Do Your Research...and continue networking

Before you begin applying for jobs with companies, be sure to do your research. View their company website to make sure this is a company you would like work for. You can find out a lot about company philosophy and their managers/owners just by looking at their site.

Also, research LinkedIn's company profile. LinkedIn can also offer you a glimpse at who you might know at the company. If you know someone (or if you know someone who knows someone), that is where networking comes in. Here is how using LinkedIn works...do a search for the company (using the "Search Companies" pull down). When that company is listed, it will hopefully have a connection (either first or 2nd level) of who you know at the company. If you know someone, call that person and have them give you the name of who you should address the cover letter to. If you are comfortable, have them contact HR to get your resume referred to the Department/Manager of the job for which you are applying. You are much more likely to get an interview if you are referred from an employee.

Keep talking about your job search...keep networking. A great example of networking happened yesterday. Someone I know is applying for a position at Boeing. She doesn't know anyone at Boeing, but she knows me and I know someone at Boeing. So I made a phone call to the person I know to see what they could do in the way of getting her resume at least in some one's hands. Right now there are a lot of people applying for the positions posted. I made the phone call and today I was informed that the phone call was made and her resume will at least make it out of the pile of resumes and hopefully land her an interview.

Networking is essential. Rather than working tirelessly applying to companies where no one knows you, research those companies to see if you have any relationships (or if anyone in your network has relationships). I will send out a blast to my network on Facebook asking the question. On LinkedIn, you can just do a company search and it will let you know if you have anyone in your network that works for that company or if anyone in your network knows someone.

I hate to be repetitive, but after three weeks into the search, this is when our technique starts to slip. We feel bad about asking our friends repeatedly. Don't feel bad. They need reminders. If your friends aren't looking for work, they forget that we are, so it's important to continue to remind them. They will forgive you. And if they can help you in your search, they will feel great that they could help. Continue the dialogue...it can only help.

And regarding your LinkedIn profile, ask for recommendations. Prospective employers are looking at you because they can. Get your profile in order so employers will be impressed with what they see. Another important tip...make sure your resume is part of your profile and that the resume is up to date with the resume you are sending out. You don't want discrepancies in who you are either online or on your resume.

Don't get discouraged. I know a lot of you keep in touch with staff that was laid off earlier in the year (or even earlier) that may not have found employment yet. The difference between you and them is that they didn't have the support system in place that you do now. No one was offering to assist them with their resume (by the way...that is about a $300 expense if you use a service...take advantage of your friendly Marketing Department!!). They didn't have this blog to give them information about networking, etc. (I know the information is somewhat disorganized...I just type it out as it comes to me). They didn't have the moral support of an office full of people experiencing the same plight. While this is painful (like watching someone die), we are kind of lucky. We can talk through the anxiety, we can use the built-in network of our coworkers, and we can ask for help because we are all experiencing the same thing. So know that you have an advantage to those laid off earlier. Take advantage of the network and the assistance.

Oh...and the friendly Marketing Department knows a little about job searching because that is what we did for CMX...look for work, propose on potential projects, sell the company. I am here to assist you in your search!! Let me know what I can do to help. In the meantime...chin up! It's not as bad as everyone says it is...promise.