Since I'm a big Star Wars fan, I think I'll keep with that theme for the title of my first blog post. :)
The job market has certainly changed over the last few years. The biggest change has been the use, and importance, of social media in your search. They say that 75% of all jobs these days are found through networking and only 15% through job boards. Thus, networking is much more important than trolling for jobs on the internet. Besides, it's more fun too! I have heard that many companies cringe at the thought of hiring people who submit their resumes through job boards, figuring if they don't have any connections they may not be a good social fit. While I don't necessarily agree with that sentiment, that is how the game is being played now. The average resume is reviewed for about 6 seconds, so you better have a top notch resume to go along with your top notch networking skills. These are good things to know for those who have not had to look for a job in a long time. The game has changed, and you have to play it the right way to get hired these days.
Thus, the reason for this website. Along with putting up a profile and making connections on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, I put this website together to give people a little more insight into my personal and professional life. These days, employers want to know three things: 1) Can you do the job (skills and experience), 2) Will you do the job (interest and passion) and 3) Do you fit in with the culture of the department and company (personality and character). Therefore, I think a website is a great way to share your more personal side, as well as your professional side. You can do so much more on a website than you can on other social media sites, which are fairly constrained in terms of content and format.
It is hard to believe that I should be spending more time at lunches and networking events and trade association events and all other kinds of events as opposed to actually looking for a job! Seems odd, but that's what the experts suggest. To that end, I look forward to networking online, in person, over the phone, or whatever, with all of you! I look forward to hearing about your job/company/industry and your personal life too. I also look forward to sharing my insights on the economy and job market and other things.
So, thanks for visiting my website, and I hope to see you or chat with you soon!
P.S. Right now I am looking for opportunities in economics, finance, microfinance, public speaking, philanthropy, economic development or poverty reduction. If I can find something that is related to Africa, in some way or another, even better!
The job market has certainly changed over the last few years. The biggest change has been the use, and importance, of social media in your search. They say that 75% of all jobs these days are found through networking and only 15% through job boards. Thus, networking is much more important than trolling for jobs on the internet. Besides, it's more fun too! I have heard that many companies cringe at the thought of hiring people who submit their resumes through job boards, figuring if they don't have any connections they may not be a good social fit. While I don't necessarily agree with that sentiment, that is how the game is being played now. The average resume is reviewed for about 6 seconds, so you better have a top notch resume to go along with your top notch networking skills. These are good things to know for those who have not had to look for a job in a long time. The game has changed, and you have to play it the right way to get hired these days.
Thus, the reason for this website. Along with putting up a profile and making connections on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, I put this website together to give people a little more insight into my personal and professional life. These days, employers want to know three things: 1) Can you do the job (skills and experience), 2) Will you do the job (interest and passion) and 3) Do you fit in with the culture of the department and company (personality and character). Therefore, I think a website is a great way to share your more personal side, as well as your professional side. You can do so much more on a website than you can on other social media sites, which are fairly constrained in terms of content and format.
It is hard to believe that I should be spending more time at lunches and networking events and trade association events and all other kinds of events as opposed to actually looking for a job! Seems odd, but that's what the experts suggest. To that end, I look forward to networking online, in person, over the phone, or whatever, with all of you! I look forward to hearing about your job/company/industry and your personal life too. I also look forward to sharing my insights on the economy and job market and other things.
So, thanks for visiting my website, and I hope to see you or chat with you soon!
P.S. Right now I am looking for opportunities in economics, finance, microfinance, public speaking, philanthropy, economic development or poverty reduction. If I can find something that is related to Africa, in some way or another, even better!