July 1, 2011
The utility of the old one pager resume has faded. The Social Era is calling for a new and creative approach to hiring. IT pros now need to brand themselves professionally and socially.
MercuryNews says that “thousands of people in Silicon Valley are unemployed and looking for work. But, for tech workers with the right skills, work is looking for them.”
So the good news is that IT jobs are out there. However, consultants might be finding it difficult to sift through the online debris and hone in on the right job. Here are some ideas to help you discover a treasure chest of suitable jobs.
Partner with a staffing agency. This will enable you to find the best job fit for you. Let the pros do the work.
First, find the right staffing agency that fits your style, Make sure the staffing agency understands and cares about your personality and needs. This is the ultimate professional networking. They need to impress you just as much as you impress them. Ask questions:
- What are their business practices like?
- What is their success ratio in placing candidates?
- What are their sources for obtaining candidates?
- How do they prep candidates for assignments?
- What is their fee structure?
During the interview with a staffing agency, consider if there’s mutual understanding between both parties. It is important for the agency to know what you are looking for so that they can find the best cultural fit. And, lastly, make sure they have your best interest in mind.
When searching for a staffing agency, look at their level of social involvement. A strong and successful staffing agency has a large following. Follow and join their conversations through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other blogs. As a staffing agency, they should be highly active in social media. This should be a key tool for their networking and readership.
The Silicon Valley job marketing is constantly increasing according to MercuryNews. "Because the valley has a higher concentration of talent than almost anywhere else, companies from out of state, like Dell and Groupon, are opening offices here, hoping to make hires but adding to the competition." This gives you the perfect opportunity to help build and grow within a company and staffing agencies usually have the ‘in’ on these opportunities.
Manage your personal branding. You’re already an IT expert, but are you socially involved? Use social media as a way to effectively and efficiently network and impress both your recruiter and future employer. Don’t just follow conversation; lead conversation, share opinions and respond. Balance listening, leading and engaging on the social channels. Also, don’t be afraid to write your own blogs. Do your research, form an opinion and share it. You want to highlight your knowledge and online activity. Show that you are up to date with the ever-changing technologies.
Looking for a job can be a full time job in itself. Make the search easier by doing all you can to network socially and professionally. It’s all about personal branding so think of the goal of social media as attempting to establish yourself as an IT thought leader. With a strong online presence and the right staffing professionals, you are significantly improving your chances at finding the right fit in the right role.
