Career Chaos

I'M ADDICTED TO TWITTER

I admit it. I discovered Twitter and got addicted to posting tweets instead of blogging here. Sorry, but Twitter is so cool! Each post (called a tweet) can only be 140 characters or less, so it forces me to be succinct and focused in my post. I love being brief!

So far, the only other problem is I find myself slipping into Twitter shortcut language when writing emails. Oops! Not very professional.

Want to follow me on http://twitter.com/KCCareerCoach?

Here are fivelinks I've picked up from other tweeps' tweets this week:

1) Twittering Recruiter Directory (free). 250 recruiter links: http://tinyurl.com/cwdu5w

2) Ten Things to Do After Layoff: http://tinyurl.com/cf6xkd

3) Take Proactive Steps to Avoid a Layoff: http://tinyurl.com/cqd3cw

4) Why Your Job Search Isn't Getting You a Job: http://tinyurl.com/c3ba3l

5) Have a job search question? Need advice? http://jobsearch.about.com/

Explore!

WHY I LOVE TO BLOG

I accept the challenge of my friend Patsi Krakoff to share why I enjoy blogging:

1. I love to reach out to help my audience who's facing career changes.

2. I love being "edgy" sometimes just for the heck of it.

3. I love making new friends who find me through my blog.

4. I love to challenge others to think outside that darn box.

5. I love being on the Internet - and blogging is a huge piece of that.

So who will accept my challenge to share why they love to blog?

I'm tagging my friends below:

Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter

Janine Moon

Melani Ward

Maiya Rose Benda

Laura Berman Fortgang

JOB SEARCH WITH TWITTER

From one of my LinkedIn Groups I found a great post on how to use Twitter to help you with a job search. The following is from Mary Pat Whaley who has her own blog, "Manage My Practice." Mary Pat has been in the healthcare field and is now looking for a new opportunity. You gotta check out her blog.

Here's one of her job search strategies:

1. Join Twitter ( www.twitter.com ) for free. You can use Twitter on your computer, or on your phone, or both.

2. Click on the "SEARCH" link at the bottom of your new home page.

3. Enter these hashtags (or pointers) in the search box to find tweets relating to jobs: #rtjobs #jobangels #job

4. In the box where you can answer the question "What are you doing?", enter info about the job you need to fill, or the job you want (in 140 characters or less.) Here's mine: #rtjobs Desire job managing lg doc practice that is interested in SM & innovation - my blog is managemypractice.com, will relocate

5. Feel free to Follow me - my name is @mpwhaley and you can go to my home page by using this: http://twitter.com/mpwhaley What innovative ways are you finding to address your needs in the new job market?

BTW, follow me on Twitter, too, @KCCareerCoach - happy networking!

NEW JOB SEARCH SITE

Want to by-pass recruiters? Check out LinkUp, a free job search site for "Searching jobs from 17,408 company websites." You may even contribute to their website on their forum at http://linkup.uservoice.com/ and follow them on Twitter @linkup.

CAREER CHANGE: CAN A RECRUITER HELP?

When you contemplate changing jobs, you may consider looking for a recruiter. But did you know that a recruiter is only interested in you if you meet certain criteria? Before we even go there, though, know that recruiters NEVER work for you - they work for the employers who contract with them.

So what criteria do recruiters use to assess if you are worth their time?

First, recruiters usually prefer candidates who are currently employed. If you're not working, an employer can usually find you on their own.

Second, recruiters usually can't make a match with a candidate who wants to change careers. Employers will only pay recruiter commissions for candidates who currently work in the field they're hiring for - they won't pay recruiter commissions if they have to train a candidate for an entirely new career. Training vs. commissions - see my point?

Third, recruiters usually want to find you - not the other way around. Many consider it a waste of their time to interview candidates if they don't have employer contracts for the positions these candidates want.

In today's Kansas City Star, columnist Diane Stafford explores recruiting practices and has some good advice for job seekers from an actual headhunter, "How to Attract a Headhunter."