I am frequently asked about post-interview etiquette… what is too much, what is too little, what is an appropriate number of follow ups, etc. I have put together a few tips on best practices for after the interview, in the hopes of closing the loop on what can sometimes feel like a long, drawn out process.

1)    Before you even leave the interview, genuinely express your interest and ask about next steps. This will give you the information you need to develop your follow up approach, and make your efforts less of a guessing game. Also, jot down whom you met with, or better yet get business cards if possible. If all else fails, utilize LinkedIn as a resource for the correct spelling of the names of the interviewees.

2)    Give some thought to how it went. Were you able to quickly establish a rapport with the interviewees? Do you feel like your responses were in line with their needs? Overall, was it a good interview that gave you a strong advantage over other candidates?

3)    Send a thoughtful thank you note right away. You’d be surprised at how many people don’t do this, so by doing so you’ll really stand out! Email is fast, but nothing beats a good old fashioned hand written card. If time is of the essence, of course, email is perfectly suitable. Thank each interviewee for taking time out of their day to meet with you, even if it’s a phone interview. Some things to include in your thank you note are:

• Reiterate your interest in the role
• Summarize why you’re a great fit, touch on relevant qualifications
• Express your appreciation of being considered
• Anything that you forgot to say in the interview, but wish you had said
• Perhaps mention an improvement you can make based on your experience

And don’t forget to proofread! An error could be detrimental to your chances.

4)    Depending on the role, following up is key as it’s a way of showing you’re really interested in the position. However, be considerate that hiring for this role is only one aspect of the hiring manager’s job. Unfortunately, you may not hear back from them for a number of reasons, but you don’t want to become a bother. My suggestion is one follow up via email after two weeks if you haven’t heard anything. Remind them you’re still interested, and reiterate how your expertise pertains to this role.

Navigating the interview process can be tricky, and everyone is different, so I hope these tips are helpful in developing the right approach. And don’t forget, even if you feel you knocked their socks off in the interview; do not discontinue your search until you walk in the door on your first day of employment!

By: Angela Castelo – VP Client Services at Freeman+Leonard

Angela has 20 years of experience in the marketing and communications industry.  Prior to joining Freeman+Leonard, Angela managed various marketing communications functions for technology-related companies. She held strategic and tactical roles in product marketing, communications, channel marketing, and media/analyst relations, while developing and managing creative teams. Angela is active in a number of professional organizations, such as the AMA and the AdFed, and is involved with DreamFund.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Central Michigan University. To contact Angela, email acastelo@freemanleonard.com.

2012 is here and you have found “attend more networking functions” on your list of New Year’s Resolutions.  Since this seems a bit easier than losing 20 pounds, you decide to check this one off of the list first.  Here are a few tips…

1. Keep in mind that everyone has that “7^th grade dance” feeling when they first arrive.  Not quite sure where to stand, who to talk to, etc.  Don’t be nervous and strike up a conversation. Keep in mind most people are there to make new contacts and build mutually beneficial relationships and not there to spend 2 hours talking to their co-worker Becky in Marketing.
2. If you are currently employed, be able to clearly explain what your company does and what differentiates you from your competitors.  If you are attending a networking event in search of job referrals, be able to articulate what type of job you are looking for and be specific about your skill set. Remember, if your fellow networker can’t understand what you are talking about, then it will be hard for them to refer you.
3. Ask lots of open ended questions and you won’t have to worry about awkward pauses.  What got you involved in this organization? How did you get started in the XYZ Business?  Do you come here often and what is your sign does not count!
4. Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.  This is a book written by Harvey McKay with a great message about networking. It is best to establish your contacts and develop relationships long before you ever need them.
5. Become a volunteer for a networking organization event.  Being a greeter or helping with registration keeps you busy and also gives you a chance to expand access to new contacts.

Remember, networking is the key to success in any line of business.  Get out there and start connecting!

By: Kim Cook – Talent Manager at Freeman+Leonard

Kim has over 10 years of experience in the advertising and marketing industry.  During her ad agency life, she held positions including account executive and production manager.  Working in the trenches in the agency world and being a liaison between creative teams and clients prepared Kim for her role as a creative recruiter.   She has been creative recruiter with various companies for the past six years and recently relocated back to Dallas from Chicago. To contact Kim, email kcook@freemanleonard.com.

As a new year begins, we look forward, anticipate and hope for great things to come. And as 2012 is the new year to predict, many questions arise. Will the world be ending in the next 12 months? Who will win the Presidential election? What new technology will pop up next? Among these questions, one thing remains constant: The quicker and more efficient the receiving of information, the better.

Remember when mobile phones were used for one purpose: to dial and receive, single calls? Mobile devices have improved by leaps and bounds and are continually changing, keeping us on our toes for what will be introduced next. So what should we expect to happen this year? Ivan Braiker of Radio’s Premier Management and Marketing Magazine, predicts 2012 will be the “breakout year for mobile marketing.”  As the mobile market continues to grow and PC’s slowly become a thing of the past, it is important for people in the marketing industry to actively engage their companies to reach the largest audience possible by social media apps and adaptable websites to smart phones.

From new methods of buying products online to the candidates for President in 2012, everything will be affected by the ever changing mobile device. Greg Squires, Online Marketing Manager for Shopatron, saw double the growth of mobile shopping from beginning to end in 2011 and “expects that number to nearly double again in 2012.” He continues to suggest that “brands pay special attention to their mobile presence and marketing tactics in the coming year.”

The Obama Campaign in 2008 set the standard for technology capabilities. Matt Hamblen, Senior Editor of Computer World, Inc., explained how Obama sent SMS texts to supporters informing them on his next campaigns, updates, etc. It revolutionized the way political campaigns mass marketed to society. The power of gaining support through social media and networking via smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices could make the difference between winning or losing the presidential campaign of 2012. Having just a website for a candidate is not enough anymore. There are links to their Facebook and Twitter. Hamblen said we can expect “news organizations to create specialized apps to help campaign groupies follow the candidates … The Democratic and Republic parties may even offer separate apps in the App Store or the Android Market.”

When thinking about marketing a company, whether that be a product, person, idea, or service; it’s important to remember today’s society is about instant gratification and convenience. As the mobile market continues to grow, companies must refocus their market strategies to conform to what the consumer is beginning to use the most: the mobile web.

If you’d like to read more, check out these great sources:

http://www.radioink.com/Article.asp?id=2366712&spid=24698

http://forwardthinking.pcmag.com/none/292285-in-2012-the-mobile-web-will-blur-tech-boundaries

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9222673/Mobile_campaigns_to_be_hot_in_2012_presidential_race_

http://www.stockhouse.com/Bullboards/MessageDetailThread.aspx?sv=2&p=0&m=30509631&r=0&s=PYN&t=LIST

http://www.fiercetelecom.com/press_releases/shopatron-predicts-ten-trends-2012-including-mobile-becoming-18-20-website-

PANTONE® 17-1463 Tangerine Tango!

A vivaciously, striking color that is sure to stand out when incorporated into any creative piece. Consider adding PANTONE®’s Tangerine Tango to your next project, resume design or portfolio. What do you think of this year’s pick?

To read more about the 2012 color of the year – Tangerine Tango and uses for this vibrant hue, click here.

Last week a reporter from the CW33 channel did a story about “lying on resumes”.  She interviewed a dentist who fired about 30 people who had good resumes but could not do the work.  Then she interviewed me about the prevalence of resume fraud and fudge and what employers can do about it.  So here’s my take on the issue:

I’ve heard statistics that throw out 40% as the percent of resumes that contain fabrications or exaggerations.  In my experience, I’d say that figure is probably true.  It’s more difficult these days to lie about degrees, certifications, felonies and misdemeanors, credit history, driving record, salary,  etc. because those items are more easily checked through background screens and other supporting documents.    What is more difficult is employment history, real reasons for leaving a job  and skills/knowledge  proficiencies.  A job hopper may choose to leave out some of their very short-term jobs; a bilingual person may not have enough proficiency in speaking a particular language, a social media expert may not be an expert at all.

Job seekers are getting wise to applicant screening systems which are looking for key words to screen out the mass of resumes submitted.  So job seekers are responding by trying to fit as many key words and phrases into their resumes to fit these very tight job descriptions that companies are now writing.  In the past few years, job seekers who are desperate for interviews, will wordsmith their resumes to try to fit into whatever job description possible.  They may have some of the skills and background required, but not all; therefore, they fudge on their resume to make it look like they have the whole package.

Companies should always perform due diligence on prospective employees – background screen for credentials and criminal activity, driving record, credit history.  If salary history is important, ask for a W-2.  Drug tests are increasingly becoming part of the hiring process.  Testing is the best means for discovering whether one can actually perform a job – and this includes having experts or people doing the job screen for proficiencies.  If a company has only one Network Administrator and no one else in the company has that skill, then find an expert and pay them to screen the candidate.  At Freeman+Leonard, we have a whole list of language proficiency experts that we use to vet candidates.  Check references and make your candidate give you the names and phone numbers of previous bosses so that they can be called.  The internet can sometimes find useful information about the candidate.  Your own network can provide useful connections to people who may have worked with this candidate.  It’s a smaller world out there than you can imagine.

As for job seekers, be as truthful as possible while making yourself look as good as possible.  We all know that a resume is supposed to make you look your best and resume preparers seek to help you stand out; but lies are  unacceptable.  When discovered, it calls into question everything else in your background — trust is destroyed and can’t be replaced.

Clip from CW33 news cast.

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1. Go to professional meetings where you are likely to know someone or where you are likely to find people in your same industry or share your same interests, i.e. college alumni meetings.

2. Go to events or meetings where the program is interesting to you – meeting people and enjoying the program is preferable.

3. Ask a friend to go with you to a meeting so you don’t have to carry the conversation.

4. As you converse with individuals, think of ways you can help them – givers get.

5. Follow up on people you meet with an invitation to LinkedIn or to coffee, lunch or a business/social event.

6. Start your own networking group by first asking friends and then adding to with their contacts.

7. Experiment with several events/meetings to see which ones might benefit you the most.

8. Be patient as it takes about 6 months for people to start recognizing you.

9. Realize that many of the people you meet are as uncomfortable as you – it’s a good conversation topic

10. Adjust your attitude – it’s not so much about being an introvert as it is about accepting the concept and practice, practice, practice.

By: Sam Crume, Summer Intern at Freeman+Leonard. Sam is a Sophomore Business Major at Fordham University in New York and is from Dallas, TX.

Imagine if someone could read minds. Think about the consequences of your peers hearing your inner monologue. What if our deepest thoughts were public information? Maybe you’re someone who has to bite your tongue every time you see a particular co-worker or your boss. Maybe you are a college student looking for a job and a certain professor makes you squirm.  Maybe you had a rough night that you don’t want anyone to know about. Do you really want this information getting back to people you know? We live in a world of instant access to an infinite amount of information; however, your personal information doesn’t have to be among the masses of the internet. You don’t have to post inappropriate pictures or write offensive things, there is a choice to be responsible.

It seems today that everyone is using social media. According to Tom Webster of Edison Research, “51% of adults in the United States, ages 12 and up are using Facebook,” and Twitter has between 36 and 56 million active users. That’s a lot of people. Consider this; about one out of every two people have access to whatever someone posts on Facebook and about one out of every seven people have access to whatever is tweeted. Future employers, grandparents, parents, friends, and co-workers have access to whatever you do and say.

Think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you. What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for? As a college student and intern, I know that every student is worried about finding a job after graduation. As a student, you want to have every edge you can possibly get. That being said, college is a time of change, uncertainty, independence, and yes, often stupidity. Just assume that everyone whom you know and will ever know will read what you post. Your future boss doesn’t want to find out that you made a racial slur over twitter, and Grandma doesn’t need to see the pictures of you and you’re buddies drunk at a party. You never want to forget that you added a colleague or superior and then made a rude remark about them. Think about the consequences of what information you are making public. In regards to finding a job, think of social media as another way to build the brand that is you. What do you want a potential employer or recruiter to think you stand for?

It is important to understand that you’re digital footprint can only grow. Once something is out there, it stays out there.  Imagine whatever you do on the internet as a permanent tattoo. The tattoo might be under your shirt, but with a little effort, it can be seen. You may have posted something years ago, and that picture, tweet, or status update is somewhere out there. Whether you’re applying for an internship over the summer, or running for political office, your words literally will echo for eternity.  Employers are now able to run background checks on individuals through social media sites. There is an entire industry arising to do background checks on social media sites. According to Jennifer Preston of the New York Times, “There is a year-old start-up, known as Social Intelligence, which scrapes the Internet for everything prospective employees may have said or done online in the past seven years.” According to Preston, Social Intelligence assembles a profile of everything you’ve done that meets the criteria of “racist remarks; references to drugs; sexually explicit photos, text messages or videos; flagrant displays of weapons or bombs and clearly identifiable violent activity.” You can’t clean it up. We must simply be responsible.

Social media sites can be an extremely useful tool when it comes to job searching. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn will get your name out there, and help build networks.

Here are some guidelines that I like to live by when using the internet.

1. Don’t post a picture or reference any illegal activity.
2. Don’t post offensive commentary regarding any racial, cultural, or religious community.
3. Don’t insult people in a position of authority. An insult to your boss over the internet is still an insult, and cause to be reprimanded or even fired.
4. Don’t share personal information that you don’t want everyone to know about.
   
5. Most importantly, don’t write anything that you wouldn’t be willing to say to anyone. Imagine that your grandparents will read everything you ever post and see every picture.

If you’d like to read more, check out these great sources:

How to Lose a Job via Facebook in 140 Characters or Less

To Blog or Not to Blog – How Blogging and Social Networking Can Impact Your Job Search

Facebook Achieves Majority

Google launched its new social networking site, Google+, or Google Plus, only three weeks ago and popularity is booming and new users are accumulated everyday by its invitation only launch.

Google+ only needs a name and a photo to set up a profile, and the profile itself is simple, easy to navigate, and surprisingly similar to a Facebook profile. But what makes if different from the other social media websites is the unique features it offers. The Google+ networking site includes five basic components: Circles, Sparks, Hangouts, Instant Uploads and Huddle.

Circles – You share different things with different people. But sharing the right stuff with the right people shouldn’t be a hassle. Circles makes it easy to put your friends from Saturday night in one circle, your parents in another, and your boss in a circle by himself, just like real life. Organize your circles the way you want, to share what you want to who you want.

Sparks – Sparks looks for videos and articles it thinks you’ll like, so when you’re free, there’s always something to watch, read, and share. Sharing something of interest just got easier.

Hangouts – Bumping into friends while you’re out and about is one of the best parts of going out and about. With Hangouts, the unplanned meet-up comes to the web for the first time. Let buddies know you’re hanging out and see who drops by for a group video chat.

Instant Uploads – Taking photos is fun. Sharing photos is fun. Getting photos off your phone and on to the web is pretty much the opposite of fun. That’s why we created Instant Upload: so that from now on, your photos upload themselves.

Huddle – Texting is great, but not when you’re trying to get six different people to decide on a movie. Huddle takes care of it by turning all those different conversations into one simple group chat, so everyone gets on the same page.

This week Gooogle+ hit a whopping 20 million users! The new social site is setting records in terms of user growth, but some analysts think that moving into the social media realm is a bad move for Google. There has been a lot of buzz created around its instant popularity, but GoogleBuzz and GoogleWave grew just as fast and both failed due to lack of privacy.

Let us know your thoughts on Google Plus… Will Google+ succeed to become another social media outlet?

New to Google+? Learn more here.

Today’s topic – Optimizing LinkedIn was led by Scott Cone, a Freeman+Leonard Game Changer in Houston, and LinkedIn networker extraordinaire, Raegan Hill.

LinkedIn is the number one business social network in the world, reaching a total of over 100 million professionals…21 million unique users every month.

Click here to download a copy of today’s presentation.