I just returned from the Career Directors International (CDI) conference last night. What a great time seeing old colleagues and meeting new ones. A truly enjoyable and informative conference.

For some of the presenters, including Jason Alba, Barbara Safani, and Louise Kursmark, their underlying theme was the importance of using Web 2.0 business and social networks to increase visibility. My job seeker take away from these speakers was that being visible on these networks is vital in today’s economy and with today’s available technology. Job seekers can effectively use this job search strategy to develop their visibility for recruiters, hiring managers and decision makers.

Creating keyword and content rich profiles and becoming a proactive participant on networking sites such as Linkedin.com, Facebook.com and Twitter.com are a great way to start. However, being active on these networks is only effective if you use these sites as tools to build your brand and value proposition.

Keep communications professional to quickly increase your brand by including articles, opinions, and helpful site, book, blog and speaker links and recommendations. It is an effective way to strengthen your online presence and make your first impression positive and make you memorable for the right reasons.

Friday’s Free for All

Today is Friday and for tweeters on twitter that means it is #FridayFollow …my favorite twitter day of the week!

On Friday we take a little time to say thank you to those special people we follow daily. Sometimes it is just because they have a friendly or cute avatar, other times it is for the support, wisdom, friendship or their brief but heartfelt morning prayer that you appreciate them. So we let others know about these great people by displaying their usernames and reminding others to #FridayFollow (#FF) them for short.

I love this little ritual – reminds me to be appreciative, grateful and thankful for my friends. Tomorrow our country will be doing the same thing by observing Independence Day. It represents our freedom and that despite the troubles our country is currently having, it is still a pretty awesome place to live. Take the time to share in the celebration and appreciation for living in Freedom in the United States.

Enjoy the fireworks, celebrations and your freedom!!!

If you want a place to go that is filled with positive, forward-moving individuals, get on Twitter. It takes a while to “get it” but along the way you’ll meet great people and be overwhelmed as I am with the positive interactions I read and have everyday.

No moaning and groaning (for the most part), no complaining – just positive ways to help others and gratitude to others for help received. I love waking up, having my coffee and reading interactions, links and tweets about positive things going on around the world.

With today’s media focusing only on negatives and doom and gloom I enjoy the refreshing taste of Twitter – you should too.

Feel free to follow me – I’ll follow right back atcha!

http://www.twitter.com/krisplantrich

Happy Easter and Shine On!

Just came from Twitter, doing a quick check in before I start work on a new healthcare resume. It is a good way to de-stress the mind and …clear the pallet before starting on a new project, plus it’s fun.

 I read a quote a follower of mine had put up as a tweet, it read, “The gent who wakes up and finds himself a success hasn’t been asleep” – Wilson Mizner. This quote really hit home after coaching a client this morning on job search strategies. The strategies are easy it is the searching that takes motivation and commitment.

Those who I hear saying, it isn’t fair my niece/friend/coworker/etc got a job doing what I am looking for and I’ve been looking longer – I deserve the job. My thought and (sometimes) answer is – No You Don’t! You’ve been sleeping while others have been working hard to make contacts, get noticed, and find hidden and not-so-hidden jobs.

Or, maybe they are settling for something that isn’t a perfect fit or not at the salary they had hoped for but it is a good job and it is a job. In today’s economy, sometimes people can’t hold out for the ideal job. I still tell my clients to search for what they really want, not for what they can get. But, I’ve seen the repeated struggles of job seekers looking for work and I completely understand the urgency of finding a good job even if it isn’t the idea job, at least for now.

 So – this might sound like a kick in the pants but…if you don’t want to keep complaining about what others have – quit sleeping and try walking a mile in their job search shoes. You might learn a few things and even find a job!

 OK – I hope I’m not being too harsh…this is written with love ♥♥

I am finally understanding the obsession many have developed over www.Twitter.com. I joined a while ago and have even posted a few tweets but only had a few followers and a few I was following. Little by little I am beginning to understand the unique appeal it offers for the followers and followed. Those quick little blurbs are concise and to the point – even if there is no point. It is a great way to share knowledge, ask for help, and get to know others.

It is not only socially fun but it is a great way to get your name out to others. You can search (at the bottom and top of your twitter home page) to find others that are of interest to you. Then, you can start following those you want to notice you. Usually people follow those that follow them, so there is a good chance your target audience will start paying attention to what you have to say.

For a job seeker you can put the word out, search for help, contacts, companies and more. Right now, I am still learning and will share more once I am completely comfortable with all the benefits and uses of Twitter.

Try twittering today or sending me a quick hello. www.twitter.com/krisplantrich

Shine On fellow twitterers,

Kris