Getting back in the swing

OK, a month has gone by without an entry. I could say it was the holidays and such, but I have been putting it off because I don't know what I want to say.  

Tuesday night I found out that the man who laid me off, Ed Mallon the VP of IT Bussiness Applications, was fired and replaced by one of my former peers at CareFirst, Parminder Sethi.   I have mixed feelings about the whole thing.  Ed served CareFirst well for 27 years and 4 months (God that is a long time) and I don't wish for another man with a family to be looking for a job (the 52 WEEKS of severance to aid him in that search).

It feels good in some ways too, the simplest one being the part of about re-organization in my 30-90 second just got A LOT easier to believe.   And maybe there is something about your former boss not being there anymore that allows you to think more fondly on your last place of employment.  Could it be you place your negativity/regret of the whole experience on that person and it leaves when they do?  I know he did what he though best for the company when he re-orged, wonder what he thought of his bosses belief that his leaving was the best for the company too.

I did learn one more thing from Ed as he exited his carree at CareFirst, good or bad your relationships define you in the workplace and forgetting that has a big price.

Interview Practice is harder then it sounds!

Stared to use a "an innovative career development solution that combines web-based technology with personalized one-on-one coaching", called iView and I need Santa to bring me better answer to interview questions.   Thought I could just do an interview on the fly, I was wrong.  One more lesson in prep!

Resisting the urge to take the first job offered

I think I made a good decision today, saying "no, not yet".  I had a chance to work part time as a freelance consultant starting this week and I turned it down, at least for now.  It wasn't an easy thing, saying no to $3000 for part time work while out of a job, but it was the right thing.  It was better to keep focused on really trying to get ready for the next big step in my life and not get distracted, side stepped, or even hide in small task while I need to complete a much bigger one.  And it would not be fare to the good friend that gave me that opportunity. I couldn't put my best into the job, deliver quality, and feel good about doing it... at least not yet.   So today I said "not yet" and I hope for the best.

Leveraging Social Media in the Job Search

Social Media Revolution- YouTube Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8&feature=player_embedded

Twitter

Help Section

Twitter 101: How should I get started using Twitter?

http://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics/topics/104-welcome-to-twitter-support/articles/215585-twitter-101-how-should-i-get-started-using-twitter

The Twitter Glossary

http://support.twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics/topics/104-welcome-to-twitter-support/articles/166337-the-twitter-glossary

Job Board Discussed

http://tweetmyjobs.com/

facebook

Help Section

http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=414#!/help/?ref=pf

Groups: Viewing and Joining a Group

http://www.facebook.com/help/?page=825

Job Boards Discussed

Facebook Marketplace

http://apps.facebook.com/marketplace/searchapp?s=createtime&c=job

CareerBuilder

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=careerbuilder&init=quick&sid=0.39933491588196684#!

LinkedIn

Help Section

LinkedIn Customer Support Center

http://linkedin.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linkedin.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_sid=Smgbauak

LinkedIn Learning Center

http://learn.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn User Guide-Job Seekers

http://learn.linkedin.com/job-seekers/

Job Boards Reviewed- LinkedIn and Simply Hired

http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?displayHome=&trk=hb_tab_jobs

Articles

Social Media and the Job Search

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2009/db20090710_159348.htm

How to Get Followed on Twitter

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art59440.asp

50 ways to use Twitter as a Job Search Tool

http://applicant.com/twitter-job-search/

Use facebook to Find a Job

http://www.bashbosh.com/find-job-facebook/

10 Ways to Use LinkedIn in Your Job Search

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2010/ca2010067_197297.htm

Day One

In a sincere attempt to be more noticed in the world I have started sharing my thought on the future of health care, BPM, and finding a social relevant job.

Attending "Leveraging Social Media in the Job Search " webinar to see if I can figure out how to do this thing right!

Cool bit of info about LinkedIn if you have less then 100 connection you will show up 5% of time in searches and a 95% if you have 500 connections.  The downside of 500 connection is that 2nd degree recominadtions will be much less successful!  Unless you have 500 good friends :)