Doug Neeper's Blog

DFN: Glassdoor is a great site regarding job search and networking

7 Secrets To Network Effectively & Get You Noticed

Posted: 16 Feb 2012 07:10 AM PST

Networking is hard work. Social media makes it seem like it should be easy. In reality, the big social sites profit from the time you spend on them. They are subtly programmed to make you feel like you’ve succeeded when what you’ve really done is made them some more money.

Successful networking means that you’d have less time to spend on those sites. So, they create the illusion of connection and the pretense of friendship. They make it seem like getting work by being on the social net is like falling off a log.

Yeah, not so much.

With 1,200 Facebook friends, 7,200 followers on Twitter and 4,000 professional connections on LinkedIn, I have some idea of the value of those networks. I am, of course, hopelessly addicted to the constant flow of news and 140 character increments of insight. At times, I feel like I must be a fortune cookie rancher. It’s a good thing those little messages don’t come on small slips of paper.

Or, maybe if they did, I’d have a better idea about what to do with them all.

For the most part, I am overwhelmed and have the sense that I am perpetually falling behind. The outputs of the various groupings flow like a river down the screen of my desktop computer. One of my phones starts beeping and whirring the moment you turn it on. The flow of social media stuff is hiding over there, around the corner, waiting to leap into my life.

Yours, too.

One thing is sure. Optimal effectiveness does not come from having the most friends, followers or connections. Job hunting (and the required forms of networking) is rarely a question of volume. If volume worked, sending a resume to every job you see online would get you a job. You’ve tried that and know it doesn’t work.

(Everybody tries it at some point in their job hunt, even CEOs)

Here are 7 really useful things to do when you are networking.

Know what you want.
It’s easy in the saying and hard in the doing. Most people get extremely anxious when asked to be specific about what they are after. Have a short statement (3 sentences, no more than 40 words) that describes exactly what you are after.

Stay focused
Keep referring to that short statement. If the job listing or connection isn’t leading you in that direction, abandon it. Be polite. Don’t burn bridges. But, don’t do things that lead away from what you want.

Understand your online reputation.
Sit with a friend while you a) Google your name; b) Review last year’s activity on your Facebook page; c) Walk through all of your tweets; and, d) Audit the rest of your online persona. If you’re not happy with it and it doesn’t point to what you want, fix it.

Have a friend track down your offline reputation
It takes someone other than you to find out what people are saying. 20% of job candidates were disqualified by the people they listed as references. Be smarter than that. Get someone to ask and tell you.

Always say ‘thank you’
You can never say it often enough. Practice writing thank you notes. Send them to everyone you encounter. Gratitude is a great buffer for some of the hard shocks that come with the job hunt.

Always give more value than you receive
The real key to a vibrant network is that it enriches everyone who touches it. Get used to the fact that you have to return two favors for every one you get. Always come to the table knowing the value you are going to give. Make it really good to know you.

Always know what the next step is
Don’t have a conversation if you can’t imagine the things that will follow. Open every conversation by saying what you hope you (and your network partner in the conversation) will get from talking. Close each conversation saying, “Here are our next steps.”

The really good news about building a network is that the 100 right people are more than enough to build a career around. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be on your way.

7 Secrets To Network Effectively & Get You Noticed is a post from: Glassdoor Blog

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I picked up this listing, I know its incomplete, but it will give you a start.
Job Support Groups 2012. PDF.

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DFN: There’s lots of information out there on job search; times at a premium, I’ve found another blogsite that looks like its a good source of job search information, SecondAct.
As you get into a job search, you’ll see lots of list, top 10 job hunting strategies, 5 top things not to say in an interview, top 7 places to work in the Bay Area, etc. Many
times these list just seem to be recycled information. The author of this article which appeared on Second Act (Michelle Rafter) explains in easiy understood language
steps which if followed will serve you well in your own job search. Second Act HTTP is — http://www.secondact.com/.

SecondAct
Your 2012 Job Hunt Checklist
By Michelle V. Rafter||December 14, 2011 ||0 Comments

Job hunting has changed dramatically in the past five years. Resumes have gone virtual. Networking happens on Facebook, and companies text job openings to prospective employees’ cellphones.

If you’re unemployed and looking, or working but want to know what else is out there, give yourself an edge by using the latest job-hunting strategies and tools. Here’s a checklist of things to do before starting a job search in the New Year:

1. Revamp your resume.

Research jobs that are in demand, then play up experience you have that dovetails with those trends. Use job-specific keywords to push your resume to the top of recruiters’ search results. Stick to career highlights, but be prepared to provide details in an interview. It might not sound important, but pay attention to your resume’s design. Don’t cram in too much — the easier your resume is on the eyes, the more likely a recruiter will read it.

2. Join online networks, starting with LinkedIn.

Social networks are some of the first places recruiters go when they have jobs to fill, and if you’re not there, they won’t know about you. If you only have time or energy for one, start with LinkedIn. Fill in your entire profile, but avoid over-used business phrases such as the ones on this list of top 10 buzzwords that LinkedIn released this week. Add a recent photo. Ask previous employers or companies you’ve worked with as a contractor for recommendations. List programming or other work-related skills in your profile so your name pops up in when companies use the new LinkedIn Skills search tool to find potential employees.

3. Create a business card.

Besides your name, a card should include a professional-sounding email address and phone number. Change the outgoing voicemail message on your home phone to something appropriate for business, or list your cell number instead. If you have a website related to your profession, put the URL on your card; otherwise, include a link to your LinkedIn profile. When you’re going to a job fair or interview, take more cards than you think you’ll need so you don’t run out — or hand out virtual cards (see No. 7 below).

4. Find a job chat on Twitter.

Use these virtual conversations to find companies that are hiring or network with recruiters and fellow job seekers. Twitter chats happen in real time, with members using a hashtag associated with a particular discussion to ask a question and follow what others are saying. Job chats include #jobhuntchat (Mondays at 10 p.m. Eastern), #careerchat (Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Eastern) and #HireFriday or #HFChat (Fridays at noon Eastern).

5. Research companies before approaching them.

Job boards have made submitting a resume so easy, employers are inundated. If you’re applying for jobs online, do your homework on a company first to make sure it’s a good match. Then, include a cover letter that reflects your knowledge of the business and why you’d make a good addition to the team.

6. Find an in.

Even in the age of social networking, the old adage that it’s who you know still holds true. Once you’ve identified a potential employer, review your contacts online and off for friends or acquaintances who work there or have in the past. Ask them for advice or an introduction. Join a LinkedIn Group for your industry or profession, and reach out to group members who might be able to introduce you to a hiring manager.

7. Go mobile.

Smartphones have become job hunters’ go-to virtual assistants. Use your phone to scan mobile versions of popular job boards or get automated text messages when new jobs open up at companies you want to work for. Download job-hunting apps, including Bump, which lets you exchange business cards or contact information by "bumping" phones together, Job Interview Prep flash cards to quiz yourself on possible interview questions, and Google Maps Mobile to avoid traffic jams that could make you late for an interview.

8. Start a blog.

Create a blog on some aspect of the field you work in to show a potential employer you’re up to speed on industry trends and comfortable using newer technologies. Keeping a blog also can be helpful when making a midlife transition, as career changers in an annual blogging challenge that I host have discovered. You can easily set up a free, professional-looking blog through websites such as WordPress, Blogger and Tumblr.

9. Consider nonprofits.

Forty-two percent of 3,000 nonprofits surveyed by Idealist.org earlier this year expected to hire more staff in 2011. Midlife professionals can apply what they learned in their first careers to encore jobs at nonprofits, according to careers experts. Here are 10 Top Sites for Nonprofit Jobs.

10. Track job-hunting expenses.

The IRS makes it challenging for job hunters to write off expenses, but it pays to try, so you can keep money in your pocket and out of Uncle Sam’s. You’re eligible if you’re looking for a job in your current industry, file the longer 1040 form, use Schedule A to itemize deductions and have job-hunting and other miscellaneous expenses on Schedule A that amount to more than 2 percent of your adjusted gross income. You can’t write off buying a new suit for an interview, but you can deduct for mileage if you drive there.

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You gotta ask why you would want to download your contacts from Linkedin:

a. Keep track of your contacts in Linkedin, just in case something happens in cyberspace
b. More easily see who you know a “XYZ” company
c. Conduct more personalized ‘marketing campaigns’, ie job search

Instructions that should enable you to fairly easily download your contacts from Linkedin into a ‘CSV’ file:

1. Go to linkedin home page
2. Click on the connections tab on the main menu
3. On the connections page, in the lower right, you’ll see a phrase “export connections” should be to the immediate right of the number of sent invitations
4. Click on the “export connections” link
5. You’ll go to the export connections tab, should be set to “microsoft outlook CSV file”, but if its not, click on the pop down menu and choose this option
6. Assuming it is set to “microsoft outlook CSV file”, click on the export button
7. Duplicate the ‘secruity’ codes and hit the continue button 8. Click on the open button, and the csv file should open up into excel 9. FYI, scroll to the right you’ll see a lot of interesting info, title, company, maybe phone numbers.
10. Save this file to your hard drive.

Best regards,

Doug Neeper
925.451.4541
doug.neeper@gmail.com

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01/13/2012 – The future is known

I left Solar Millennium LLC December 9, 2011. The company is essentially bankrupt and is downsizing in order to preserve a small amount of cash reserve while it sells its development properties to another company. I’ve just finished a short-term consulting engagement with Service West. Helped the VP of Finance create a consolidated forecasting model which will be used to monitor net income results on a monthly basis and cash flow on a weekly basis. I’m currently conducting a very active job search for my next Financial Planning and Analysis opportunity. Contrary to rumors of its demise, the job market (at least for Accounting & Finance) is alive an well. If you’re in a job search, I’d encourage you to check out Job Connections and become a member (see my affiliations tab for more information / link).

Best regards,

Doug Neeper
925.451.4541
doug.neeper@gmail.com

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UPDATE 1-First Solar could supply two major U.S. projects

First Solar to supply Solar Millennium US projects
1:19pm EST

Wed Nov 16, 2011 3:12pm EST

Nov 16 (Reuters) – German solar project developer solarhybrid AG said on Wednesday it plans to use First Solar Inc panels in two major U.S. power plants as part of its plan to take over Solar Millennium AG’s U.S. project pipeline.
The news comes three months after Solar Millennium said it would convert its massive California project – expected to one day be the world’s largest solar power plant – to photovoltaic panel technology instead of solar thermal power because of the dramatic drop in the price of solar panels.
First Solar panels would be used in the 1-gigawatt Blythe project and the 500 megawatt Palen project, both located in California,
solarhybrid and Solar Millennium said in a statement posted on Solar Millennium’s website.
Solarhybrid also said it “intends to involve” First Solar as a partner in the takeover of Solar Millennium’s 2.25-GW U.S. project pipeline. It was not immediately clear whether that would mean First Solar would take part in the acquisition of the pipeline or simply be the panel supplier for the projects.
A First Solar spokesman had no comment.
Solar Millennium and solarhybrid have been negotiating the sale of Solar Millennium’s U.S. project pipeline since late summer, the companies said. The deal is expected to be finalized at the end of this month.
Many solar projects this year have elected to change most or all of their technology to PV, which turns sunlight into electricity, from concentrating solar power, or CSP, which uses heat to create steam that powers a generator.
Prices on solar panels have fallen 40 percent this year alone due to cutbacks in solar subsidies in Europe and a sharp increase in panel manufacturing capacity that has created a global glut.

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DFN: Great properties, though mostly permitted for CSP, they’ll have to be repermitted for PV, and since PV is less invasive than CSP they in all likelihood will be re-permitted.

Solarhybrid, First Solar May Buy Solar Millenium U.S. Projects

By Christopher Martin – Nov 16, 2011 7:33 AM PT .

Germany’s Solarhybrid AG (SHL) has asked First Solar Inc. (FSLR) to form a joint venture to help it purchase Solar Millennium AG (S2M)’s U.S. project pipeline. First Solar will provide panels for two plants with total capacity of 1,500 megawatts, Solarhybrid Chief Executive Officer Tom Schroder said today in a statement. He expects
negotiations with Solar Millennium to acquire its entire pipeline, with 2,250 megawatts of planned projects, to be complete by the end of the month. To contact the reporter on this story: Christopher Martin in New York at cmartin11@bloomberg.net

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Lynn Samuels – 11/07/2011
I went to the St. Isidores Networking Group (SING) last night. SING meets in Danville, Monday nights at 7PM. Smaller more intimate group, very impactful. Lynn Samuels was the facilitator for the meeting and spoke about “The Keys to success, flame out factors”. Her talk was in part based on the works of Lominger International; Lominger studied the traits which contribute to peoples success interviewing / working on a job.

They wrote about what causes the behavior and how can It be changed. Or rather, this was the discussion Lynn led us through last night.

As an example, am I a blocked personal learner? What are the symptoms of this characteristic? Closed to new learning, prefers same, narrow in focus, not insightful , doesn’t seek input, lacking curiosity. If I recognize this behavior in myself, how would I correct it? Let’s say I recognized I didn’t solicit other people’s opinions? I would slowly begin to ask other peoples opinions, reserve the right to make my own decision, but overtime get more comfortable with asking others opinions and in the long run make better decisions.

You can get a more complete listing of these characteristics, what level of employee they apply to and which ones are the most on www.lominger.com

Good book:
Never eat alone

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Dick Bolles 11/05/2011
If you missed Mr. Bolles presentation this past Saturday, I’m sorry; it was one of the best, if not the best presentation we’ve had at Job Connections in almost ten years. His biggest ahha for me was that even in the worst of times, jobs are reported so as to minimize  there is in fact a significant amount of new jobs; I’ll leave it up to you as to speculate why. The example he gave was this April, net increase of 76K, masked, new jobs gotten by previously unemployed folks, of around 3 million. True this covers folks which lost jobs, retired, etc; but nonetheless 3 million NEW jobs.

You can see the other points of Mr. Bolles presentation on my website at www.dougneeper.com

1. Survival job search skills will be increasingly important; in the best of times millions of people are out of work

2. Change in employment levels not a good measure of jobs; in the worst of times here are millions of jobs

3. How do we survive; cover widest area with least efforts, resumes, elementary job search; employers want to hire people with least risk; cost of a bad hire; 1 to 5 to times the annual salary. Means they want to know who they’re hiring; hire from within; next hire people who know people outside company. In good times, employers coddle job seekers; in bad times, employers change behaviors. employees don’t change behaviors, no work, no jobs. Tough times. Employee has to change behavior. Hire at low risk, temp job.

4. Figure out where you’d like to work, focus on these companies. Small. New, small companies. Look for people who can sponsor us.

5. Inventory What are your Favorite skills, knowledge. You’ve got to love what you do.

6. Employers look at total package in their hiring position. Find a place to join, take more time to do survival job hunting.

7. What do you have to offer; transferable skills, which are your favorites, write a story. Write 7; you’ll see a pattern emerge, these are your favorites. Adjectives are traits, diligent, patient, etc; these aren’t skills.

8. Target companies whether they have jobs or not. Vacancies come up all the time. Use LinkedIn to find bridge person, someone who knows you, someone they know.

9. Job hunt a pragmatic science.

As an aside, our co-sponsors mentioned a job search checklist that you might want to check out, www.jobhuntersbible.com

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DFN: Secretary Chu is essentially defending the US’ efforts to stimulate the clean energy market, which I think, despite the bad loan experiences of Solyndra and soon to be others, is the right thing to do
to establish a market. The trick will be determining at what point do the incentives stop.

Energy secretary: Solar panel market ‘will dwarf the beer market’

Published: 4:36 PM 11/03/2011 | Updated: 8:59 PM 11/03/2011
http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/03/energy-secretary-solar-panel-market-will-dwarf-the-beer-market/ By Paul Conner

Affordable Solar PanelsYou Could Be Saving Thousands. Try Our Solar Savings Calculator www.SolarCity.com/SolarPanelsQuote

The solar panel market will outgrow and “dwarf” the beer market, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu predicted Thursday.

Chu cited a report saying that the global green energy market is worth almost $240 billion worldwide, and that photovoltaic systems — which turn light into electricity at the atomic level — are part of an $80 billion market.

“That’s nearly as much as Americans spend every year on beer,” he said. “The difference is that the solar PV market will grow and will dwarf the beer market.”

Chu also defended incentivizing green energy innovations, while admitting that the federal loan guarantee program could be improved.

The loan program, which ended in late September, famously lost over a half-million dollars when the California-based solar energy company Solyndra filed for bankruptcy on Sept. 6. (RELATED: House panel approves subpoena on Solyndra loan)

“I think what one could do differently is you start with the idea that Congress and the administration can design a better loan program,” Chu said during a policy discussion hosted by The Washington Post, The Hill reported.

Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association in Colorado, told The Daily Caller that the retail value of beer in the U.S. is believed to be approximately $101 billion for 2010. When asked which product — beer or solar panels — is more valuable to the U.S. economy, Gatza noted that private breweries and solar panels complement each other.

“It takes the sun to help solar panels do their thing, and it takes the sun to grow barley and hops for beer,” he said in an email. “It is believed that Sierra Nevada Brewing Company produces the most solar energy of any private company in California.”

Chu attempted to draw parallels with the development of the airplane, automobile and information technology, and claimed that the
competition with other countries is heating up.

“While some people in Washington are debating whether the clean energy economy is real or whether we should try to compete, other countries are seizing the opportunity,” he said in prepared remarks.

The Energy Department has “stimulated the innovation chain,” Chu added; he also justified doling out over $35 billion in loan guarantees.

“Not every company or every product will succeed, but that is no reason to sit on the sidelines and concede leadership in clean energy,” he said.

“America faces a choice today: Are we going to recognize the opportunity and compete in the clean energy race or will we wave the white flag and watch all of these jobs go to China, Korea, Germany and other countries?”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/03/energy-secretary-solar-panel-market-will-dwarf-the-beer-market/#ixzz1cksug2GU

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