The schedule of programs is as follows:
February 1 – Creating a Resumé & Completing the Application
February 8 – Creating References, Cover Letters, & Thank You Letters
February 15 – Interviewing
February 22 – Evaluate Your Skills & Develop a Plan
February 29 – Networking & Using the Internet
March 7 – Rebranding Your Skills

The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100.

Calendar.

Have you been searching for a job and not having any luck? Maybe it’s time for a change in your game plan. Fort Bend County Libraries’ First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, will present a free, three-part series of “Job-Search Survival Tips,” beginning on Monday, January 30, from 5:30 to 8:45 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library. The series will continue on January 31 and February 1, at the same place and time. Different topics are discussed each night.

The three-part series is designed to help all job-hunters, from those applicants applying for a position at a fast-food restaurant to executives looking for a position in a large company. The tips that are presented can help any applicant plan a more efficient job hunt and make a more favorable impression.

Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and non-verbal skills, making a great first impression, networking, and much more. By developing an organized plan of action, the applicant is able to experience a more efficient job hunt with an increased chance of success.

The sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and late arrivals are welcome. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2800 or the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Getting Started With LinkedIn in Your Job Search

Why Get LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is the top social networking website for jobseekers. As Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, explains it, “Post a full profile and get connected to the people you trust. Because if you’re connected to those people and you posted a profile, then when other people are searching for people, they might find you.”

With more than 120 million registered users — and adding two new members every second — the rate at which your network expands on LinkedIn can be truly amazing. A hundred strategic contacts could mean access to millions of people in a short amount of time. You’d have to attend dozens — or hundreds — of in-person networking events to equal the reach you can get on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn allows you to leverage the power of your network — the people you know, and the people those people know — to help you connect to the person (or people) who are in a position to offer you a job.

As the co-founder of LinkedIn, Reid Hoffman, puts it, LinkedIn is about “connecting talent with opportunity on a massive scale.”

Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are on LinkedIn. And 59 percent of folks who are active on social networking sites say LinkedIn is their platform of choice, according to a June 2011 report from Performics and ROI Research.

But author Guy Kawasaki puts it best, “I could make the case that Facebook is for show, and LinkedIn is for dough.”

Why LinkedIn Is Important In Your Job Search
Once upon a time, attending networking mixers, industry events, and Chamber of Commerce meetings were the best way to make new connections and build business relationships. Now, these activities have moved online within the LinkedIn community. Much like networking in person, professionals interact on LinkedIn with the explicit intention of making business connections.

With LinkedIn, you get all the benefits of networking in person, with less of the hassle. Instead of going from business lunch to business lunch hoping to meet people, LinkedIn provides a platform for you to specifically search and research individuals who you know will directly add value to your job search.

Employers and recruiters use LinkedIn to locate both active jobseekers and those who aren’t necessarily looking (passive candidates). They also use LinkedIn to vet job candidates before making an interview invitation or extending a job offer.

The ability to identify, research, contact, follow-up, engage, and maintain your contacts in one place is the power of LinkedIn. Its ability to facilitate business networking is unmatched by any other social network. Essentially, your LinkedIn profile is a résumé, business card, and elevator speech all rolled up into one.

However, your LinkedIn profile is not your résumé. LinkedIn is a personal branding page. You need both a résumé and a LinkedIn profile, and they should be in sync with one another, but not be exact copies. The information on your résumé should match your profile (in terms of positions you’ve held, your educational credentials, etc.), but the content you include on your LinkedIn profile will be different than what is included on your résumé.

How To Set Up A Basic Account
Setting up a LinkedIn account is a quick and easy process. You can be listed in just five minutes. However, speed is not the objective if you want to use LinkedIn to facilitate your job search. Rushing could lead to a sloppy profile that doesn’t represent you well — or may even prevent you from getting called for an interview.

Basic memberships in LinkedIn are free. For most job seekers, the free option is adequate enough to effectively network on the site. (If you find you need the paid functionality, you can always upgrade your account later.)

To get started: Go to LinkedIn.com. Fill in your first and last name, email address, and password. Then click “Join Now.”

Here is mine (yes, it still needs work ):

Hilton Houston Hobby Airport
8181 Airport Blvd
Houston, TX 77061
Info

The three-part series is designed to help all job-hunters, from those applicants applying for a position at a fast-food restaurant to executives looking for a position in a large company. The tips that are presented can help any applicant plan a more efficient job hunt and make a more favorable impression.

Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and non-verbal skills, making a great first impression, networking, and much more. By developing an organized plan of action, the applicant is able to experience a more efficient job hunt with an increased chance of success.

The sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and late arrivals are welcome. For more information, call the libraries’ Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

First Colony Branch Calendar of Events

Create a Better Resume class presented in Spanish at Missouri City Branch Library, Sept. 15.

Job-Search Survival Tips series at George Memorial Library in Richmond, Sept. 12, 13 and 14.

The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call the libraries’ Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

The three-part series is designed to help all job-hunters, from those applicants applying for a position at a fast-food restaurant to executives looking for a position in a large company. The tips that are presented can help any applicant plan a more efficient job hunt and make a more favorable impression.

Learn tips on writing a better resumé, researching prospective employers, interviewing and non-verbal skills, making a great first impression, networking, and much more. By developing an organized plan of action, the applicant is able to experience a more efficient job hunt with an increased chance of success.

The sessions are free and open to the public. Registration is not required, and late arrivals are welcome. For more information, call the libraries’ Public Information Office at
281-341-2677.

View the library’s calendar.

Protect yourself from job scams. No legitimate employer will require you to pay them for the opportunity to work for them. Most importantly, do not give out your social security number or driver’s license information until you have verified a legitimate job opportunity, and don’t provide your bank account information unless a legitimate employer has hired you and needs it to direct deposit your paycheck.

Please review these informative articles on recognizing and avoiding job search scams and 9 common characteristics of job scams.

And thank you for trusting FortBendJobs.com as one of your job search tools.

The series begins on Wednesday, June 8, with the program, “Finding Jobs on the Internet.” Learn how to navigate job-search websites. The class begins at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab.

On Wednesday, June 15, learn how to use Microsoft Word (version 2007) templates to create a resumé. The class begins at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab.

The class on Wednesday, June 22, will show job-hunters how to use Microsoft Word templates to create cover letters for their resumé applications. The class begins at 10:00 am, in the Computer Lab.

The classes are free and open to the public. Seating is limited, however, and reservations are required. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Calendar,” select “Sienna Branch,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the library at 281-238-2900, or by visiting the library.

Special guest speaker, Sanjay Mundle, will discuss “Current Job-Search Strategies.” Mundle is a management consultant at Ernst & Young. He holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Business and Information Technology, and received his MBA in 2009 from Texas Tech University.

The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the branch library at 281-238-2100.

The ICAN (Information, Careers and Networking) Center provides eight additional computers, printers, and traditional print resources that are specifically intended to assist job hunters or anyone considering a career change. High school students, college graduates, senior adults, or people with limited English-speaking abilities will find resources that will assist them in career planning, job-skills exam preparation, college selection and financial aid, and current career information.