Training created by Talk About Local

Networking for Work: http://networkingforwork.org.uk

Job hunting in 2012 has to involve the internet – it's not enough to just have a good CV.

[Photo by: Robert S. Donovan]

It's important to make a good first impression online as well as offline.

[Photo by Alex France]

77% of recruiters said they used search engines to find background data on candidates. 35% admitted they eliminated a candidate because of what they found online.[Executnet, The Guardian on 12th April 2011]

“If you're moaning all the time on Twitter you're not going to get very far.”

(Teaching Agency recruiter interviewed by Networking for Work)

- Only 33% of job candidates bothered to search for information on themselves, to see what a prospective employer might find. [Executnet, The Guardian on 12th April 2011]

Highlighting the importance of looking your best online!

[Image by Anthony Catalano]

Networking for Work is an online version of preparing for an interview with a new suit and a haircut – we help people look right online and then help them network with others online to find work.

Networking for Work is simple and straightforward– it draws people’s attention to basic things they can do to help themselves.

Resources all via: http://networkingforwork.org.uk/

a transformation of the welfare state designed to change attitudes and behavioursto mirror the experience of work It will be digital by default.The important difference is that this support will be geared towards helping people to use the online channel.I am determined to make the most of the opportunity – and the financial incentive – presented by Universal Credit to identify claimants who lack computer skills and to help them to become "digitally independent".This is about work as much as it’s about welfare. As you know, employers expect digital skills for almost all jobs.DWP cannot do this alone. We’re still looking at options – but there are a number of external organisations that are well placed to help The more I think about it the more I realise that digital and financial inclusion go hand in hand.

Lord Freud Minister for Welfare reform – speech on Universal Credit 30 May 2012 [http://is.gd/SEK46L]

Networking for work is in the grain of the Ministerial drive for a more modern, online based system for seeking work.

Networking for Work gives job seekers digital skills useful in the work place as they manage their own and therefore their employers’ online profile.

Networking for Work training will give jobseekers a greater awareness of how their online behaviours can impact upon their job search and give them the skills to take control of their online profiles, covering 4 key areas:

Show as well as tell people what you can do. [Image: Jin Thai]

Using the web to connect and network. [Image: Thomas Hawk]

Presenting the best of yourself online. [Image: Visualogist]

Keeping personal details private. [Image: Curtis James]

Starting with a professional email address...“I feel tempted to send that scorecard to the owner of every CV I've ever read. As the largest emplyer in a city with two universities, we get a lot of CV's with many, many amusing email addresses. They don't think.” [Employer from York]

Looking at assessing a current online profileGoogling oneself and seeing what's publicly viewable of accounts on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Looking at the why's and simple ways of changing account settings to control personal information.

Simple steps to change public content posted by others...'Untagging' oneself from photos or posts on Facebook and removing them from the timeline.

Forming polite requests to remove or amend content posted elsewhere.

It's all about balanceUsing the web to project the positive and build a more professional online profile.

[Photo by Winifredxoxo]

Creating a professional profile with LinkedInUsing the online professional network to create a free profile that shows off skills, experience and qualifications, much like an online CV and using it to connect with key contacts.

LinkedIn profiles rank highly in Google searches.

Using the web to market yourselfDemonstrating skills and knowledge much more vividly than with a two-dimensional CV can!

[Photo by Claumoho]

An online space of one's ownTom Baker runs a small community bakery in Birmingham and uses a simple Wordpress blog to demonstrate his specialist skills with words, imagery and video.

Decorator Juniper Ash uses photographs that show her 'creating beautful spaces'.

Connecting with people and opportunities Because job-hunting can often be about who you know as well as skills and experience.

[Photo by Linda Tanner]

Using social networks to make and maintain contactZumba teacher Jolene Speke uses her Facebook profile to connect with existing and potential customers and to share her demonstration videos and photos.

Networkingforwork.org.uk went live May 2012Project website with news, user experiences (including video and audio interviews) and training materials under development.

UK wide press launch August 2012As part of the national launch of Networking for Work, Talk About Local participated in a Guardian CV Advice Clinic on 21st August, giving jobseekers advice on improving their online profiles via a live webchat.

Over the next 12 months Talk About Local will deliver and refine Networking for Work training to unemployed people and trainers who work with them to build a new product that can be adopted by larger training providers.

During July-August 2012 Talk About Local delivered free webinar training to trainers in 15 UK online centres across the country. They are now incorporating the Networking for Work materials into their training delivery with local jobseekers.

Our training materials are designed to be flexible and can be delivered via trainers to a small group, one-on-one or self-guided online.

Networking for Work's resources are available under a permissive Creative Commons

license in order to maximise their reach. This means they can be used by trainers and individuals across the UK.

You can find training resources as well as latest news and user experiences on the Networking for Work website: networkingforwork.org.uk. You can also follow us on Twitter: @talkaboutjobs

We are currently looking for UK online centres to participate in our FREE Networking for Work training:Free training of trainers via webinar with follow-up support from the Talk About Local team

Resources and support to help you incorporate the Networking for Work materials into your centre's training delivery

Listen to some trainees' and trainers' experiences...http://is.gd/nYcGBe

Web: networkingforwork.org.ukEmail: hello@talkaboutlocal.orgTel: 0121 288 2910Twitter: @talkaboutjobs