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Do you belong to professional associations?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week’s ajcjobs cover story discusses how industry networks can be valuable assets when job searching. The key, according to experts, is to become involved in professional organizations in your own industry while you are still employed. This way, you can build up valuable contacts and resources that can be tapped into if you do find yourself looking for employment in the future.
Below are just a select few of the many industry associations in Atlanta and online business networking organizations:
SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) - Atlanta
AMA (American Marketing Association) - Atlanta Chapter
Public Relations Society of America - Georgia Chapter
Job Seekers - Cobb Co. Chapter
About.com Guide to Job Searching: Best Social Network Sites for Job Searching
Do you belong to professional associations in your industry? Are they helpful when it comes to job searching?
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Online job boards: Useful or a waste of time?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When looking for a job in today’s world, online job boards are a popular destination. You can search for available jobs, usually apply online, post your resume and even network online. Here are some of the more popular online job boards:
What has your experience been with online job boards? Are they helpful or are they a waste of time?
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Fired for Christmas?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you’ve been fired around the holidays, it can be an especially difficult blow to your life. But if you are looking for a stocking full of opportunity instead of coal, e-resume.net expert Chandra Fox offers the following tips:
For resume tips and other career advice, visit our Career Center and Atlanta job search resources
Part-time jobs in season in Atlanta
What job search and networking strategies have you tried? What have the results been so far?
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Time for job seekers to get silly?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This week, a local job seeker who was tired of running into dead ends while searching for employment decided to get into the spirit of the season, to try to attract attention and hopefully snag a job. Unemployed medical assistant Jeffery Roof donned an elf hat and wore a sandwich board with his contact information, working the corner of Freedom Parkway at Ralph McGill in Atlanta. He also carried a bucket full of resumes that he was ready to hand out to potential employers that drove by during the morning rush hour.
Before you laugh, a similar tactic worked for Joshua Persky. What do you think about “extreme job searches”? Would you resort to odd tactics or gimmicks in order to get noticed by employers?
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Network to the top in a tough job market
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Many in the metro Atlanta area have lost their jobs this year. More layoffs are expected next year. Here’s some helpful advice from e-resume.net expert Chandra Fox:
It is important to network throughout our careers and we all say we do it, but keeping in touch is the hard part. When one loses their job, they tend to want to dive into networking. How can you reconnect with old connections if it has been years or months without seeming desperate or like you are using the old friends only to find a new job? So how should you get started?
Reconnect Build your networking pool by joining Social Networking groups. LinkedIn, for example will allow you to contact previous co-workers at each place you’ve worked that are in the LinkedIn database. You can also connect with alumni from your alma mater. Add your resume and then you will be able to access a list of people from the same office with the same company. It can be very useful. While Facebook is more of a mix of socializing than strictly job networking, it can’t hurt to update your Facebook contacts about your job search. In addition to online networking services, call old pals from previous jobs or drop them an e-mail to check in with them. It will give you an idea of the jobs they have and help you get started in finding your next position. Building a strong foundation for networking and reconnecting with co-workers and industry professionals is very important.
Make it Personal Talk to current friends at your current or most recent place of employment. A dozen sets of eyes are better than flying solo in this market. See what these co-workers are doing and see how you can potentially gain interviews or contacts through these affiliations. What if you learn one of your old buddies is with a new company who is hiring 50 people in 30 days? That is good information to have and will better your chances with any career moves you are looking to make.
Be Informed Join your industry’s organizations to keep a close eye on any changes. Visit the Internet Public Library to find organizations than can be a benefit. You can then keep an eye on industry trends and business nuances and see the changes involving key players within your industry. Maybe become active in your local Chamber of Commerce, volunteer and stay informed in regard to local changes and any news to keep an eye on changes within your community that will be beneficial. This will keep you ahead of the masses.
So you can either be frozen when losing your job and make little to no progress in regard to your career or you can stay proactive and ride out the change with more confidence and information, less isolation and a better attitude.
Please share what you have tried in regard to networking. How did it work out?
Latest comments
One of the great benefits of professional groups to job seekers is that it practically guarantees that any non-member won’t find employment.... read the full comment by ron | Comment on Do you belong to professional associations? Read Do you belong to professional associations?
I have attended more networking meetings than I could count, at the Georgia Department of Labor and at half a dozen churches. My efforts have taken place mostly since 2003, although back in ‘96-97 I networked. The result has been absolutely nothing... read the full comment by Cindy | Comment on Network to the top in a tough job market Read Network to the top in a tough job market
Easy answer is, it depends on what type of work you’re looking for and how good your resume actually is. For people who can’t write one, or try to lie & pad it, employers & recruiters can weed those out fast. So no, they don’t... read the full comment by NappyD | Comment on Online job boards: Useful or a waste of time? Read Online job boards: Useful or a waste of time?
I hate those job boards, although I found my current job on American Job Bank two years ago, I have not had luck finding anything else.... read the full comment by DMB | Comment on Online job boards: Useful or a waste of time? Read Online job boards: Useful or a waste of time?