Although he just left Yahoo Inc. a year ago in the middle of a messy battle between the company and an investor, Jeff Weiner has now signed on to become the new CEO of LinkedIn, a social networking website for professionals. Weiner joined LinkedIn in January as its interim president and has received the support of other LinkedIn executives.

Yahoo and Weiner parted ways when the company decided to get rid of some of its executives due to its proxy war with investor Carl Icahn. Microsoft offered to acquire Yahoo last year, but when Yahoo completely refused to entertain the offer, Icahn started the proxy war in order to remove Yahoo’s Board of Directors.

Weiner joins LinkedIn as the website continues to surge in popularity, with over 42 million members all over the world. The company’s outlook is optimistic for the rest of the year and next year, as it anticipates an increase in profitability as Weiner takes the reins.

Image: Flickr

This is your invitation to join Jason Alba, author of I’m On LinkedIn, Now What? at Job Re-Joov Monday, June 22nd at 2:00 PM EST! Job Re-Joov is hosting a FREE Webinar with Jason Alba as their guest speaker. There are still seats available! Click here to sign-up>>>

Job Re-Joov is a service that has been designed to encourage job seekers. Have you been in your job search for an extended time? If so, check out Job Re-Joov. You will find other job seekers there who are in the same situation you are in. If you are in Santa Maria, CA, you may want to join the live networking meetings. If you are not in Santa Monica, check out their virtual meetings and webinars.

Job Re-Joov exists to strengthen and equip job seekers who may be experiencing discouragement during tough economic times. Meetings and webinars will be an opportunity for job seekers to be reminded that they are valued, to stay connected, and to keep the faith!

What’s a JibberJobber and Who is Jason Alba?

JibberJobber was designed by Jason Alba during his first real job search beginning January 2006. After having a successful career in IT and business strategy, Jason found himself in the job market, at that time we were enjoying a “job seeker’s market. Jason quickly found that a job seeker’s market does not mean the job search will be easy or short. Frustrated by the lack of real tools for job seekers, he decided to move forward on a tool that allows a job seeker to manage and organize their job search - the birth of JibberJobber.

JibberJobber is it a job search tool? Is it a networking tool? It is more like a personal relationship manager that allows you to do everything you need to do to manage a job search and optimize your network relationships - for the duration of your career!

Jason Alba is the President and CEO of JibberJobber and out of his own job search he has built a successful business. From job seeker to CEO. If Jason can do it, so can you. Join him on Job Re-joov. And if you’re not careful you might bump into me on the call.

If you are in a job search, you need to be on this call on Monday, June 22. Click here to signup<>>>

Image Credit: Job Re-Joov

Jobs in Social Media is booming. Every day more and more people are connecting, meeting and supporting one another. The boom has increased to job boards dedicated to locating people interested in working in Social Media jobs as well as social media networking opportunities at Jobs in Social Media. Watch this short video clip about jobs that are being created for Social Media professionals.

Here is a list of Social Media sites you may want to check out: facebook, twitter, NING, linkedIn, Friendster, ecademy.com, orkut, plurk, MIXX, DIGG, youtube, ping.sg, nuffnang, twine, squidoo, stumbleupon, kindernet, expatfinder, getsatisfaction, techcrunch

If you are interested in finding jobs in Social Media, do a Google search on Social Media Jobs. Check out the jobs and see if your skill set might help you transition into these new jobs.

Video Credit: Youtube

When a potential employer asks a job seeker to complete an “exercise” in order to evaluate their their skills and abilities, is it a fair evaluation? If the exercise is a real problem the organization faces, is this an attempt to get something for nothing? Would you define this as exploitation?

According to Veronica Modarelli from the Working Network, she believes this is unreasonable. Here is her quote that I read on LinkedIn that inspired this post:

“This is virtually asking the candidate to work for free and it’s not right. Candidates are worried that refusing will ruin their chances of getting the job, so they do it. This is sounding like exploitation.”

Here’s my two cents on this question of exploitation:

1. If an employer ask you to complete an exercise to evaluate your skills and abilities, do the exercise. Not out of fear, but with a genuine desire to solve the problem whether they hire you or not.

2. Yes, I believe it is fair to ask candidates to complete exercises that are based on real life problems an organization faces.

3. No, I don’t believe it is exploitation.

Why? Because, the entire purpose of an interview and hiring process is to evaluate the skills and abilities of job candidates. For most organizations assessing job seekers, one of the key factors that hiring managers are looking for is your ability problem-solve. If you can solve the problem of an organization, you are much more likely to get a job offer than if you can’t demonstrate your ability to solve problems. Any “exercise” that you can successfully solve, will move you closer to the job offer and in the end, that should be the reason you are in the interview process.

Veronica’s article, Exploiting the Unfortunate, “Employers are taking advantage of the unfortunate unemployed when they appear to be innocently asking the candidate to do an exercise to evaluate their skills WHEN the exercise is a present-day issue facing their company. Employers, please don’t do this…it’s shameful.”

I don’t see job candidates as unfortunate, nor do I see the pursuit of evaluating your skills using real life issues as shameful. If you are in the market for a job, you have an opportunity to compete for as many jobs as you are qualified for. You may not always be selected for an interview, but when you are selected it becomes your opportunity to shine. It is your opportunity to help solve real problems that an organization is facing. If you are the best candidate for the job, you will demonstrate that better than any other candidate, I believe that most organizations are not attempting to exploit you, but truly attempting to identify the best candidate.

One gentleman I met at a job fair recently just got a job. He was working with a recruiter and one of their clients had a major problem that was impacting the daily work flow of the organization. The organization brought him in for a consult. He solved the problem in two hours and they offered him a job. He could have said “no” to the “exercise” of a real life problem. And he would probably still be unemployed. The organization needed a knowledgeable IT person to come in, assess what was happening and give a solution that would help the organization resume operations. This job seeker did just that and he got a job. Employers are not taking advantage of you when they ask you to solve real life problems they are facing. And whether you get the job or not, you WIN if the solution you gave is real, and it works. It demonstrates your ability to solve problems and if that organization will not hire you another one will.

Image Credit: sxc.hu

Facebook has a new app called Inside Job. Very interesting application to add to your profile if you are on Facebook. InSide Job allows you to search for and contact other users based on where they interviewed, worked, or are currently working. Get the inside scoop on your prospective employer before the interview. Find the right people to hire. Search for and post jobs. InSide Job is a tool that replicates the best features of business sites like LinkedIn.

InSide Job users can also:
• Get the inside scoop on their prospective employer before the interview;
• Network with people in similar fields; and
• Find the right people to hire as service providers.

Here is a video demo from YouTube on Inside Job:

Before I share my thoughts about the value of Inside Job, let me say this - I like Facebook. I believe that Facebook is a valuable social networking tool. However, I don’t believe Facebook is the place to network for professional jobs. I know that many of you may disagree with me, that’s great. Come share your argument, but I truly believe that you need to separate your social networking from your professional networking. Especially for those of you who are just beginning. Coming out of college and trying to navigate your way through an already difficult job market. You want to demonstrate your skills and abilities, not your last spring break escapades.

Facebook has connected me to hundreds of people I lost contact with. Personal friends. People I may never had connected with again, given our lack, or I should say my lack of writing letters. Which is how people stayed in touch before the Internet and email. Anyway, my point - Inside Job is a great added value for Facebook users, and I may try it, But I want to go on the record and say to all of you Facebook lovers, separate your social networking from your professional networking. There is a huge difference between how you conduct yourself personally and professionally. And your social banter, conduct and casual attitudes can and will affect your professional image. Think about it and let me know what you think!

Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. These seem to be the top social networking sites used by people around the world. The Today Show did a segment this morning called Online Etiquette. There is some good information here. Take a look at the video and let me know what you think! Scroll down and leave a comment.

Video Credit: MSNBC

LinkedIn is a good place to market yourself, your business, or your products and services. If you haven’t given it a chance yet, you should take a look. It has none of the obnoxious backgrounds or unexpected music that you get with some sites. Everyone’s profile is set up similarly so that once you are familiar with the general layout you’ll be able to navigate easily.

So how can you get the most from your LinkedIn experience? Here are five ways to better your experience.

Create a complete profile
Fill out as much information as you can in your profile. Pay careful attention to the summary, which gives you a chance to encapsulate your skills and best selling points. Do you own a company? Talk it up. Are you an independent contractor? Tell us what you do. What you say in your summary can be your first introduction to potential contacts.

Network like crazy
Add professional connections to your profile. It’s through these people that you can find potential clients, customers, or even vendors. Don’t just “collect” people though. The best way to keep LinkedIn useful is to only add people who you know personally or professionally. You’ll be able to keep track of contacts and be taken more seriously as someone who’s there to connect with people rather than build a collection of names.

Get recommended
Ask people you trust to endorse you and your work. A recommendation is a short blurb telling others why they should hire you, work with your company, or whatever else is relevant. Just make sure that you reciprocate by recommending a few of your own contacts. If you only collect recommendations and don’t bother helping out others, people may become reluctant to put in a good word for you. Remember, social networking is about sharing.

Join groups
There are many professional groups and associations represented on LinkedIn. Join a few that are relevant to you. You’ll gain access to a larger group of contacts who share an interest with you. You can start discussions, post links to relevant news items, and contribute to conversations. Just be careful not to push yourself or your business too hard. You have to contribute to conversations with relevant info. Prove your expertise without sounding like a blowhard. Build up some trust with others and they’ll be more open to hearing your pitch.

Answer questions
There’s an “answers” section on the site. Users post a variety of questions. Find your area of expertise and join the conversations. It’s a way to gain authority and meet more people. Again, adding relevant information can help increase your visibility. Just be careful not to over-promote. Read several answers from a variety of topics to get the feel for what people are looking for.

With these steps, you’ll be on your way to making good use of LinkedIn. Many more promotion opportunities will arise as the site continues to add new features. Are there any other aspects of LinkedIn that you’d like us to cover? Let me know in the comments or via e-mail.

photo © Michael Jastremski for openphoto.net CC: Attribution-ShareAlike

Graduation Day is coming for college students. That means there will be many more people in the job market looking for a job. Some students are looking for summer jobs but what about the seniors? They are looking for permanent employment. I found an article from the Salt Tribune, On the Job: College Grads Can Still Some Good Jobs. According to Sue fuller, director of talent management for EDL Consulting in Northbrook, Ill. “We’re very mindful of how people behave online. We do check. Business is about reputation and relationships, so we’re looking to see how they (college graduates) manage themselves online.” Less than professional behavior using social networking sites will get in your way when looking for employment.

For college students preparing for graduation and anticipating a job search, networking will be very important for you. Connecting with friends and family members who are employed become a great foundation for you to launch your job search. Created a LinkedIn profile and start meeting people in the industry you are interested in working. Meet new people, share your ideas and research companies.

Check your Facebook profile. Clean it up if necessary. Understand that your antics on Facebook can and will come back t bite you at a critical time in your job search. Less than professional behaviors or patterns of behavior will create questions of judgment and professionalism for hiring managers and recruiters. It is up to you as a college graduate to clean up your act and ensure that your online image matches the resume and cover letter an organization has concerning you.

Image Credit: sxh.cu

Linkedin is a social media tool for professionals. That’s simple definition for a tool that I believe can help you as a job seeker connect with old colleagues and meet new people that can help you network your way into your next job opportunity. I recommend LinkedIn to almost every job seeker I work with. Recently, I met a woman in New York at a job fair. She had a LinkedIn profile, but she wasn’t using it. As a result of our conversation, she began to hang out at LinkedIn and connected with colleagues in her industry. She didn’t see the value of LinkedIn, at least she didn’t see it before I encouraged her to get out on her profile and reach out to people in her network. As a result, she ended up meeting reconnecting with people that are willing to help her find another job in her industry.

Tonight I found out that another jobseeker I just met with on Thursday, last week, created a profile on Friday, and he has reconnected with colleagues he worked with years ago. He also has been able to connect to someone in his current network that will be introducing him to someone that needs someone with his skills and abilities. Prior to our meeting on Thursday, he did not have a LinkedIn profile. Now he does, and in less than a week, he has a potential job opportunity he can pursue

If you are a job seeker and you have a LinkedIn profile, get out there on the site and work your network. I am reposting a series of post wrote about LinkedIn back in September of 2007. Take a look at LinkedIn Review and then go to the LinkedIn site and work your network. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, go set up your profile and start connecting to people, network and meet with new people. Be open to assisting others even in the midst of your job search.

1. What is LinkedIn?

2. One Value of Your LinkedIn Profile

3. Book Review:I’m On LinkedIn Now What?

4. LinkedIn Connections - “Now What?”

5. LinkedIn Connections “Now What?” P.2

6. LinkedIn Connections - Degrees

7. LinkedIn - Blast From My Past

8. LinkedIn Answers

9. Create More Value With LinkedIn

10. LinkedIn - Jobs & Hiring

Feel free to scroll down and leave a comment or question you have regarding LinkedIn. Share your successful LinkedIn story as a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Image Credit: sxc.hu

Tips on how you can use LinkedIn to grow your business is the focus of this article. In the previous business growth article about Facebook, I shared some tips on how you can use it to grow your business. Well, LinkedIn is another social media marketing tool that you can use to grow your business.

Image: LinkedIn.com

For my own business, I recently updated my LinkedIn profile so that I could take advantage of the business environment to grow my business. I also, joined groups and started networking with others. In my experience, I found that the LinkedIn environment is a place where business own could connect with other business owners and ask questions along with share their knowledge about specific subject matters. It is also a place where you can either find a job with a company or post a job for your company.

According to an article by Guy Kawasaki…

Most people use LinkedIn to “get to someone” in order to make a sale, form a partnership, or get a job. It works well for this because it is an online network of more than 8.5 million experienced professionals from around the world representing 130 industries. However, it is a tool that is under-utilized…

The top list that Guy shared as part of this article are:

1. Increase your visibility.
2. Improve your connectability.
3. Improve your Google PageRank.
4. Enhance your search engine results.
5. Perform blind, “reverse,” and company reference checks.
6. Increase the relevancy of your job search.
7. Make your interview go smoother.
8. Gauge the health of a company.
9. Gauge the health of an industry.
10. Track startups.
11. Ask for advice.
12. Integrate into a new job.
13. Scope out the competition, customers, partners, etc.

This list should be very helpful to you as a business owner as you choose to incorporate LinkedIn into your business. Please share how you use LinkedIn to grow your business.