Social Media and the MBA Job Search – Does It Really Matter?

Written by Amy Vander Voort

Well, it must, or I wouldn’t be here on IAMBA! Social media marketing is a new concept for me and certainly new to me as a job search tactic. Both LinkedIn and Plaxo allow users to post updates and news feeds, and although I see the postings from my colleagues and groups, I have never tried it myself.

When IAMBA contacted me in July 2009, I thought, great idea! I have become more aware of how important it is to stay in front of your contacts, particularly during a job search. When I sent my appeal email in June, many people responded to say they didn’t know I was still looking.

I realized, at that time, I needed to do better job of keeping everyone updated on my status. With approximately 400 personal and professional contacts, that can be a big job! The idea is to be visible, so that someone thinks of you when they hear of an opening. This can be via sending out articles, starting a discussion, etc.

I always wondered what I could possibly have to say that others would want to know about on a regular basis. Well, the job search topic seems to strike a chord in many people. Most professionals are being affected by economy, through company lay-offs, lowered demand for products and services or increased workloads for existing employees. My IAMBA postings are a reminder that I am still looking and I’m offering something to the business community in the interim.

Bloggers beware! Not all the comments you will receive will be helpful to you. You are putting yourself out there and that invites criticisms, too. Keep the big picture in mind—you are getting increased exposure and that is critical to your job search.

It’s free and you have time on your hands, so why not give it a try? I have already received a deluge of LinkedIn connection requests, emails from colleagues and yes, job referrals. Could this be the “tipping point” for my search?

-Amy

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Buying New Suits, And Other Fun Interview Prep Adventures

Written by Amy Vander Voort

Advice on interviewing is about as varied as advice on resumes. I listen to all advice, distill it, and come up with what I think works for me. After all, I have been interviewing at a professional level for years now and some things don’t change, right?

A well-meaning friend calls me in July 2009 and says she wants to help. She has been on TV numerous times and has been through “media training”. She wants to conduct some mock interviews with me and try to identify any problems with my interviewing style. She is convinced that my experience isn’t coming across somehow and it’s just a matter of tweaking this or that.

Over to her house I go. We start with a wardrobe consult. I always wear a black skirt suit with a silk blouse. She informs me that I am to wear separates to the interviews, such as slacks and a sweater. She also tells me suits are out and my jacket and pants should not match (where have I been?). Oh, and silk is an evening fabric so my nine silk blouses at $90 each are a no-no. Also, I am to wear my long, flowing hair in a bun.

Next we begin the “media training”. Apparently, I raise my eyebrows too much and I start every sentence with “Well…” Also, she says to emphasize that being out of work is a problem, that I am a homeowner, etc. By the way, it’s really, really hard to change your mannerisms. At one point, I burst into tears!

Armed with instructions on what to purchase, clothing-wise, for my coveted networking appointments, I rush over to Banana Republic at 5:30pm on a Sunday. After a frenzied shopping spree and multiple phone calls to my friend from the fitting room, I have two outfits that meet her specifications.

I embrace my new look and practice in a mirror, keeping my eyebrows down and looking more serious in general. If this is what it takes, then OK. I would wear scuba gear to an interview if it would help me land the job!

While I am happy for my friend’s help, it hasn’t changed my luck any. So, what’s the one thing I haven’t tried so far? That’s right, social media marketing!

-Amy

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Frustration Is High. Why Don’t I Have A Job Yet?

Written by Amy Vander Voort

It’s June 2009 and I’m seven months into my search. It’s officially my longest job search to date and also my most frustrating. I’m doing all the recommended tactics, yet my efforts are yielding very few leads. I have had no offers to date, either.

I’m not afraid to cold call companies or borderline stalk hiring managers. I have been able to identify one area that is significantly different for me this time around—the key to success, as I call it—good networking appointments. This consists of knowing high-level folks and conducting informational interviews with them, and then being referred on to other colleagues of theirs who are also operating at the same level. The idea is to get in front of people who can hire you or refer you to other folks who can.

I’ve had precious few of these appointments and no referrals. I can only blame the economy as I can’t see anything I am doing differently. When people aren’t hiring, they aren’t willing to talk to prospective candidates. I feel, over and over, like my networking is running out of gas.

At this point in any search, I usually have turned down 2-3 offers and have multiple, high-level networking appointments on the calendar. I usually conclude a job search by selecting one of two offers. Did I mention I haven’t had any offers? It’s so uncharacteristic and it’s hard for me to know what to do next.

I send out an appeal email to everyone I know, asking for job referrals and networking contacts. It generates a lot of activity and for about 2-3 weeks I am busy with follow up. However, the result is the same.

I look at my calendar and realize my last actual job interview was April 27, 2009. It’s now July 2009. My situation does not look good. Something has to change, and soon!

-Amy

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To Relocate or Not To Relocate…That is A Question

Written by Amy VanderVoort

Just for the record, I am not afraid to relo! I’ve lived in four cities over the past 15 years and each move was good for me in many ways. Sometimes I moved for personal reasons and sometimes for professional ones. Each time, I felt like it was the right decision and I embraced my move and my new city.

A few things have changed since my last relocation—moving back to Houston in 2005. For starters, I am a homeowner now. I’ve lived in my home less than a year and it’s certainly not a good time to sell. Relocation is expensive in general and having done it a few times, I know the true costs. Most companies aren’t willing to pick up the tab, especially in a buyer’s market.

Then there are the emotional costs. I spent a good deal of time and energy in each city making new friends, getting to know the city and getting involved in the community. I did the same thing when I moved back to Houston four years ago. I built a great network here and am involved with some worthwhile projects. It takes time to meet new people and organize your life in a new city and I’m not sure I want to expend the effort—again!

Also, in the back of my mind, as unstable as employment can be these days, and based on my own experiences, I wonder how permanent any job is. I was very willing to relocate for work a few years ago, but not so quick to jump today. For me, the emotional and financial costs are too high.

I’m placing my bets on Houston. It’s my hometown and surely something will come through for me here. Meanwhile, I’ve had some interesting interviewing experiences and I’ll share that with you in the next blog post!

Amy Vander Voort

Maybe Starting a Business Would Be A Bad Career Distraction

Written by Amy Vander Voort

Let’s think this through for a minute. Yes, I could probably start or buy a number of small businesses and try some new things. I have the entrepreneurial spirit. However…my job search is an almost full-time endeavor.

So much of my daily schedule revolves around networking events, informational interviews and research/ applications. Starting any type of small business would interrupt my job search activities and at some point remove me from the search altogether.

Plus, with twelve years of experience in healthcare, I know an awful lot about the industry. It would be a shame to throw all that knowledge away and start with something completely different. Yes, the transferable business skills are there, but I would be starting from scratch in many ways.

The economy can’t stay this way forever. Maybe I am to just ride along until things improve. I tell myself it is a mathematical impossibility that I will never work again! As long as I keep talking to people, making applications and ferreting out opportunities, something is bound to happen!

And, wouldn’t it be nice to be back at the MBA level, doing interesting work and making a difference in healthcare? Oh, and earning a MBA salary? Wouldn’t this be better than doing start-up grunt work or taking out massive loans to buy an existing business?

Mostly, I think it would be a big mistake to make a short-term decision that could affect my career long-term. I have always been a big fan of long-term decisions and planning, even during tough times.

Which brings me nicely to my next blog post… how important is staying in Houston?

Amy Vander Voort

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