Job Search 2.0 Podcast - How Linkedin Can Fast-Track Your Career Transition

(Vocus) June 25, 2009 -- Donna Sweidan, founder of Careerfolk, is an expert in Linkedin branding strategies (http://tinyurl.com/mhx8ad), career assessment, executive-level job search, on-line identity, resumes, and professional coaching. In a new interview on the popular career podcast, Total Picture Radio, Sweidan reveals little known techniques unemployed executives are using to make Linkedin their primary marketing tool in the job hunt.

"With thousands of professional recruiters using Linkedin every day to source candidates for job openings, Linkedin has become an important resource for executives in career transition to promote their accomplishments," according to social networking expert and career coach (http://tinyurl.com/mp3uk2) Donna Sweidan, founder of Stamford, CT based Careerfolk. (http://www.careerfolk.com) With unemployment roles continuing to swell, Sweidan has begun offering a series of webinars (http://tinyurl.com/mml7nr) to help professionals employ the rich trove of networking tools and opportunities Linkedin offers. "Linkedin continues to grow in importance, and now is an essential element in any job search campaign."

High-level strategies for employing Linkdedin, and other popular social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, is the focus of the new 25 minute podcast interview with Peter Clayton, producer/host of Total Picture Radio. Clayton found Ms. Sweidan through Linkedin Groups (http://tinyurl.com/n9tvuc). Impressed with the advice she was providing through her group, appropriately enough called Careerfolk, he invited the credentialed career coach to discuss her strategies on his career management podcast.

Employment trends, the Internet, and the highly competitive job market have fundamentally changed how everyone must approach a job search today. Those who’ve been downsized from the automotive, financial services, and real estate sectors are forced to look for opportunities in unfamiliar territory. Sweidan had this to say in the interview: "The rules have definitely changed, and I think that makes it so much harder – it's a whole new job search process that people have to learn and it definitely is a skill... even resumes have changed dramatically. I had a CEO in my office... whose resume still said 'objective' at the top. Objectives are very old school," according to Sweidan. "Employers and hiring managers don't really care what you're looking for; they want to see what you've got to offer... and how you might make a difference. While seemingly small, job search mistakes like this can be costly, particularly in a market as competitive as today's- it's so important to seek out professional help to understand what is truly expected of you."

Sweidan offers several very specific suggestions for using Linkedin. "For example, there are two sections ... the Answer section and Linkedin Groups... Those are two places that job seekers can just spend a little bit of time, look at the activity and the discussions that are going on; take part in the discussions, or post a question (in Linkedin Answers), allowing one to engage with other people in their industry or field and... build new connections... this small effort can be of tremendous value." According to Sweidan, "these strategies are very effective in finding, and allowing you to connect with people you don't know, who are outside your first level Linkedin network."

"I think networking today is not just about receiving, but it's very much about giving. It's very much about participating and helping others, answering questions – if you know the answer to something, share that information to help others because it can only come back to you in a positive way," she advises.

Sweidan uses recent industry statistics to make her case: "There are over 40 million professionals on Linkedin. According to a new ExecuNet survey, 86% of recruiters say their firms use Internet search engines to uncover information about potential candidates... that's why," Sweidan says, "having a well written, 100% completed Linkedin profile is so important. It will always appear on the first page of a Google name search, and if you're using Linkedin to your advantage, that's what you want those recruiters, HR execs, and hiring managers to find." 100% completed Linkedin profile is key to search engine results, she emphasizes.

A significant way Sweidan is helping clients is through a series of 2-hour webinars on how to use Linkedin as part of their career strategy. "I present a very holistic view of the relevance and value of LinkedIn, which I think is where many get stuck- many job seekers have a hard time getting their head around what is involved and how to use it effectively," she tells Clayton. "I build in the whole notion of personal branding and why that is important. That's a critical piece of the new job search today – understanding that you must market yourself. Linkedin really is a vessel for doing that."

Donna Sweidan's is generously offering Clayton's listeners a free 15 minute critique of their Linkedin profile (http://www.linkedin.com/in/donnasweidan). Send an email to info (at) careerfolk (dot) com with "Total Picture Radio offer" in the subject line. Be sure to include your contact information in the body of the email. Ms. Sweidan's office will contact you to arrange a personal phone call.

Sweidan’s podcast on Total Picture Radio can be found in the Career Transition (http://www.totalpicture.com/shows/career-transition/) channel, and includes a full transcript of the interview.

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