Make Yourself Searchable

Having a fully functioning LinkedIn Profile is crucial in today’s workplace. Check out this info-graphic about trends shaping recruiting in 2015. Statistics show that 38% of hires over the past 4 years have been from “Social Professional Networks,” aka places like LinkedIn. If you are looking for new opportunities or even happy in your job yet would be open to exploring opportunities if it was right, how would you be found? Recruiting and Hiring is becoming less about how you know and more about how companies can find you. Key area can be changed on your LinkedIn profile to make you more searchable. Here are the very basics on what is searchable:

• Keywords
• Name
• Title
• Company
• School
• Location
• Industry

Correct Position Titles – For example: My official title is Search Associate but no company looking for recruiters would search for Search Associate, so my Tag Line says Recruiter.

Connect with people you know – With a regular Free LinkedIn Account, you can only view as far out as 2nd connections, so having more connections allows more people to view you.

Use Keywords – No abbreviations or made up words that you use within your office. Be industry specific, like what you would find in a job description.

I don’t think that I have the best LinkedIn Profile in town, but you are welcome to check it out or use it as an example: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizreischauer

Starting Your Job Search

If you are ready to begin your job search, here are a few things to get you going. Exploring new career opportunities can be a daunting task, hopefully this quick blog can help.

Let’s get started on your resume. I am going to let you in on a little secret. Shhh...Google and Microsoft Word will be your best friends here. I can’t tell you how many times someone has told me that their resume was "professionally done" and it drives me crazy! Stop letting these so called, “Resume Writing Professionals”, steal your money. All it takes is a simple Google search on your current positional job duties or job description and you can use that as your guide. Now, I am not telling you to plagiarize your resume, but through this research you may discover verbiage that you wouldn't have otherwise considered using on your resume, and also in the context with which things should be written. I will blog more specifically about resumes some day…but for now let’s keep going.

Alright, your resume is done. Now you will have to consider what type of role you are looking for and tailor your search to that. Along with posting your information on the major job boards, try posting your resume on specific industry job boards, or websites specific to your target area. These sites are everywhere, so just be aware that if you post your resume for the world to see you may start to get some unrelated and often aggravating phone calls. With that being said there could also be that diamond in the rough, so be patient and the right opportunity may come around.

Make sure you use your professional network. This is the reason you have been making business contacts for all these years! Your network can do a couple of things for you

1. Speak to your work and show how great of an employee you are, and
2. May be able to refer you to an organization you wouldn't have otherwise connected with

When doing this, I would advise against shouting to the world that you are looking for a new job. Instead, contact a few members from your circle of trust and let them ask around discreetly, but don't be fearful. I hear from many people who are afraid to explore new opportunities because they are worried something will get back to their boss or current employer. Not to worry. We have coached numerous individuals through this exact scenario with a remarkable rate of success.

Last but not least, I am going to urge you to work with a great recruiter! Applying to specific jobs can be very time consuming and extremely repetitive. Recruiters have access to multiple job opportunities that will be specifically suited to your background; not to mention they likely know about positions that haven't even been made public yet! I could continue to list all of the wonderful benefits of working with a Recruiter, but l can't wait to point out the best part…it's totally free!

**If you want to see what I am currently working on in your area, check out our website athttp://www.csgrecruiting.com/jobs/. I truly believe in building strong and lasting relationships with my network, so I can best help you in the future. Feel free pass my name along and to connect with me on LinkedIn < www.linkedin.com/in/lizreischauer/ > or we can set up a time to talk. Please to reach directly with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. <lreischauer@insurance-csg.com>

Wishing you all the best. :)

Becoming Active on Social Media

I have wanted to start a blog for a while now and I have been encouraged by many people in my profession but I have been hindered by this idea; "I have never publicly written on social media before so it would look silly if all of a sudden I just started now; and what would I write about that could relate to everyone." I guess I just have been waiting for the perfect timing to introduce myself or a clever way to get started. As it turns out... you just have to rip off the band-aid, sit down, and do it.

Thinking of topics and a blog name is the easy part, but sticking to a theme will probably prove difficult. Some topics that I plan to write about relate to: career goals, the recruiting profession, my own successes, topics in the news, and how-to's; anything from being a passive candidate to resume tips or changing careers.

I am not the most tech-savvy and I sometimes misspell things or don’t make sense but hey, I am human and it happens. So here it goes, I am starting a blog.

To introduce myself a little bit, I am a small town country girl in central Iowa. Just recently married, and I am the proud mother of two Boxers <== Pictured.

I am a recruiter with Capstone Search Group and we specialize in the insurance industry. Our office is in the Des Moines area but I rarely recruit here; I have had to learn to build relationships without ever meeting someone and it isn't always the easiest to do! Let's be honest, not everyone's beaming personality shines through the a telephone speaker. I like to think that I have a great sense of humor and that doesn't always get to come out over the phone, but I make it work. I guess I would consider myself in the beginning stages of my career, and I will be the first to admit that I have much more to learn so my goal for the blog is for you to learn along side me and even help me build on my existing knowledge.

One thing that I have learned is More is More! I want my name everywhere, I want people to think of me as source of coaching and advice for any career decisions or changes. This is my main reason for wanting to grow my network and spread my name. So hopefully I will be able to share with you what I learn along the way, and you can give me your feedback.

Meet Liz

Liz began her recruiting career in the software industry where she has gained valuable experience managing several aspects of the search process. She helped hiring teams identify candidates and then assisted those applicants through the resume review, interview and acceptance phases. Liz joined CSG in 2013 and works to partner with insurance professionals in sales and technical roles to find new and exciting career opportunities. Most notably her focus is in matching professionals with agency positions which includes production, client management, marketing, claims and loss prevention. Because of Liz’s concentration in CSG’s retail work she is actively involved in commercial lines and group employee benefits projects. 

Growing up in central Iowa Liz is active in community organizations in the Des Moines area. She graduated from Des Moines Area Community College in 2010 with an Associates Degree and additionally has earned her Human Resources Management Certificate. She is an avid football fan (Go Vikings!), so when not enjoying the Sunday game you can find her cooking, hosting gatherings at her home and spending time with her family and pets.