services. Some groups encourage former employees to attend meetings, parties and other functions that keep them tuned into business developments and industry trends. And many now use newsletters, Websites and social networking tools to ratchet up interaction. You can find more information about corporate alumni groups at: www.corporatealumni.com.

Get involved with an industry association or local business group. Joining a professional organization—and participating in it (especially volunteering to serve on a committee or chair a committee) will likely raise your profile among colleagues and prospective employers. Moreover, attending meeting, mixers and others events will likely make you more visible to others. Although this approach often works best for individuals looking to find a new job in the same field, it can also open up new career vistas—particularly among those looking to reinvent themselves or build on their talents. Another possibility: join your local Chamber of Commerce and get to know others in your community. This approach is particularly effective if you’re considering opening your own business. You’re likely to find instant customers and also find businesses that cater to your  needs.

Look for fast track opportunities.  In a few professions it’s now possible to use existing education, experience and knowledge to transition to a new career—without facing the usual litany of requirements. For example, alternative certification has become commonplace in the teaching arena. Twenty percent of today’s teaching force is comprised of novice teachers from alternative route programs, according to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). These programs are designed to fill shortages in key areas, such as math, science, special education, and English as a Second Language (ESL). In many cases, they require only a bachelor’s degree and additional coursework, which an individual can tackle part-time and online. This makes it possible to prepare for a career change while working in an existing job or profession. An organization such as the National Center for Alternative Certification (www.teach-now.org) can put you on the right track. In addition, private schools often hire teachers based on experience rather than certifications and credentials, and most schools hire substitutes without  requiring teaching credentials.

Getting Social (as in networking)

It's tempting to dismiss today's online tools and social networking sites as nothing more than fluffy toys and eye candy for Gen Y and Millennials. Big mistake! As I discuss in "Finding the Work You Love," the world is moving online and those who don't understand how to use today's tech tools are at a complete disadvantage when it comes to landing work. That's because networking and hiring is rapidly migrating from paper to pixels.

First of all, set up a LinkedIn account. Once you fill out a profile, it serves as sort of an online resume, complete with your background and work history. Increasingly, recruiters and hiring managers look for candidates on LinkedIn. It also allows you to connect with colleagues and friends. If they move or change jobs, you remain in touch. They may know of open positions or actually wind up looking for candidates themselves, if they start a new business. Moreover, LinkedIn let you view your friends connections. You may discover potential job opportunities and find yourself expanding your network.

Another outstanding tool is Facebook. It's not quite as career and job oriented as LinkedIn--but it's also a great way to stay in touch with a social and professional circle. In fact, behind all the fun and games lies some fairly powerful tools, including electronic business cards, opportunities for work related discussions, and posted links. A few employers, too, are now turning to the site to find talent.

Finally, check out Twitter, a rapidly growing microblogging site. It lets you post comments, information, and/or links up to 140 characters long. If you're looking to build a following in a particular domain--whether it's candy-making or yoga--it can help. In addition, Twitter can help you find others working in the same field or with similar interests. And like LinkedIn, some hiring managers and recruiters mine the site for prospects.

If you're looking for more information about these services (which are all free), search Google, Obviously, it's not as simple as just setting out your doormat and expecting visitors. Using these services effectively requires some effort--and expertise. But, for those willing to go social, the rewards can be  considerable. You may land your dream job and find the work you love!