If you’re a faithful reader, you already know that I’m a big fan of LinkedIn (here’s my profile: Dave Taylor @ LinkedIn) and also a big fan of Vincent Wright, the tireless leader of the My LinkedIn Power Forum set of over 100 different targeted mailing lists for people who want to get the most out of LinkedIn.
Recently, MLPF member Mark Peden had a splendid experience finding a job through the list, but what I find most interesting is that I think it’s quite a testament to the value of a Web site when its ancillary spinoffs also prove to be of value too. Think about that. Digg.com is popular, for example, but are there spin-offs that are adding even more to the experience? Or an even better example is the staggeringly popular MySpace: are there spin-offs that help users gain the experience they seek at MySpace other than the innumerable spammy design companies that can help you reskin your profile?
Back to Mark. A few weeks ago, Mark sent out the following email message to the MLPF…
Towards the end of last year I completed a project, freeing my time up for my next move. I had some exposure to, and chose to work with, a couple of early stage companies at the beginning of this year that eventually led me to the realization that a paycheck may be 9 – 12 months out. Towards the end of February I got a call from Intel, presenting me an opportunity to come back to work there. Almost three months and 8 interviews later, they presented me with a formal offer for a director-level position.
As some of you may be aware, the company (within days of presenting me an offer) announced aggressive cost cuts ($1B+) and a head count reduction of 8 – 10,000 people (since revised to 16,000). The position was placed on hold, with an invitation to re-connect in 4 – 6 months.
This may seem odd, and perhaps a bit arrogant (my apologies in advance), but I’ve never had to look for work. I’m a seasoned business development executive with subject matter expertise in wireless and wire-line communications (next generation IP technology and services). I’m now in this odd space where I need to find my next role (it doesn’t appear to be looking for me).
I’m not sure where to start. While I know of sites like Monster and Dice, I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to post my resume on a public site, or if that is even how people get jobs these days. Perhaps some of you could provide your thoughts on how to connect with executive recruiters or if you have had some success in leveraging LinkedIn to secure your current role.
Thanks, in advance, for taking a few minutes to read my request. Feel free to contact me directly, or if you feel there is value in doing so, to link via LinkedIn. I appreciate any wisdom or insight as I look to secure my next position.
A reasonable letter, but the response from the MLPF forum members was extraordinary. Not much more than thirty days later, Mark came back and reported:
a few weeks ago about not being familiar with the process of finding my next position as my previous positions had found me (how I’d disappeared off the radar screen, recently working with early-stage technology companies).
Within hours of posting my request for feedback from the group, I received numerous phone calls and e-mails from both executives and recruiters that were looking for a seasoned international business development professional with wireless (or fixed mobile convergence) communications expertise.
As a direct result of my posting, I’ve had very positive first and second-round interviews the last two weeks, including trips to San Diego, St. Louis and upcoming trips scheduled for Seattle, Chicago and New York, each with different companies. I could have an offer in hand as early as next week, more likely the following.
I just wanted to take a moment to formally thank the group for your responsiveness and provide a word of encouragement to any of you in transition — this thing (LinkedIn and this forum specifically)
works, leverage it.
Obviously, I’m delighted on behalf of Mark and his family. It’s difficult to look for a job when you’re an executive and haven’t been in the very new world of modern job searches. More than that, though, I’m just impressed both with the clear and visible results of what Vincent has created with the My LinkedIn Power Forum and its many spin-off lists, all of which are basically just feature enhancements of an already popular professional networking Web site LinkedIn.
If I could whisper in the ear of Konstantin and the rest of the LinkedIn staff I’d say “Pssst. You guys need to hire Vincent, let him keep his wonderfully appropriate title of “Chief Encouragement Officer”, and tap his enthusiasm and font of splendid ideas for the direct betterment of all LinkedIn members.”
The bigger question for the rest of you Web 2.0 executives is:
Since business is evolving to be more and more influenced by word of mouth and the power of influence, it seems clear to me that these influencers are critical to the long-term success of your business. Definitely something worth thinking about…
I’m a seasoned marketing/promotions executive who has had no luck finding my “new role” for over a year now since I departed the company I devoted most of my so-called grown-up life to–only to be replaced by the new CEO’S “people.”
I’ve applied on almost all the popular “career” web sites where I know my resume has been lost in cyberspace. This high-tech way of trying to find a job is a joke. It’s also psychologically damaging to one’s self-esteem; and I consider myself to be a positive person!
Where do executives go for assistance in finding a decent position, other than to “shyster” job consultants and the internet? Yes, I know all about networking, but sooner or later you run out of people to call.
I never thought I’d find myself in this position, or should I say “non-position,” but here I am and I am not liking it.
Anyone out there looking for a creative marketing vp/director who can cross over to any industry if someone with an open mind would like to give me the opportunity to at least speak with you?
HJM/New York City
As a job search coach I focus on assisting high tech executives and technology professionals with their job search. My forthcoming book, Job Search Debugged Insiders Guide to Job Search for Executives and Technology Professionals discusses Job Boards in depth. Here’s a summary of why they don’t work: Job boards have a vested interest in your continued unemployment. They charge for services the unemployed opt for and sell their own services based on how many resumes they have amassed.
People who do rely on the boards typically only survey the top twenty or thirty resumes. Over 500,000 resumes are submitted each month to Monster alone.
Statistics, hard to find, indicate less than 1.5% of the Executive jobs listed on the boards are filled through the boards.
Many jobs listed do not exist or are expired.
When you submit your resume anyone can see your personal information. Scams and cons are common. No matter what security is promised, anyone who pays the boards as an employer is allowed full view of all your personal information.
Another security risk is recruiters. They can shop your resume without your knowledge in hopes of finding new business. The danger to you is you can not submit your resume to those companies nor can any recruiter of your choice. It is already on file and unless the company choses to pay that unnamed recruiter, they will pass. More important, it appears you have no control over your search. For more information on this and other job search issues feel free to contact me at rfa.desert@gmail.com. http://www.askrigel.com is under construction.