Many thanks to Karen Chopra for providing this “crowd-sourced” list of best online/social media tools for jobseekers from her presentation at the 2012 Career Thought Leaders Conference. Thanks to all who participated.

Online/Social Media Resources for Job Seekers (PDF)

The first day of this year’s conference was a great success! All of the speakers were well received and everybody left the day’s sessions with tons of useful information about mastering the art of resume writing. The accommodations at the Hyatt hotel are wonderful,  the food is delicious, and all who attended the evening’s special event on the dinner cruise had a great time.

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The countdown to the second Career Thought Leaders’ Conference (CTL) has started – within less than 48 hours I will be boarding a plane from Newcastle via London Heathrow to Baltimore. You might think that’s a lot of effort, a big expense and not really necessary, considering that there are UK based careers conferences I could attend instead. Admittedly, the first time I attended a US conference (CTL 2010), it did feel slightly extravagant (my accountant certainly thought so!). But it did not take me long to realise what a wonderful experience and wise investment it was.

Here are six reasons why I am returning to Baltimore for the second time:

1. Relationship building: In a virtual world it is easy to forge relationships over distance. It still amazes me how well you get to know colleagues from across the world through social media or by participating in group training courses over the phone – especially if you get together week after week. But nothing beats meeting people face to face – there is just a different quality about it. During our CCMC and CJSS classes we all kept saying: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have a reunion in Baltimore? And now, at least some of us get the chance!
2. Serving international clients: Many of our clients are highly mobile professionals. They are keen to seek out new opportunities, often outside their home countries.  They expect you to be knowledgeable about international career management practices. As an example: I just helped an Indian client who I met during a workshop in The Netherlands land a job in the US. I doubt I could have done this without my ongoing interest in international career management topics and an appreciation of how things work in other countries. What I learnt at CTL 2010 paid off very quickly.
3. Staying ahead of the game: Our industry and practices are changing at such a fast pace. A lot of the new technologies and tools come from the US – whether it’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or specific online career management tools such as WinTheView, JibberJobber and others. What happens in the US now is likely to come to the UK and Continental Europe in a short while – all the more reason to check out what innovations you have in stock!
4. Inspiration: The UK careers industry is going through the greatest shake up in recent history. After years of expansion, we suddenly see a sharp contraction, with thousands of careers advisors losing their (state) jobs, the outplacement industry under severe pressure to lower their fees or do more with less, and private clients hesitant to spend money. Here, the mood in the careers sector is very subdued. In contrast, the US careers industry looks mature yet vibrant, innovative and energetic (at least from a distance). The buzz at CTL alone will help me get back into the spirit of possibility, optimism and decisive action.
5. Preparation: International conferences can be a bigger investment than attending regional or national ones (okay, this might be different in the US as travel distances are so vast even if you attend a national conference). But because I invest more, I also plan and prepare more. That can only be a good thing!
6. Sense of adventure: I love going to conferences, wherever they are, but conferences abroad are extra special. The foreign location adds to the excitement and all the new impressions will be food for the soul for the next twelve months. My two “must see attractions” in Baltimore this year are: The American Visionary Art Museum and a return to the National Aquarium, both conveniently located on the Inner Harbour.

Ruth Winden

Career Thought Leaders Conference & Symposium

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

Less than a week … and counting … to a great gathering of thought leaders from the careers community. I’m excited! Will I see you in Baltimore? I hope so!

Allow me to present one last great reason to join us, one unparalleled opportunity to absorb (and contribute to) the newest, most advantageous ideas for keeping your clients on the cutting edge.

Anyone who has attended a careers-industry conference knows that listening to all of the talented speakers and wonderful presentations each day is great! It’s exhausting work, packing our brain cells with all that valuable new information. Watch what transpires next week, however, just when you’d suspect that all of us might be burned out at the end of each day. An amazing thing will happen as we drag ourselves from the last presentation each afternoon: Colleague-to-Colleague discussions!

Just when you think you’ll burst with all the new ideas you’ve collected during presentations, these C-C brainstorming sessions will provide a relief valve. I think they’ll be a great way to engage, in small groups, to discuss specific topics related to our businesses: résumés, coaching, job search, interviewing, technology, entrepreneurship, pricing, packaging and much more.

In these groups, we will all have the chance to speak up – to ask questions or share ideas, postulate new trends and best practices, or demonstrate new techniques. I think the greatest challenge with these C-C programs will be deciding which to attend each day! Fortunately, they have been structured so we can move seamlessly from one to another and join in a host of conversations. (I only wish I could multi-locate!) I know you’ll enjoy these every bit as much as I will!

See you there!

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

About 10 years ago, career coaching emerged as a critical component for success in career planning and development, job search and lifelong career management. Looking back over those years, I am amazed at how the field of coaching has grown in importance and sophistication.

I now understand how vital coaching is to the success of all of my clients – recent college graduates, mid-life career changers, return-to-work moms and dads, executives, mid-career professionals and everyone else. I want to provide each of them with the proper coaching tools, information and resources, because their success depends on the foundation I have laid for them. There will be much to learn during conference sessions on preparing our clients for the rigors of job search and career management in today’s fast-paced, technology-saturated marketplace.

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

When I first started writing professional resumes 20 years ago, the styles and formats were far different than they are today. In fact, one of the most important things I’ve learned about the resume writing trade is that it’s dynamic: It is constantly morphing to keep pace with changes in the employment landscape and hiring process.

I have become a lifelong student of the art and science of resume writing, knowing that things are constantly changing, improving and otherwise transitioning. I make a point of reading as much as I can about resumes, reviewing resume sample books and participating in resume discussion groups and brainstorming sessions. Most important, however, is my commitment to learning from the experts – Louise Kursmark, Wendy Enelow and their expert team of conference presenters. At the CTL conference, they’ll be sharing new ideas for writing resumes, cover letters, thank-you letters, LinkedIn profiles, executive bios and other career marketing communications. I look forward to learning all of the cutting-edge, fresh and exciting information they’ll present that will give my clients an edge when I return to my office!

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

I’ve been self-employed for 20 years as a professional resume writer and career coach. Although all entrepreneurs have their “off” days, I have to say that 98% of the time I’m thrilled with my business. But, like many entrepreneurs, I want to make more money. As a primary income producer in my household, I want to learn how to increase my income … NOW! Fortunately, I’m going to get that opportunity when I listen to Ross Macpherson’s presentation and learn how he’s been remarkably successful – professionally and financially. I want to know what Ross knows so that I can return to my office, implement similar strategies and business processes, and start making more money next week!

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

Learning to write powerful, keyword-rich and well-branded LinkedIn profiles is just half of the equation … the half that I’m looking forward to learning on “Resume Day.” The other half that is just as important is learning how best to optimize LinkedIn as a networking and job search tool. Fortunately, we’re all going to have the opportunity to listen to Jason Alba, one of the real LI pioneers and the author of I’m on Linked Now: Now What?, as he takes us step-by-step through the processes that both our clients and we must know in order to truly understand and leverage the enormous power of LI. I just learned that the median income of LI users is higher than that of subscribers to the Wall Street Journal. I want to learn how to reach these people for myself, my business and my clients. I’m listening for all of the answers, Jason!

From Wendy Enelow:

www.careerthoughtleaders.com/conference

In 2009, I had a few clients for whom I either wrote LinkedIn profiles or counseled them on the importance of being visible on LinkedIn. Then, in 2010, my clients’ interest in LI skyrocketed. In fact, I’d estimate that I wrote and/or edited LI profiles for at least 50%-60% of my clients, and anticipate that this trend will continue to increase. I’m certain that the LI profiles I’m currently writing are good … really good … but now I want them to be great. As such, I can’t wait to attend the presentation on “Resume Day” where we’ll learn the latest strategies, trends and techniques in writing LI profiles that give our clients a clear and distinct competitive advantage as more and more companies and recruiters use LI to identify quality candidates. I already know that LI profiles are “more” than resumes. Now, teach me more so I can know it all!