24 Dec

Hired for the Holidays

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eBranding Me is a business still in its infancy. It all started at the beginning of my senior year at Skidmore. Like many college students, I began a traditional job search; sending out tailored cover letters and targeted resumes to potential job opportunities at companies that interested me. However, I saw little return on my time invested. I received limited responses, most of which directed me to resubmit my application closer to my graduation date. I wasn’t satisfied, so I changed gears.

I focused all of my attention on social media channels and developed my personal brand. I created a centralized location online, my personal blog, where I linked to all of my social networking profiles: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, etc. I highlighted my resume and past entrepreneurial ventures, providing my sites visitors with links to learn more. Over time, I no longer needed to proactively search for open positions in my industry, social media marketing, but employers were seeking my expertise for open positions.

However, my entrepreneurial spirit drove me to take the path less traveled. Yes, I had other opportunities but I decided to become self-employed. If not now, then when would have the opportunity to start my own business? After successfully building a strong personal brand using free online tools, I began to motivate my peers to become involved in social media to aid in their post-graduate employment search. Lo and behold, they became sought after employees as well. eBranding Me was born.

It is in the spirit of the holiday season that I decided to become a mentor for a current job seeker. Hired for the Holidays is a collaborative effort designed to help job seekers find rewarding, gainful employment or career-enhancing internships. I am honored to be accepted as a sponsored-mentor for this initiative.

It is a simple concept: “Far too many of our colleagues, friends, and family members have been unemployed or under-employed for quite some time. In the ultra-competitive job market caused by our ‘Great Recession,’ many of these job seekers may need the guidance and expertise of a ‘sponsor’ – someone to help them stay prepared, motivated and confident.”

Each “charter” candidate, selected by a sponsor based on his or her avid participation in the aforementioned Twitter chats, will receive the following free services:

  • 8 to 12 weeks of one-on-one counsel with a career expert
  • 30 to 60 minutes of scheduled phone time per week with their sponsor
  • Access to several career experts within the HFTH team for niche support
  • Resume critique/edit/review by a professional resume writer
  • Analysis of the candidate’s online presence and reputation
  • Introductions to hiring managers within the candidate’s field of expertise
  • Name, bio and job search goals displayed on the Hired for the Holidays website

The Hired for the Holidays movement is actively seeking more sponsors – and candidates.

To become a sponsor, there are only three set guidelines:

  • Your expertise must be such that you can personally serve as a sponsor – and help your candidate find meaningful employment
  • All work done on behalf of the candidates is 100% pro bono
  • We ask that individuals serve as sponsors rather than your organization (for example, Mark Babbitt, CEO of YouTern, serves as a sponsor, but YouTern cannot)

Interested parties should tweet @HiredHolidays or send an e-mail to sponsors@hiredfortheholidays.com.

To become a candidate, you must:

  • Be “coachable”; the input you’ll receive from your mentor will be practical, honest and – most important – will help you find employment.
  • Be the “CEO” of your job search; the mentor’s role is to assist you – your role is to find work!
  • Agree to the “pay it forward” nature of Hired for the Holidays – this time next year, you agree to sponsor a candidate yourself, and help them find work.

To apply to become a sponsored-mentor or a candidate visit the official website: www.HiredfortheHolidays.com.