QUESTION: Drawing the line between effective promotion and spam

This is a question I've asked my LinkedIn network, and I also ask here:

How do you draw the line between effective promotion and spam?

When marketing a brand or doing some other type of publicity for someone or something, there are effective ways to promote, and there are not so effective ways. How do identify, especially in the digital age in which we live, where the line between effective promotion (self- or otherwise) is and where you've crossed it?

Comments are open and genuinely appreciated!

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr self+branding

crossposted to http://danieljohnsonjr.blogspot.com

Visit DiversityJobs.com for articles, news, and advice on Diversity recruiting.

Questions YOU should ask during an interview

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It's A Mashup World for Job Seekers

Welcome to the world of mashups. I first came to understand that term as applied to mixing up different kinds of music when I started listening to podcasts back in July 2005. Now the term applies to mixing up all kinds of media, including feeds from different websites.

Have you heard of Yahoo! Pipes? This is a website that lets you set up and create your own mashups of information from different websites. For example, there's a pipe that finds videos on YouTube related to items on the front page of the New York Times. Another pipes searches YouTube for music videos for the top 10 songs found on iTunes.

An interesting thing about these pipes is that you can subscribe to the RSS feed in an aggregator such as Google Reader or Bloglines.

While browsing Yahoo! Pipes earlier today, I found some that others have created that relate to job searching. Check them out, and, by all means, use.

• Business Intelligence Jobs Pipe, search for any job, not just Business Intelligence
• craiglist - Nationwide Development Gigs (Top 20 cities)
• Diversity Working Jobs Search

What tools have you found useful to you in your job search? Let me know.

• iTunes Mashup picture via Mashup.Podcast
• yahoo pipes web2.0 mashup, originally uploaded by FSSE-INFO™

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Find more on diversity in the workplace at DiversityJobs.com.

A little link-love...

... could go a long way.

reaching down1,
originally uploaded by addy1969.

I've noticed a number of interesting websites linking back here, lately:

• Open Future©: John S. Veitch from New Zealand includes this blog in a section entitled "People With Ideas" - I consider that a compliment.


• Work in Progress: Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is a New York-based staff writer for TIME. She writes about workplace trends. I'm encouraged to be among the blogroll.


• The Job Blog: A set of regularly updated links to jobs and career information from around the web, coming via the Boston Globe's web site.


• Water Cooler Wisdom: Alexandra Levit's up-to-the-minute career advice from one who has survived the trenches.


• Wired and Hired: written by recruiters to help professionals navigate changing jobs in marketing, p.r., and advertising careers.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr

Test drive your dream job

This is interesting. One of my Twitter friends told me to check out Vocation Vacations.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking daniel+johnson+jr twitter vocation+vacations

Read local business journals for market info potential leads

Do you read the local business journal the city where you live or want to work? Years ago I started doing that, just to see what companies are doing in the area and as a potential source for job leads, a way to get an understanding of the job market. I can't remember whether the Cincinnati Business Courier does it, but the Dayton Business Journal publishes these lists every week of fastest growing companies, top minority-owned businesses, etc. I liked looking at those lists because it gave the name of the top official as well as other relevant information for generating leads.

I'm currently have the RSS feed for the Cincinnati Business Courier's Breaking News in my Bloglines collection. I often don't know what to make of some of the information I read, though.

On one hand I hear that unemployment rates are up slightly, but then I read that the job market for IT professionals is pretty good. I even saw this morning that Cincinnati is ranked 18th on Forbes magazine recent Best Cities for Young Professionals list.

Does it seem confusing to you? It does to me, sometimes. Then I look at the details and see that the unemployment article is talking about Ohio metro areas overall. I guess that's what we need to do - look at the details a bit more closely.

Also, I think it's a good idea not to let negative information put a cloud over your job search efforts. Doing so can lead to making excuses. You'll be tempted, as I am, to think and say things like, "Oh, the job market's just down; that's why I'm not able to find work." Let's think and believe bigger than that.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice job+market daniel+johnson+jr

Retrospective - Year-to-date and prior-year snapshots

From time to time, especially since I've been blogging for awhile, I like to look back through the archives of my blogs. I believe, however, that this is the first time I've done this for Get That Job!

Starting off by going back each month of 2007 so far:

• May: Run a background check on yourself
• April: SUCCESS STORY - Getting a job despite your efforts not to
• March: How Companies Hire Bloggers
• February: Get That Job! Online Makeover
• January: Keeping the Career Manager Mindset While Employed

Here's what happened as we go back a year at a time during this blog's history:

• 1 Year Ago (June 2006): When People Need to Leave the Company
• 2 Years Ago (June 2005): Three Things Every Recruiter Looks for in a Resume
• 3 Years Ago (May 2004): Some encouraging comments from a reader
• 4 Years Ago (June 2003): Have the right perspective
• 5 Years Ago (July 2002): Welcome to Get That Job! (initial post)

Have you found anything from the archives that you'd like brought back up to the surface? Let me know, and I'll share it with the rest of the group here.

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Career strategies for using MySpace, Facebook and other social networking sites

I've listened to Peter Clayton's interview with Steven Rothberg two days in a row, because it's got me thinking about my own career strategies for using social networking sites, as well as my portfolio blog. You need to listen to this, too.

From the shownotes at TotalPicture.com:

Did you know that MySpace is the 3rd most visited U.S. website and that the average age of a MySpace user is 35? Check out this interview, which covers an overview of CollegeRecruiter.com, and an in-depth analysis - from a career strategy perspective - of MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Second Life.

Click on the player to hear the 39-minute interview:


powered by ODEO

Alternate links that get you the content:

• Direct download (mp3) from the Total Picture Radio site
• Total Picture Radio shownotes
• Odeo audio page
• PodShow+

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr


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Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

"To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground." - Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we've exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other's professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"From then ending of your voicemail message," she replied. "I do that, too."

Imitation, it's been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron's way of closing a message as our own.

It's a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He'd retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn't know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you've received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I'm about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, "Have a great day!"

Ron Hittle would say, "Make it a great day!"

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr ron+hittle sinclair+community+college


Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

Overcoming Excuses in a Job Search (video)

In lieu of a text post, and as part of the testing effort for Blogger in Draft, I've uploaded a video about a book I've started re-reading. I also mentioned the Journey Inside My Mind Podcast but forgot to mention the URL: http://jimmpodcast.com.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr


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Who is Daniel Johnson, Jr.?

I suppose it's time I should share a bit more about me, in case this is your first time here. Here's the latest version.

I've been blogging since January 2002 and podcasting since August 2005. I now have more blogs than I care to count. I started Get That Job! back in July 2002 because I was finding so much information online as I was going through my own job search. One thing I've learned over the past five years is how important it is to connect with others.

Here is more of me, in case you're interested:

• Daniel Johnson, Jr. - my portfolio blog, where I share details about projects I've worked on
• Journey Inside My Mind Blog My first and still catch-all blog for most of my thoughts
• Journey Inside My Mind Podcast - the podcast spin-off of this blog
• QuotesBlog a quotation junkie's collection
• Twitter.com/danieljohnsonjr - more frequent updates of stuff going on with me personally over at Twitter. By the way, if you add me as a friend, please contact me via email or leave a comment here so that I know how you found me.

And of course you can find me on MySpace, LinkedIn, and other social media networks. I'm always open to connect; just let me know how you found me.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking daniel+johnson+jr


Find thousands of Hispanic jobs at LatPro.com.

Edvisors/Student Loan Network Hiring Developers (video)

Christopher Penn, the Chief Technology Officer at Edvisors and the Student Loan Network in the Boston area, just put out a Jobcast, stating that they are looking to hire some developers. Find the job details at www.Edvisors.com/jobs, but also check out this video to see what might be in it for you:



Christopher also hosts and produces the Financial Aid Podcast, which you should definitely check out. Here's a tip that might help you rise to the top of the pile of applicants: why not record a response to the video, post it on YouTube, and send Christopher a link to it?

Please let me know how this goes for you. I love sharing success stories here at Get That Job!

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search video boston edvisors student+loan+network developer+jobs


Find Diversity employment at DiversityJobs.com.

Interviewing Etiquette - Let Your References Know

I just read a convicting blog post: Strategic Public Relations: "For Future Reference". I hope, now that I'm building my network and pinging more often, that I'm doing a better job at this.

Oops!,
originally uploaded by loverfishy.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking references daniel+johnson+jr


Learn about Hispanic Recruiting at LatPro.com.

Dads, the Grassroots Mentors

In her recent "Minding Her Business" column, Megan Dowd has some encouragement for us Dads this Father's Day: "Women in Business: Here's to Dads, the Grassroots Mentors". The best thing we can do for our daughters is to encourage, inspire, and give them hope that they can be whatever they want to be.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job mentoring fatherhood career+advice networking professional+development megan+dowd

America's best jobs in the hottest markets

As spotted elsewhere in the blogging sphere:

The great American hiring boom is slowing down--but as labor cools with the rest of the economy, a few choice regions will stay red-hot. You just have to know where to look.

Check out the CNNMoney report here.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search job+market america cnn+money

Run a background check on yourself

Clark Howard, syndicated columnist, radio show host, and consumer warrior, provides resources for running a background check on yourself so that you can see what prospective employers and college admissions officers might find out about you. You may have seen this information in the Wall Street Journal.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice background+check employment+screening clark+howard

Happy Birthday JibberJobber!

I just found out from Jason Alba that tomorrow is the first birthday of JibberJobber, a career toolset used by many - including yours truly - to manage aspects of a job search and networking relationships. I have yet to delve into the unchartered territories within the tool, but I have to say that it is EXCELLENT for managing the minute details of a job search.

If you haven't yet checked it out, click on the link on the sidebar. You certainly get a lot with a free membership; with the premium membership you naturally get more.

Update: Jason wrote a bit about the birthday on the JibberJobber Blog.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking jibberjobber daniel+johnson+jr jason+alba

SUCCESS STORY - Getting a job despite your efforts not to

Sometimes the need is just so great that the company will jump through hoops to get and retain you, despite efforts you might make to the contrary.

I talked with a woman today who does Accounts Receivables about how she got her current job. She did that work for a group of doctor's offices before she went on maternity leave. She wound up finishing her Accounting degree before she came off leave, so she opted to look for a full-time job outside of her job with the doctor's offices.

She said she applied everywhere and doesn't remember when she was contacted by the recruiter who was hiring for her current position. Then when it came time for the interview, she had to reschedule a couple of times.

While on the job for awhile, the company came in and eliminated half of the department. Thinking her own job was in jeopardy, she found another one and put in her notice. The VP of Operations begged her to stay and sent a message to her boss demanding that she give the accountant a raise.

Please share your own job-hunting success stories here so everyone can know they too can Get That Job!

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Blog your way to your next job

Thanks to Bryan from Monster Careers, I now point you to this article that describes How Blogging Can Help You Get A New Job.

Develop and nurture your online presence. It may lead to your next job.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking blogging daniel+johnson+jr self-branding

Using Second Life to find your next job

Some IT firms are conducting job interviews in Second Life, according to a CNNMoney article mentioned in insideTonic and Static Cure.

If you or someone you know has found a job via Second Life, I'd like to share your success story here.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search second+life interviewing