LinkedIn, Locked and Loaded...BUT Don't Hit That Send Button

When you start a blog, you never know how it will be received. Will people read it? Is it relevant?

Well I got my answer pretty quickly.

It only took three hours for Dear Job Hunter to get its first question. There's no doubt that there are a lot of Americans that are in the same boat.

From a Dear Job Hunter Reader:

Hi Trish,

What a great blog you’ve started. It will be helpful to a lot of people.

I am currently looking for a job career change. I would like to know how to use LinkedIn when searching for a job when currently employed, especially when you know your employer looks at what their employees are putting on LinkedIn and facebook. I would like to be more open and say I am looking for opportunities, yet do not feel that would be appropriate. What’s the best way to approach this? From what I’ve been reading more and more headhunters are looking on LinkedIn for candidates. I want my profile to grab their attention!

Dear Job Hunter answers:

LinkedIn, Locked, and Loaded...BUT Don't Hit That Send Button!

I contacted LinkedIn for an answer to your question and while they don't actually respond to press inquiries, they did refer me to one of "their" people who is a true LinkedIn groupie...and I mean that! LinkedIn apparently has a focus group they use to respond to the media on its behalf. These are handpicked social media experts who have proven themselves on LinkedIn and elsewhere.

Dave Peck, of www.thedavepeck.com, says you may be able to create or use an existing LinkedIn Group to place your resume and information. However, after chatting for a few minutes, I asked, "is this 100% safe for LinkedIn members to be sure their current boss can't find their profile that states they are looking for a new job?" We decided, absolutely NOT!

So with that being said, Dear Job Hunter suggests that LinkedIn consider setting-up a private section for users to post their profiles, and then LinkedIn should allow those job hunting posters a setting that allows them to block those they don't want viewing their profile.

If you agree with this suggestion, please post a comment in the comments section below. Maybe we can get LinkedIn to make a change that's good for everyone.

And, if one of my readers already has a little trick they are using to protect themselves...jump into the conversation and give us insight into how to go about a successful job hunt on LinkedIn.

Trish Hoffman

You can comment directly here on this blog. For privacy email me: Trishhoffman@gmail.com.

Is There a Glimmer of Hope in the Hewlett Packard Job Cut Announcement?

Today, Hewlett Packard Company (H-P), based in Palo Alto, California, announced it will cut 9,000 jobs and replace some of those workers with animated services. The computer behemoth will spend about $1 billion on this transition over several years according to Jerry A. Dicolo of the Wall Street Journal.

There is a silver lining...the article states H-P will hire 6,000 new workers! This means H-P will be looking for new talent, in new fields! And, yes...it is plausible that those who lose their current H-P jobs may have a shot at one of the new ones. Just because you have been working in one job, doesn't mean you can't go after a new one at the same firm.

How?

It cold be as simple as current employees taking the time to closely examine their strengths and ambitions then determine how to adapt their overall skills to the new look of the H-P positions. This needs to be a deep dive where current H-P employees are honest with themselves about what they have to offer in the firm's new automated age.

This automated concept isn't going away. It is here and we have to learn to live with it. And really what's the big deal? Humans invented and built the machines, now we have to learn how to work ourselves into the mix.

Automated services is also on the mind of former eBay CEO and California Gubinatorial Candidate Meg Whitman. I met Ms. Whitman at the Junior League of Chicago's Book Author Series luncheon at the Union League Club a few months ago. She was the featured speaker promoting her new book, "The Power of Many".

Whitman spoke about the need to balance the California state budget and to get Californians working again. She feels automation is one of the ways to balance that budget. She added while automated services will absorb some jobs now performed by Californians, automation leads the way for new jobs....this sounds similar to what H-P is planning.

Do I smell a job revolution? Is it possible for the Golden State to find a Pot of Gold at the end of a rainbow?

Trish Hoffman

Welcome to Dear Job Hunter!

Think of this blog as the Dear Abby of job hunting.

This blog is meant to be an inspirational forum for Americans who need a job.

I want to hear from THE REAL job hunter…the unemployed, recent college grads and job changers. Share your stories of how you are making ends meet and how you are maintaining your integrity and self-esteem during this job revolution.

I will share ideas that can help you look for a job, identify your skill-set and get your resume ready. I’ll post tips on interviewing, networking, using social media, plus offer suggestions on what to wear on that all-important interview.

In this day-and-age, you have to bring out the big guns and get creative! You are the only one who can lead your job search.

Dear Job Hunter is where you can post questions about your job search. I will work on finding the answer.

Don’t be shy, even if you have a job that’s okay, you may want a better one and we can help there too!

There were several motivating factors that caused me to create this blog.

First of all, I have been unemployed…so I have first hand experience! I actually started my boutique media company on an unemployment check with a laptop and a cell phone.

With hard work and perseverance, I’ve gone from an award-winning journalist to running my own successful firm.

The second reason was seeing my family members, of all ages, out of work and struggling to make ends meet in this dreary job market.

Most unemployed Americans are in the same boat…expired unemployment benefits, insurance coverage is threatened or gone…and dark days looming ahead because the job market is shrinking.

Look at those closest to you. You my have a job, but I bet someone in your inner circle doesn’t.

Research shows millions of Americans have been affected by this dreadful economy. So much so that we find the job market shrinking with little hope of recovering.

According to David Wessel’s Meet the Unemployable Man on May 6, 2010 in the Wall Street Journal, more than 6.5 million people are looking for work right now, and that doesn’t include those who have given up.

Let’s face it, without a job there isn’t much you can do…you can’t shop, you can’t improve your lifestyle, and chances are you can’t make anyone happy…especially yourself. In most cases, unemployment strips you of your self-esteem and begin to wonder "what in the world can happen next?".

Dear Job Hunter is here as a tool to help everyone remain positive, but offer solutions. Remember, there’s strength in numbers!

Send me your questions with a little bit about yourself. In turn, I will interview experts in the field of career management and psychology, to give you some tips on how to make your life better during these trying times. From time to time I will interview top business executives, who will tell you what they are looking for from job seekers and what gets their attention when reviewing a swell of resumes.

Let’s not make excuses about why America isn’t working, let’s make it work! Please share your stories and I will work on finding you an expert who can help you out of this mess!

If you are an expert and think you can help, please send me an email so I may feature your work and suggestions.

If you are an employer hiring, please post your job here!

A little more about me…

I’m the founder of Blitz Group based in Chicago. I’m an award-winning journalist, publicist and volunteer. I’m currently creating “A Healthy Serving”, a 501 C-3 non-profit organization that raises money for nutritional programs for underprivileged families.

Disclaimer: Dear Job Hunter does not offer job opportunities, guarantee work or future employment opportunities. Sorry!