It Is Still About Who You Know...

Referrals are the #1 source of hires in corporate America. Moreover, research reveals that referral hires have higher retention rates and perform better. Indeed, they are the most cost effective source of hires.

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are a good start. Search for the company you're interested in. You'll see a list of contacts in your network who may be able to help.

Always Always ask in writing.

Asking someone, “can you refer me?" Comes across …a little too strong.

Try something on the lines of do you know my work well enough to refer me for a job at your company?

Stay active (professionally) on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. This may draw good attention to you and you may impress professionals who can pass your name along to company decision makers.

5 Quick Safety Tips for Online Job Hunting

1. First things first, you need to ensure your internet is secure. The link of the site you are using should start with HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure). HTTPS is the protocol that safely request information between servers and browsers.
   
2. When invited for an online submission …be leery.For instance, “Dear Yvonne we saw your resume online and your skills are a perfect match for our company”…Ask yourself did you send that company a resume?
3. Never send a company personal information online, for instance gender, race, and credit score.
4. Approach ads for easy money and little work with doubt…these are probably scammers!
5. You can trust the big search sites like CareerBuilder, Monster, Indeed.

Increasing Your Job Prospects

A few weeks ago, I described the importance of having an online portfolio or website to showcase your accomplishments and professional experience. You will be most prominent and impressive when employers can easily find your relevant information online.

That aside, how else can we increase our visibility online?

One way is to create a blog. This will help you stand out as an opinion leader and expert.  Another way is to create a professional video where you are seen giving a presentation.

Who would you hire...a job applicant with a blog/ YouTube presentation or the one who lacks one?

It is equally valuable to join focus groups or alumni organizations so as to increase your searchability.

Lastly, creating an account on social media sites will increase exposure and attract recruiters. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are recommended.