How to Find Out Which Companies Are Hiring

Most people on the hunt for a new job or position all look in the same, usual places.  But there are better, more efficient ways to find where the jobs are.  And, if you do it right, it can lead you to a conversation with the actual person who is hiring.  Forget about posting your resume to the big job boards.  Even if you get a call from a recruiter, chances are they haven't really read it and don't have a lead on a job for you.  They're just trying to build up their database.  Work smarter toward finding your next opportunity and try these tactics.

Related:  Less Well Known Job Listings

Your local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for information on the businesses in your area.  Most have a website that lists all their members.  Some will contain information about the type of business, as well as a link to their website.  Take a look, you'll be surprised at the businesses in your own community that you never even knew about.  Give the Chamber of Commerce a call and ask if they know of any businesses hiring and mention specifically the companies you're interested in.  Frequently, either a company has told the Chamber directly that they're looking to hire for open positions or someone working at the Chamber has heard about it through their networking channels.  This is a great way to find out who's hiring and get the name and number of someone at the company to contact. Don't apply online, even if it's offered. Call first, have some questions about the company and the position ready and then ask what the best way to apply would be. Chances are, the person will just have you send your resume to them directly which greatly increases your probability of an interview.  

You've heard me say this before, but seriously, go to Twitter.  Find companies that you want to work for and follow them.  If you comment on their tweets or retweet for them, they'll start to notice you.  Make sure everything you tweet on your account is professional and focused on demonstrating your expertise.  When they do tweet openings, reply with a question.  You'll get a response, there's always a person on the other end of a Twitter account.  But if you've been interacting with them prior to asking about a job, they'll already be familiar with you and much more likely to engage in a conversation outside of Twitter. And once that happens, you're already half-way to your interview.

Related:  Questions to Ask During an Interview

Most companies have a business page on LinkedIn.  Look it up and follow them. They'll list open positions on the company page and will give instructions on the best way to apply.  Even better, LinkedIn will show you how you're connected to people at the company, even if they aren't directly in your network.  You'll see second degree connections and who you have in common.  If you're interested in a position, take a look at who could introduce you to someone in the company. Once introduced, have questions ready about the company and the position. After you've communicated with your new friend a couple of times, ask if they could recommend someone involved in the hiring process that you could speak with. Once you're in touch with actual people you're much more likely to be invited to interview.  People like to work with people they know, it's less of a risk.  

Just finding a job in this competitive market is more difficult than it's ever been before.  And if you're in a higher level position, the only way to advance is to move to another company.  There are ways to position yourself for the greatest probability of success.  The main thing is to get yourself out there talking to and connecting with actual people.  The internet is a great resource, but you can't rely on that alone.  The greatest resource is still other people.  Which is great, talking to people is more fun than submitting resumes all day.  And you get better results, too.

Networking and Online Dating

A question I'm asked frequently is how to network.  I've written other articles about how to grow, access and use your network online while you're looking for a job.  But I've left out the most important part.  How to actually talk to other people when you're meeting in person. Networking is all about building relationships. It's very much not about what everyone else can do for you.  But it is very much about what you can do for each other.  Remember, this is a two-way street.  But first, you have to get started and actually speak to each other.

Related:  Using Your Network to Find a Job

Last week I was having a conversation with other business owners about the importance of networking. A few people mentioned how chatting up strangers can be difficult, even when it's during an event and that's what you're supposed to be doing.  I made a stupid joke (surprising, I know) about my unsuccessful online dating experiences having at least given me a lot of practice making conversation with strangers.  People laughed, they're very polite, but I realized it wasn't really a joke.  My fairly ridiculous online dating exploits had actually prepared me really well for in-person networking.  They also gave me some pretty funny stories, but that's for another blog.



The main reason networking is so challenging is that most of us really don't want to go talk to people. We want to talk to the people we already know.  Talking to strangers is uncomfortable and it's human nature to avoid discomfort.  But just because something is uncomfortable doesn't mean it has to be unpleasant.  Take getting into a hot tub.  Typically the temperature is pretty high so you have to ease into it slowly, bit by bit.  But once you're there, nothing feels better than relaxing into the heat.  Chatting up strangers can be like that, if you ease into it. Rather than being painful, it can actually be fun.  But there's a trick to doing it successfully.

Related: Networking Basics

The key to successful relationship building, whether you're building your networking or on a date with someone you met online, is to ask about the other person.  And actually listen to the answer.  That's it.  It's pretty simple.  When I'd go on these blind dates I always asked about them, first.  I'd throw out a couple of follow up questions, a few "how interesting, tell me mores" and then I could sit back and enjoy my drink.  Frequently that was the only thing I was enjoying.  But networking is more fun.  Once you get someone talking, the rest is easy.  You just have to stand there and listen.  And as opposed to a date, you don't have to worry that this person is going to want to come home with you.  You also don't have to worry about saying the right thing to impress them, or show how smart you are. Just stand there with your mouth shut.  Listening is the fastest way to get people to like you.  And we all want to help people we like.

Sometimes you are going to find yourself in a situation where the other person drones on incessantly about themselves.  Even though it's a little bit your fault because, hey, you asked, you don't have to submit yourself to it for too long.  Unfortunately, when in a networking or professional situation, excusing yourself to the bathroom and convincing the waitstaff to sneak you out isn't an option. But you can get out of it gracefully.  When it's obvious you're not needed for the conversation, wait for the other person to take a breath and break in.  Thank them for their time and tell them how interesting they are.  Take their card and say how nice it was to meet them.  And then indicate vaguely toward someone else and say you need to catch up with them before they leave, and walk away.  And do it all with a smile.  This is about building relationships, after all.  Not about indulging one person's love of their own voice.  Just make sure you're not that person and you'll have a great time.  

Meeting new people and building your network can be fun.  Most people you meet are really very nice and interesting to talk to.  Just like with any skill, the more you practice, the easier it gets.  I never used to look forward to large groups of people and talking to strangers.  It was my least favorite thing to do.  But the idea being dateless and dying alone (ok, a bit dramatic) motivated me out of my comfort zone.  I really enjoy meeting new people and I value the connections I've made and the relationships I've built. And if I can grow to enjoy it and be successful at it, so can you.  I promise.  You just have to get out there.

The Right Answer for Weird Interview Questions

I had an interview once where I was asked to answer a riddle.  I don't remember what the riddle was, just that I thought it was stupid.  I started working it out by speaking my thought process out loud.  I actually figured it out (still thought it was stupid).  The interviewer told me no one else had figured it out and most people didn't take it seriously and refused to answer.  I didn't care.  I was there to interview for a job and I was irritated that they were wasting my time.  I must be very charming when I'm annoyed because I got the job.  I learned later that it was the way I answered the riddle that helped me stand out.  Not that I had gotten it right, although that helped, but because of how I went about answering.

Related:  Questions You Should Ask the Interviewer

Being asked seemingly ridiculous questions during an interview can seem pointless and be frustrating. What kind of tree would I be?  Are you kidding me?  But as stupid as these kinds of questions sound, they actually serve a pretty good purpose.  A weird question can give the interviewer quite a lot of insight into the job candidate, depending on how the person answers.


The trend toward these types of questions really caught hold when Microsoft famously asked job candidates, "Why are manhole covers round?".  I feel bad for the first person to hear this one.  Have you ever given it any serious thought?  I hadn't until I read an article about the question.  If you want to know why, take a look at the story on Wikipedia.  Don't be lazy, go read it.  A couple of other good ones are "How many cars are in the US?" and "What superhero would you be?".  The last one I've actually thought about and would have fun answering but the number of cars in the US?  Seriously?

Related: Get Your Resume Seen

The point of these questions isn't to be funny or to waste time.  No one really cares how many cars there are (ok, Detroit might) or what superhero you pretend to be in your head.  It's not so much what you answer but in how you answer.  Even if it's not a question like these but just one that you don't know the answer to, your best bet is to start reasoning it out by talking out loud.  Talk your way through the problem so they can understand your process.  This shows you're actually trying, taking it seriously and can demonstrate how creative and smart you are.  You probably don't know how why a manhole cover is round but you can probably think of a few reasons it might be.  

The purpose of an interview isn't so much about finding out if you have the required skills, they figure you do or they wouldn't be talking to you.  It's more about learning how you think, work and how well you'll fit in.  Which, really, is more important.  Many of the skills can be taught but a good sense of humor, critical thinking and creativity can't.  You have to bring those.  So don't keep your reasoning to yourself, talk it through.  And once you get hired, you may already have a cool new nickname.  Or not, depending on your answer to the superhero question.

What to do With Unfair Interview Questions

We've all been there.  Sitting in an interview and you get asked something that the interview really shouldn't be asking.  It may be something stupid and cliche like the whole "What's your greatest weakness?" or it could be something more personal, like your salary history.  Either way, you don't have to answer questions like these.  You don't have to just say no, jump up and run out of the room, either.  It can be handled with grace and intelligence if you know how.  And it just so happens, at Career Dragon we know how, and we're in a sharing mood.


1.  Let's start with the easiest one, "What's your biggest weakness?"  We've all been asked that question.  It's pointless, stupid and doesn't provide the interviewer with any real information.  They're probably just asking because that's what they were asked when they were hired.  Here's how to answer it well:  Describe a time when you were given constructive feedback during a yearly review and told what you could improve, communication or time management for example.  Talk about how you evaluated your method of time management (just for example, you may be a genius at time management, I don't know) and identified ways to improve.  Give examples like, scheduling tasks in your calendar for a specific amount of time, organizing your schedule more efficiently, reducing the number of meetings you attend, etc.  Then tell them the positive results you experienced.  Describe how much more efficiently you do your job and the increase in the workload and responsibility you were able to accept.  Do that and you will have answered a pointless and lazy interview question in an outstanding way.

Related:  Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

2.  "What's your salary history?" This one is just tactless and demonstrates either a lack of experience on the part of the interviewer, or that the company is already not willing to pay what the job is worth. The only time salary should come into the conversation is when they're making an offer.  If you're asked this, respond with a question of your own like, "Why? Are you ready to present me with an offer?"  Say it with a smile and be nice.  They aren't ready to make you an offer and hopefully the interviewer catches on that they've asked something they shouldn't.  If they keep on about it, tell them you're happy to discuss salary when an offer is made but not before.  Tell them you'd like to focus on the responsibilities and expectations of the postion and discuss what you can do to benefit the company.  If they still won't let it go, politely (seriously, politeness and a smile will take you far) explain again that you won't be discussing the issue of salary until it's time to negotiate their offer.  They may chase you out with a big stick, I don't know.  Probably not but don't wear too high of heels, just in case.

Related:  Make Your Interview a Conversation

3.  All interviewers should know that asking personal questions is not only frowned upon, it can be illegal. Although certain questions like marital status, number of children and age are illegal, there are ways to ask without asking directly.  Questions like "What does your spouse do?"  "How many kids do you have?"  "Are you planning on having kids?"  "When did you graduate high school?"  are all examples of getting information that is not allowed in the hiring process.  You don't have to answer these.  You can politely (notice a theme, here?) explain that while you appreciate their interest you'd rather focus on the expectations of the job.  Then go right into your own question.  Ask them what would the person doing the job need to accomplish in the first six months to be considered outstanding. Asking how you could deliver their ideal of outstanding performance will make them stop and think.  If they're not prepared, they haven't thought about this yet.  And it makes you look really good.

When interviewing just keep in mind that not every place you interview will be a good fit for you.  If you end up with an ill prepared interviewer who is asking you immediately about your salary, chances are this isn't going to be a great place to spend your days.  But, it could also be that your interviewer is just having an off day.  Maybe they didn't sleep well the night before or they're cranky because they missed breakfast.  You don't know, so keep an open mind and a polite tongue and see where it goes.

Job Offer Scams - Yes, They're Real.

I first ran into the job offer scams when I was looking to move from the company I was currently working for.  About 10 years ago I had uploaded my resume into a few job search sites, like Career Builder and Monster.  Don't judge me.  That's how it was done at the time. So, during my new job search in addition to hitting up my network, I updated those online resumes.  That's when I started to get offers of employment for jobs having absolutely nothing to do with my skill set.  I'm a chemist, and none of these "offers" had anything to do with anything scientific.  I decided to figure out who these people were and why they'd be contacting me.  It turns out, they were either get-rich-quick scams or a ploy to get my bank account numbers.  

Related: Keep Your Identity Safe Online

But how do you know for sure?  When you're unemployed and looking for a job you're under a lot of pressure.  Which, really is just a nice way of saying that you're panicking.  And when you're panicking, you may have blinders on when comes to something being too good to be true.  And that's what these scammers count on. They will absolutely take advantage of someone already in a desperate situation.  I probably shouldn't have been, but I was very surprised that anyone could be low enough to do that.  But they will.  And they do.  The trick is to keep them from doing it to you. 

He's probably a Nigerian prince, too.

Here's the first hint, if someone is asking you for money they are not offering you a job. It may not come as a shock (or maybe it will, I really don't know how easily shocked you are) that most "Work from Home" offers are a scam.  This is the most common one you'll run across while you're out there looking for a job.  If you click on their link you'll most likely end up watching their video telling you wild stories about how immediately successful everyone who has ever tried their method has become.  And if you want to learn more, you only have to pay them for your start up kit. This goes for any email you receive that sounds like a job offer.  No one who wants to hire you will ask you for money.

Related:  Real Job Listings With Less Competition

Another rule along the same lines is that no one is going to give you money for nothing.  Ever.  Except maybe your parents. And that's only if they really like you. A very common scam is the company that emails you offering a job that you can start right away.  They only want you to process payment checks from their customers through your bank account.  All you have to do is deposit the checks they send you into your personal bank account.  And then you just send them a portion back, keeping a predetermined percentage for yourself.  Super easy and minimal work for you.  And if this is something you're interested in, please call me. I have several very profitable bridges I happen to have for sale.  This is just a scam to get your bank account number which they will then very quickly clean right out for you.

There are ways to determine if an email you get regarding a job is on the up and up. 

- Check the sender's email address.  Sometimes it'll include Career Builder or Monster but you can tell that it's not from the job board service.  The email address won't be in the format someone@careerbuilder.com but rather, someone@careerbuilder.somethingweird.com. 

- You can also tell by looking at the URL of the link they send you. If it doesn't include their company name and starts with "bit.ly" it may not be safe to click on. If it's not safe to click on, it's not a real job lead.  Quick note - not all "bit.ly" links are unsafe. It's a commonly used URL shortener, like when tweeting a long address.  But it can also be used to disguise a URL, so just be careful.

Unfortunately, there are people out there who will take advantage of you if you let them.   Just remember, there are no actual "get rich quick" plans.  If there were, we'd all be swimming in money and not need to find a job.  But if you use a little common sense - if it's too good to be true, it probably is - and never give out account info or money, you'll be ok. 

Keep Your Identity Safe When You're Online

We focus on showing you how to use modern job search methods through social media.  But for many of you, it means your first foray into putting yourself out there online.  And this has generated lots of questions about how to keep your identity safe when you're posting information about yourself.  So we decided to address, and calm, your fears.  It's not that bad out there if you know what to look for and understand how privacy settings work.  Just like in real life.  You wouldn't run around giving your personal information out to strangers you see in public any more than you would wear a t-shirt that listed your name, age and social security number.  Because you recognize that would be dangerous.  Now you just need to learn what defines risky behavior online.  And then don't do that.

There is a difference between your professional social media accounts and your personal ones.  Sites like Facebook and Google+ are more geared for your personal life.  That's not to say they can't be used to help you find a job.  The people you're connected with there are still part of your network and a valuable resource. LinkedIn, a career oriented personal website and a Twitter account would be more for professional use.  Although Twitter can go both ways, and you can have multiple accounts.  You could always set one up for personal use and one for professional use.  While you would want to keep your privacy settings as private as possible on your personal social media accounts, you want to keep your settings the most public on your professional accounts.  But regardless of your privacy settings the same rule applies to both.  Never post sensitive information on either one.

Related:  Using Your Network in Your Job Search

But what information is sensitive, exactly?  Sensitive information online is anything that would remove your anonymity.  But some information is less sensitive and is something you want people to find easily if you're looking for a job or promoting your career.  Your phone number and email address are important pieces of information to include on your LinkedIn profile if you want people to be able to contact you.  You can always set up a separate email account specifically for professional emails.  This information should also be listed on your resume.  Sensitive information you don't want to post that might not seem obvious would be your home address, your schedule (the time/days you're not home), and what kind of car you drive.  Your social security number, where you bank, and any account numbers or information should never be posted anywhere online but that also should go without saying. Most of this is common sense.  If it's not something you'd want your neighbors to know, don't post it online, either.

Related:  Using Social Media to Find a Job

There is a way to control what people see when they search for you by name. Search engine optimization (SEO) services for your name is a worthwhile investment.  There are things that will show up in a search for your name whether you've posted them or not.  For example, your home address is easy to find if you're a homeowner.  It's part of the tax record.  But, if you invest in a little SEO for your name, you can push the information back beyond the first page of Google search results where it's harder to find.  SEO for your name is a very useful tool, not just for hiding what you don't want people to find but to promote what you do want found.  Like your LinkedIn profile, your Twitter or Pinterest accounts or a personal website.  SEO helps you control what information people will see about you online.  If you're concerned at all about what shows up in a search for you, SEO is the only way to go.

Putting yourself out there online doesn't have to be risky.  If you know what information should and shouldn't be posted and how to set your privacy settings, you won't have a problem. That, and a little common sense will keep you relatively safe online.  But remember, just like in real life there are always risks.  You may not be irresponsible enough to wander alone into a dark, sketchy, underground parking structure at night but that doesn't mean you'll never get mugged. Be careful, err on the side of caution and be safe.  Online isn't much different from real life.  It's still people you're dealing with, act accordingly and you'll have a good time.

Do You Even Know How You Look Online?

Personalized Social Media Marketing

Have you ever Googled yourself?  It's not as dirty as it sounds, or as narcissistic.  But, seriously.  Have you?  If you haven't, you should.  Because everyone else will and you want to know what they're seeing.  Or if they're actually seeing you and not someone else by the same name.  Unless that someone else happens to be a life saving super hero CEO of a fortune 500 company.  Then you might not mind being mistaken for them.  Unfortunately, it's more likely that it'll be some guy with your name known for the pictures of his stuffed squirrel collection he posts to Facebook.  So what can you do about the results that show up in a search for your name?  And why should you care?

Related:  Show That You're the Ideal Job Candidate

For one thing, you should care because you want people to

get the right idea about you.  Especially if you're looking for a job or are the face of your business.  You want to give the impression of a normal, professional person. Stuffed squirrel collections tend to indicate the opposite.  When someone finds you online, chances are it's the first time they're coming into contact with you so you're making your first impression.  You only get once chance at it so you want to make sure it's a good one.  You can control what people see, to some extent.  Just remember, once you post something online it's there forever. Let that sink in.  Forever here means FOREVER.  As in permanently available to anyone with even rudimentary search skills.  Remember those really horrible pictures of Beyonce that her publicist demanded be taken down recently?  No? Search "really bad Beyonce pictures".  Go ahead.  I'll wait.  If Beyonce can't get painfully unflattering pictures removed, how successful do you think you're going to be?  The point is, don't post it in the first place.  If it's not something you'd plaster to your garage door for all your neighbors to see, you don't want to post it online.

Is this the impression you want to make?

But if you've already got things posted online that may be unflattering, incriminating or actually illegal, there are ways to minimize what people will see in a quick Google search.  First, ask your Facebook friends to un-tag you from their pictures and set your privacy so that only friends can see your posts.  When you open the "Privacy Settings and Tools" there is a section called "Who Can Look Me Up?" Set this on "Friends" and turn the search engine capability to "Off".  This isn't going to prevent people from seeing a lot of what you post but it will limit things a bit.  Unfortunately, Facebook isn't geared to be very private so keep that in mind when you post and when you're tagged.

Related:  Questions You Should Ask During an Interview

This is the impression you want to make

The best thing to do is create positive things to be found about you online.  Get a Pinterest account and re-pin a few things to establish some credibility to the account.  Pin things that won't reflect badly on you, like career advice or pictures of kittens.  Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and professionally done.  Then open a Twitter account.  Again, don't tweet anything that would make you look bad.  Follow professionals in your industry or a company you'd like to work for.  This gives multiple accounts attached to your name to come up on the first page of Google search results.  Which helps the things you'd rather not be seen get pushed further down the list and off the first page.

You can't completely control what's out there online already.  It's there.  And it's never going away.  Ever.  But you can minimize the effect it has by adding in some positive accounts and profiles that will be found first.  Moving forward, keep in mind that you don't want to post anything that might reflect badly on you.  Yes, you should have the freedom to express yourself in any way you choose without judgement.  Absolutely.  But, there's a time and a place.  And that applies to what you choose to display online, too.  Choose wisely.  Everyone's watching.

The Age Factor - It's Not Fair, But You Can Get Around It

Social Media Marketing for You

It can be challenging for anyone to find a job after getting laid off, but it's especially challenging if you're a person of a certain age. Or beyond a certain age.  There are multiple factors that contribute to the problem. Someone who is mid to late career will cost more than a fresh graduate.  The fact that they should cost more because they bring quite a bit more to the table seems a bit lost on larger companies lately.  But this will improve as the economy improves and isn't something you have much control over.  There are other factors that you do have control over, however.  And if you work with those, you'll draw attention away from concerns about your age.

Related:  Make a Great First Impression - Online

He has grey hair, he must not be tech savvy.
This is Steve Wozniack, by the way.

Two assumptions about older job candidates are that they lack basic technological skills and aren't up to date on current, common technology. This may or may not be true.  Just because someone is older doesn't mean they automatically lack the skills.  It's just a safe assumption that someone younger is more likely to have them. And really, they just give that impression because they're more likely to be involved in social media demonstrating they know their way around online.  You can give the same impression, and it's fairly easy.  By having a polished LinkedIn profile, an active Twitter account, and a personal website displaying your accomplishments, you can kill two birds with one stone.  You'll demonstrate your familiarity with current trends in social media as well as your skill with using new technology.  The way to show it off is to include at the top of your resume, active links to your LinkedIn profile, email and a personal website devoted to your career.  If you need help with this, you can always give us a call. We craft your professional presence online in such a way that shows you're an in touch, up to date expert in your field who understands current trends.  Keeping the focus on that makes your age much less important to a hiring manager.

Related:  Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

Beautifully age appropriate and stylish

Another misconception about mid to late career workers is that they are less energetic and motivated as their younger counterparts.  This you can absolutely control with your appearance and attitude.  I know, I know, what you look like isn't as important as what you're like inside.  I get it.  It's something we all agree on, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. Unfortunately, it's an evolved survival trait in humans that we do judge someone solely on their looks.  At first.  It's different if you have time to get to know someone.  But in the case of an interview, your first impression is vitally important.  Think about it this way, if you're waiting for an elevator and the door opens you glance inside before you jump in.  If you see a very large, disheveled man who looks like he hasn't bathed in a while talking to himself in an agitated manner, you're not going to get on that elevator.  It has nothing to do with judging him as a person but everything to do with the appearance of a potentially dangerous situation.  That reaction carries over whenever we meet someone new, especially in the case of an interview.  The interviewer has a short time to determine if you're someone they want to work with.  Most people spend more time at work than at home so it's important to be around people you like.  Going into an interview make sure you're dressed according to current fashion trends.  Dress age appropriate but in a current style.  Gentlemen, this means if you haven't bought a new suit in the last 10 years, it's time to go shopping.  If you're not sure what to get, go to a nicer department store like Macy's and ask for a personal shopper to assist you.  They'll get you sorted in no time.  Ladies, this works just as well for you.  You may also need to update your hairstyle and how you wear your makeup. Pair your updated look with a positive, enthusiastic attitude and you'll dispel all assumptions that a worker of a certain age lacks energy, enthusiasm and motivation.

Finding work in today's job market is challenging no matter where you are in your career.  But there are ways to make it easier on yourself.  Use the resources available to you and make sure you're representing yourself as the up to date, in touch, energetic professional that you are.  Start with your online presence and carry it through to your in person image.  Once you disprove incorrect assumptions, they'll have no choice but to see you for the contributions you can make and nothing else.