Is Coding the new Typing?

http://www.readwriteweb.com/hack/2012/05/computer-programming-for-all-a-new-standard-of-literacy.php
http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2012/05/11/9-mostly-free-resources-that-will-help-you-learn-how-to-code/
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/006211.php


Back when I was a young whippersnapper, my mother told me "Learn to type. It's something you can always fall back on." There were some sexist assumptions behind that, of course. In part, it meant "If you get married to a jerk who leaves you high and dry with no money, you can work as a secretary." But then again, my generation didn't really expect women to get and/or keep professional jobs. 


And I have worked my fair share of secretarial jobs... oops, now it's "administrative assistant" (although that term used to mean something more high-falutin' than it does these days. Title inflation strikes again.)


Anyway: I have been seeing references out of the corner of my eye to coding. Writing computer code. Making computers do things you want them to, or that other people want them to do and hire you to get them to do. It is not (I freely admit) something I'm terribly familiar with.


However, I have seen it being touted as the same kind of fallback employment skill that typing used to be. I do know from reading employment blogs that there is a boom in jobs calling for tech skills--and not just soft skills (human relationships and writing), but rather hard skills (writing programs, although not necessarily inventing them).


Hence the trio of links above. The first is more about "why look into coding." The second and third are about "how and where to find resources."

Stalking Your Way to a Job

Okay, the title sounds rather creepy: stalking. If you prefer, think of it as networking!

http://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2012/05/18/stalking-your-way-to-a-new-job-in-3-easy-steps/

You need to decide where you want to work, and ingratiate yourself with people at that company. Using your choice of social media (that’s media, plural), engage with the interests and concerns of people who work at that company.

In fact, rather than waiting for your ideal job at your ideal company to come along—some coaches suggest focusing on the company alone. Get a job, any job at that company, and work your heart out doing it well. You’ll have access to internal postings on jobs you’d really prefer, you’ll have networks within the company, and you’ll have a proven track record.

http://www.careerhubblog.com/main/2012/05/what-do-you-really-know-about-a-prospective-employer.html

Likewise, get a 360 view of the company by rummaging around on the internet for comments, good and bad, about the organization. There are bound to be a few negative comments out there; but if you find a preponderance of horrible stuff, think twice about setting your heart and your sights on working for that company.

http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2012/05/17/candidates-aren%E2%80%99t-the-only-ones-who-exaggerate/

Along the lines of the above, realize that companies in a position to hire may not be quick to tell you the down sides of working for them. Here’s a guide to reading between the lines. You know how when an ad for an apartment says “cozy,” it means the presence of three friends will have one of you sitting in the hallway? Well—job ads come with similar “red flag” language.

Networking: Platforms & Performance

http://mashable.com/2012/04/16/social-networks-tips-infographic/

There are so many social media platforms out there. Here’s a handy infographic that will help you differentiate the purpose, audience, and expectations of each of the major players.

http://mashable.com/2012/05/12/linkedin-profile-resume/

Not everything that belongs in your LinkedIn profile should be on your resume. Ideally, you are tailoring each resume you send out to the position for which you are applying. Here’s an overview of why, and what.

http://jobtrakr.com/2012/05/11/networking-your-way-into-a-new-job/

Why should you be concerned with social media? Because according to this article, if you respond to an ad or a posted opening for a job without a networking referral, you have a 1 in 100 chance of landing the job. (I know—some of you who have been on the market for a while are grumbling, “it’s more like a 1 in 100 million chance; I’ve sent out my 100 applicants and then some, and still haven’t hit the jackpot.”)

But those who apply with a referral from a company’s own employee have a 1 in 7 chance of landing the same job. (Here’s the link to that data source: http://recruiting.jobvite.com/news/jobvite-index-1.php.) That’s better than a 1000% improvement in your odds.

Your mileage may vary—but the numbers do suggest that social networking and referrals (whether old fashioned face to face, or newfangled social media) are worth your time.

Paradigm Shift in Jobhunting

http://careerenlightenment.com/job-outlook/why-you-need-to-join-talent-communities-instead-of-trolling-job-boards

According to this recent blog post, there has been a shift in how larger companies seek employees to fill open positions. Rather than posting an opening online at a job board, they set up "talent communities," or seek people through various social media. 

It makes sense. The "old way" for an employer to find a new employee, screening on a case-by-case basis, seems horribly inefficient in the Web 2.0 era. After all, most large companies will predictably have some turnover or new position creation, and thus an ongoing need for fresh faces. 

What this means for you, job-seekers, is that you need to make sure you are online in the right places. Easier said than done, I know!

Tweet My Jobs

There’s a new social media job-hunting platform: “Tweet My Jobs” at  http://www.tweetmyjobs.com/. It’s fairly new, but has been getting some attention and discussion; see the following links for more:

http://mashable.com/2012/03/08/tweet-my-jobs/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2morrowknight/tweetmyjobs-and-social-re_1_b_1371164.html
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2010/11/08/hot-job-site-tweetmyjobs/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tweetmyjobs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_50N4K8kqw

As an added bonus: here is a link to a 2009 free-to-download booklet of 19 pages on how to get a job using social media: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/img/socialwebforwork.pdf

The job hunt as sales

http://jobtrakr.com/2012/02/06/approach-your-job-search-like-a-salesman/


When you look for a job, you are selling yourself. Ergo, you are in sales. “People buy from people they like.  As a job seeker you are always in sale or marketing mode.  What you’re selling is yourself and what you can bring to a potential employer.  If you haven’t worked in sales before, this is going to feel a little uncomfortable at first, but with a little practice and repetition you’ll get the hang of it.”
http://www.inc.com/tom-searcy/what-a-9-year-old-can-teach-you-about-selling.html
Here’s one savvy article on selling—simplify your message. Put your responses in language that is understandable, direct and conversational, rather than full of jargon and starch.

Basic Financial Literacy

http://www.tiaa-cref.org/public/advice-planning/education/financial-ed/


We do a lot of talking in college about literacy--reading literacy, teaching literacy to others, computer literacy. But we don't do a terrific job about promoting financial literacy. I'm not advocating that college professors should be sitting down with each student or advisee and teaching "how to balance a checkbook." In some cases, the student might know more than the professor.


However, for anyone finishing up one leg of his or her education (whether that means high school or college) here is a great collection of basic articles on how to keep head above water--and how to actually enjoy swimming in that water.


TIAA CREF is the organization that handles my retirement account. I trust them... not because they are handle retirement for educators, but because my mother checked them out and gave them a thumbs up. (She plays the stock market. And wins. And won't teach me how because her "system" is intuitive.)


There are some good links on the right side of the page too, with video seminars supplementing some of the topics. I had to sign in to get access -- but I signed in with my gmail account, and said I was not affiliated with any institution. That tells me that access is free and open, although they do want to know who's watching their seminars.