"Mom Job" Discussion Group… Right Here in Susan Ireland's Job Lounge

Are you a mom with a career? A mom who wants a career but can't find the time to squeeze it into your life? Or a mom who needs to earn a paycheck and stay at home with the kids?

Meet Garla Smith, creator of Smart Moms and Smart Moms Online. Garla is going to lead a discussion group here in Susan Ireland's Job Lounge. She'll answer your questions, and from time to time post a short article. So get ready to post your comments and follow the thread as moms discuss "mom jobs," the art of juggling employment and motherhood.

The Desperate Need for a "Mom Job"

by Garla Smith

There was a time when it was a given that a woman, once married, would stay home and care for her husband, home and children. At some point we women realized we also were bright, intelligent beings with amazing capabilities to contribute to “real” careers, and we began entering the work force in droves. Who said we couldn’t have it all?

The reality, as many women today are discovering, is that while you can have “both” a career and a family, “all” is an overstatement. Working a traditional full-time job means handing the care and raising of your child to someone else (and often being too exhausted and harried to enjoy the times when you are together.)

The alternative – staying at home full-time with the children — is often unrealistic financially. Even for those women lucky enough to have the funds to do so, the subsequent loss of intellectual stimulation, the independence of a paycheck and daily social interaction can be surprisingly devastating.

What then is the happy medium? The Holy Grail of modern motherhood: A “mom job.” What is a mom job? It can be different things to different people, but common denominators include workplace and scheduling flexibility, part-time hours, the option to work from home part or all of the time, and leeway to take time off for sick children or school activities.

This blog will address the pursuit of the mom job, how to search for one, how to secure one, even how to convert your existing job into a mom job.

Post your questions here and let’s see how we can help each other find that infamous mom job.

Victim of Bernie Madoff Needs Resume Help

A victim of the Bernie Madoff scandal needs to return to the workforce, and he wants to know how to handle his failed retirement on his resume. Can anyone with experience in the world of Wall St. and financial services add to this advice for him?

Should I Mention Bernie Madoff on My Resume?

Eight years ago I retired early. I am re-entering the workforce because a major portion of my assets were invested with Bernie Madoff. Before I retired I was a CFO of a mid-size company. Should I include an introductory paragraph in my resume, or use the objective statement to explain why I am returning to the workforce? I fear that without such information, someone reading my resume will see the eight-year gap of real work and chuck my resume.

During the period 2002 to the present I did some minor consulting work and participated in some entrepreneurial activities. Nothing of real significance but certainly enough to state that I've been working as an Independent Accounting Professional and Consultant. Prior to retiring I worked as CFO/COO for mid-sized corporations in the managed care industry. My goal is to attain a similar position.

How do I let the reader know that my recent eight-year span was an intentional sabbatical from the corporate world -- not a period of unemployment because no one would hire me?

From the Desk of Susan Ireland
I see two parts to this situation:

1. How to present this unemployed period on your resume in such a way that it gets your foot in the door for an interview.

Don't mention Bernie Madoff at all on your resume. Your personal finances are your business, nobody else's. Simply refer to your Independent Professional Accountant experience for that time of retirement, perhaps citing a few specific projects or clients if they are noteworthy. Write confidently and unapologetically about your consulting so the prospective employer with view it as a valuable addition to your corporate experience.

2. How to talk about that time once you're in the interview.

If pressed for an explanation, say that you retired in 2002, and then became an Independent Professional Accountant as a way to supplement your income. As we all know, the economy has forced many people who were in full or partial retirement back into the workforce. Emphasize that you have valuable expertise and many good years ahead of you, which you'd like to offer to an employer.

More Advice from Maureen Nelson, Resume Writer
I agree with Susan completely. Don't mention Bernie Madoff. If they know about your involvement with Madoff, people might think you have poor judgment. On your resume, you could include quotes from your clients.

Are you doing any volunteer work? If so, add that. If not, start right away with SCORE or Taproot. No reason to sit around. Also, float your resume to headhunters who specialize in your area. (Check out Kennedy Information's Red Book for names and contact info.)

Readers, how do you advise this job seeker who needs to transition from retirement back into corporate leadership?

Extreme Career Change: Self-Employment to Employment

Many small business owners face difficult times when the economy heads south. In hopes of regaining financial security, some look for employment that provides regular paychecks. The self-employment-to-employment career change is sometimes difficult, not only because jobs are scarce, but because it's not easy to have a boss once you've been top dog.

Here are five tips for making a smooth transition from self-employment to employment.

1. Seek a position where you can either work independently (for example, as an outside sales rep), or where you can be a leader (for example, project manager).


2. Privately, give yourself a timeline for working at your new job (for example, two years), with the understanding that during that time, you'll give 100 percent of your professional energy to your employer. Your commitment (even if you don't tell your employer about your timeline) will help you be an earnest employee, knowing you haven't committed to be at that job forever. Meanwhile, the timeline will hold open the possibility of going back into business for yourself, should you decide you want to in the future.


3. Stay in touch with your former business network if possible, being careful not to cross any ethical lines with your new employer (for example, don't take on clients for your new employer with the expectation of taking them with you, should you decide to go back to self-employment).


4. If you're closing your small business and looking for employment, ask one of your former customers if she would serve as a reference to your potential employer.


5. On the resume for your new role as an employee, avoid referring to yourself as owner of your former company. Use a job title such as General Manager or President – something that demonstrates your skills without saying, "I'm going to be hard to manage because I like being the captain of any ship I'm on."

Financial security is hard to find in this economy. If making a career change from self-employment to employment is what you need to do, check out these posts on handling self-employment in the work history section of your resume:

From Self-Employment to Employment
Listing Self-Employment on Resume

Dealing in Las Vegas

Question
I am a 48-year-young female, with empty nest syndrome. I have had my own cleaning service company off and on for around 25 years and I am darn good at it. I have letters from previous customers and other various kinds of employment dating back to 1984.

I have ventured off to seek other occupations and have had relocate a few times. I enjoyed many of my other jobs however, I have always returned to cleaning so I can work around my family’s schedule and many needs. Let’s not forget to mention the pay isn't bad either. But now my kids are grown, my husband’s health issues are much better, and although I am not old, my body is saying, “No more cleaning.”

I have had many employees and at times I have had no one but me. Dealing with my customers’ and employees’ lives and problems can get tiresome. Although I am good at my business, I don't want to bring it home every night anymore. So I am ready to work for someone else for a change.

In addition to being a business owner/supervisor/bookkeeper/ payroll clerk/sales rep/PR person/inventory manager/ purchaser/instructor/ scheduler/problem solver and multi-tasker for my business, I have also been a party planner/server/cleaner-upper, vacation home security monitor/PC maintenance consultant/interior decorator.

Before I started my business, I was going to college, taking nursing classes. Although I was not able to finish that, I am a certified Nursing Tech (which includes advanced First Aide and CPR). I have worked in a few hospitals. I liked it but there was not enough pay, and I got too emotional when patients passed on.

I was a real estate agent for about a year and I did well at it. I was in the top ten listers of our company in my first 6 months, but I didn't much like it because it involved too much wasted unpaid time and stress.

I was a security guard at Caesars Tahoe. I loved that job. I mostly guarded the entertainers, VIPs, and the entertainment stages. But I also did emergency first aide and money fills to the gaming tables. I would still be doing that but cleaning wages were triple what security was paying. At the time, I was the only wage earner in the family.

Lately I have become certified as a dealer for about 10 different kinds of poker. So my husband and I have decided to go for it and move to Las Vegas. He is on social security income so he's ready to go somewhere different. The catch: I have been to two auditions here in Washington state and I have been petrified. (I am totally out of my element).

So what do I do about a resume? What work experience should I emphasize? What if I can't get past my fear of auditioning? I went into this occupation for the good tips ('cause I am good at PR). That's the plan but I am open to any possibilities.

I expect to be working for many years to come and my body won't hold up cleaning that long and I have to build up my retirement fund. So which hat should I wear now? What occupation should I aim for? I like the entertainment area (I think).
--- Charlie

Answer
by Townsend Belisle, Professional Inspirer

Dear Charlie,
You've an impressive background - what a full life you've lived in such short years! You are the person anyone might want to take on any adventure as you can do so many things!

Let me make my thoughts more readable by dividing them between your next line of work versus your resume.

If becoming a professional dealer is your next calling, the best thing you can do is build your confidence. And that comes with practice and focus.

Confidence comes from proof. Proof that you know what you're doing. And what better way to know what you are doing than practice, practice, practice. Perhaps you might consider dealing cards all day, for a few days: play with your family, show some tricks to your friends - perhaps even teach a game or two to the waitress at the diner. You'll find the more you have to do it in front of others, the more comfortable you'll be - and when you're comfortable, that trait will show in an audition. That's exactly what the casinos want to hire: comfortable, confident people.

Regarding your resume, you definitely should create a list of your experiences that best apply to the job you're pursuing. From what I understand of the industry (gambling) and job (a dealer), casinos first want to see that you have the skill set (dealing accurately, quickly and dependably), and that you have the personality (you're nice and cater to clients while not showing any favoritism) and that you're clean (no significant criminal or drug record). A resume is nice but may not be the most critical component in getting hired.

The essence of that resume, then, should exhibit each of the qualities above (nice, dependable and clean) and is minimal: one page -- tease them into wanting to meet you because you're such a perfect match! Don't give them too much info, as you may be giving them an excuse to say "no."

Regarding the work itself -- what you would like to do for work is very important. You clearly have some sense about both your strengths and what things you enjoy. Focus on those things -- perhaps especially on your personality traits (organized, detail-oriented, personable, for example) and think about what job positions might best suit you. You've come to terms that you want decent pay and a good return on your hours but you've also learned that there is certain work to which you don't want to return.

As another line of thought (and a safety net in case something doesn't pan out), a few other ideas come to mind, especially given you're on your way to Vegas. Join a cleaning company but pitch yourself as a former business owner who deserves to be in management (supervising others, maintaining contact with clients). As a person who loves people and being out of an office, perhaps you'd enjoy becoming a concierge or a tour guide for one of the resorts -- you'd quickly get to know the area and could utilize all sorts of your "jackie-of-all-trades" experience.

One more thought - a staple book when reconsidering careers is Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron. I might suggest you check it out from the library to give yourself a better sense of what you'd like to do next.

Good luck -- it'll be an adventure!

"Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." - Kenny Rogers

Townsend Belisle spent a year (1994-1995) consulting in the casino industry, working in the entertainment (dealers of dance), promotions (dealers of surprises) and advertising (dealers of incentives) departments. You couldn't pay him enough to clean the casino floor. However, he'd love to try his hand at being a security guard and for this, he's drinking his milk.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
You might find Overcoming Stage Fright – Here’s What to Do by Christine Kane useful. Christine gives nine steps for overcoming performance anxiety, which she developed from personal experience.

Resume for Vibrant 50-Year-Old

Question
I just turned 50 and have been looking for a new position. My tenure with the 4 companies I have worked for are 2, 4, 11, and 10 years (last to first). I only listed the last 3 positions on my resume (due to space limitations). This doesn't make me look as long in the tooth (15+ years experience vs. 25+) but it doesn't look as stable with my last 2 positions lasting a shorter duration. Should I make room to add my first position to my resume?

Also, it has been about 6 months since I resigned from my last position. I have a computer services company I have run part-time for 10 years and have been working at it more since I have been out of work. Should this be added to my resume (as my current position) or should I just explain what I have been doing when asked?
--- Growing Old in Texas

Answer
by Vivian VanLier, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP, CCMC, CPRC, Certified Career Coach / Resume Writer

Hi “Growing Old in Texas”... First of all, let’s change that to “Staying Young and Vibrant in Texas!!” Haven’t you heard: 50 is the new 30!! On my 50th birthday, I went out and bought myself a t-shirt that said “50 Happens!” and wore it proudly!

With an average of 35 years added to our life spans since the turn of the last century, you have plenty of time to start a whole new career if you want!

Now some statistics to put your concerns into perspective: According to recent studies (and the Bureau of Labor Statistics), by age 40, most people have had 10 jobs! Transition is the new “normal.” So job changes aren’t at all unusual. Again, according to statistics, the average job lasts 2 ½ to 3 years. So, if you average your last two jobs, you’re right on track!

The old career / work paradigm was one job, one industry for life. Well, that began changing back in the 80’s with the first wave of downsizings. This trend has only accelerated and today’s savvy careerist understands that ultimately you work for you! You package your talents, skills and experience into a cutting-edge marketing tool (your resume) and when you land a position, you stay as long as it’s a good fit for you. Today’s employer retains team members as long as it’s a good fit for him/her. When it’s no longer fitting your life and goals, it’s time to re-package your talents and move on to the next opportunity. Of course, you don’t want to do this too frequently, but, again 2 ½ – 3 years is average.

The other concern is regarding appearing “young” on your resume. Resumes are actually great equalizers. You should only go back 10-15 years (17 is fine) on your resume regardless of how long your work history is. Prospective employers are interested in what you have done lately. Thus the resume will not disclose age. (Senior Executives can go back a longer time because they have obviously earned their stature over time.) Don’t include dates on your education if it wasn’t recent. So, “Young and Vibrant in Texas,” you were right on track with the dates.

You can use a title such as “Computer Consultant” for the independent work to show that you have current experience. In fact, if you are transitioning into the computer field, you could show consulting services going back 10 years (concurrent with full-time employment). By the way, don’t bother with months on your resume; state years of employment only. (The only time I include months on the resumes I write, is for students or recent grads when they have held internships and seasonal or part-time positions.)

I hope this helps... And keep staying young!!! It’s all in your state of mind!

Creating a Fresh Start for Your Work Life

Question
After working for a local company here in Los Angeles County for over 10 years I was forced out. I was told I made too many mistakes, and was possibly a company spy. This was a shock to me, since I was a loyal company person. The human resources person told me if I could go one year without making a mistake, the company would give me a raise and promote me into management. I knew going one year without making mistakes would be impossible.

My family suggested I should quit, so I did. However, since I wanted my 401(k) I was told I would not get a good reference. Plus, I would not receive one anyway because of my poor work performance. I spent over 10 years at this company, and received more than once bonuses for my great work. What changed? I was told by human resources they would see to it I would never work in the corporate world again. This is the fifth time I was let go from a company, and the fifth time I was told I would never work again in an office.

Am I choosing the wrong career? Am I really a poor employee who does not see her mistakes, or did they just want to get rid of me?

I have not worked in seven years. I chose to return to college to pursue my graduate degree in Arts and Letters. I am now finding out my mistakes have followed me into the program. I did well when I took some lower division classes at the local community college. The classes included mostly theatre and some astronomy classes. At the university, as long as l was taking undergrad classes or independent grad classes I did great. I hold overall a 3.52 gpa.

Now I need to find work in order to pay back my credit cards. The cards were used to register and take classes at the university. I am part of a living trust, and part owner of rental property so I have some income, but not enough. Plus I am afraid when my mom dies I will once again make those mistakes I do not seem to be able to recognize, and cause our business to fail.
Help!
Diane

Answer
by Ronnie Ann, Work Coach
Hi Diane!
Wow! My heart goes out to you. This is a lot to try to figure out all by yourself. So I congratulate you on taking a great first step – reaching out to others for some help and perspective. No one should have to resolve all this without some input from the outside world – since that’s exactly where you’ll need to go to make a fresh start anyway and you’d sure like to understand what they’re thinking!

So…where to start?

Clearly you can’t undo whatever happened in the past – that’s behind you now. Regrets belong there too. In fact, in A Dude’s Journal – 60 Toughest Interview Questions we’re advised to stay away from all that and focus on what we can do well now.

“Some unprepared candidates, flustered by this question, unburden themselves of guilt from their personal life or career, perhaps expressing regrets regarding a parent, spouse, child, etc. All such answers can be disastrous. As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a regret. But don’t seem as if you’re stonewalling either. Say you harbor no regrets, then add a principle or habit you practice regularly for healthy human relations.”

Although Chandan (the Dude) is talking about interviews, this is good advice in general. We can’t undo the past, but we sure can resolve from this day forward to choose a fresh start!

Your job is to figure out what your strengths are now and build from there. But it might also help you to find out about some of those things you say you aren’t aware of. Once you know more about what’s going on, then you can take charge of helping to fix things for yourself. In this case knowledge can be power!

So…first and foremost, it might help for you to get some feedback from people whom know you – especially in a professional capacity. If you aren’t in touch with any former co-workers for feedback, perhaps you can go to one of your professors for some constructive tips about what to work on to improve your chances of getting a job. Maybe they’ll even know of a job that might be right for you. You never know until you ask!

Also, the State of California has some good resources (see below) for people going back into the work world. I remember taking advantage of that when I lived in California and I know they offered skill-enhancement as well as employment counseling. I think this could be helpful for you, especially since the resources are free for state residents. One-on-one sessions with a professional work coach could also be useful, but since you say you have lots of debt, this might not be the best idea for you right now - unless of course you feel you can afford it. But hopefully the State will offer similar guidance. Also there may be some career guidance services at your current school and even the community college you went to.

I don’t know what jobs you’ve had, but sometimes a person re-entering the job market has to be open to learning new work skills (if needed) and, of course, approaching the whole venture with a fresh positive “I can do it” attitude. And in your particular situation, a fresh start might include taking almost any job offered at first (I’ve done that myself) - and then doing your very best to build a new work history for yourself. You can even use the new job to focus on improving your work skills right where you are – giving your boss the best you have to offer while also preparing yourself for even better opportunities - there or elsewhere - in the future.

Thinking about it some more…starting out part-time with a low-pressure job might be a really good way to help you ease back slowly into working again – and also a great way to build up your skills and confidence. I hope one of the places I mentioned can point you in that direction. If not, there are always temp agencies. And, once you’re working again, you can take advantage of the outside feedback you got to help you start off on the best foot possible.

As for the real estate business you speak about…while I don’t know the details, I do have one thought: If managing the business turns out not to be your strength, maybe you can hire someone who knows the business to help you when the sad time comes? Meanwhile you can concentrate on your new career. And if you do want to eventually run the business, there are always small business consultants who can help you get things in order in the beginning and then advise you along the way for a fee. (See below for link to free initial counseling services by retired business executives.)

So please don’t worry about all that right now. Your main job is figuring out how to get yourself back into the work world while also brushing up on skills that can help you do things a little differently this time. And I applaud you for wanting to do that!

Oh…about those college expenses on your credit cards: I’m glad to see you’re looking to pay them off so you can stop supporting those banks! And if your rates are high and you haven’t already done this, please consider getting some credit counseling assistance (see below) to help rework the debt if at all possible.

This is a lot to think about, I know. But you only need to start with one step at a time.

Good luck, Diane!

Los Angeles, California Resources:
Employment Development Department
One-Stop Centers by County – employment assistance
By Design Solutions – non-profit credit counseling service
CORE Los Angeles – non-profit counseling for small business

A Job Where You Are Valued

Question
I would really appreciate some advice. I am 56 years old and am finding my age and inconsistent job history to be a definite factor when interviewing. The County Job Services people were kind enough to help me put my resume together but I am inept at cover letters. I have no idea how to start a cover letter and yet people tell me I write very well.

I can sell snowballs to Eskimos but cannot sell myself which is obvious by my unsuccessful job search for basically the last year. I don’t know what to do. Do you have any suggestions? God Bless You for Your Kindness
-- Diane.

Answer
by Honey Smith, Professional Life Coach

The job search in mid-life has unique joys and challenges. On one hand, you find yourself in the position of justifying the rich life you’ve led and the choices you’ve made; especially if they don’t fit into conventional patterns. On the other hand, this richness makes for a powerful cocktail of skills and perspectives that you bring to the table. The trick is to choose (or create) the table where your unique qualities are valued and not dismissed. Once you’ve figured this out, then it’s a matter of creating a resume that makes it obvious to all why you and the job are a perfect fit.

At 56, your work goals may be very different from what they were ten or twenty years ago – and understandably so! Forget for a moment about who will or won’t hire you. Focus on what is most important to you right now. Is it all about income and/or financial security? Do you want to learn a new skill, have an impact on others or contribute to a cause that matters to you? Are you seeking stability, appreciation, status, power, connection with other people?

Once you’re clear on what you want out of work, consider these questions:

What was consistent (and a noteworthy skill) throughout my “inconsistent” job history?

For example, you may be a project-oriented person who loves variety and the challenge of the new. You may excel at short-term, highly focused jobs that tend to have deadlines and a sense of completion. You might also be a person who has consistently chosen to value commitments outside of work – such as raising a family, or dealing with health matters over staying with one job or career. What does this tell you about your ability to commit and to follow through in your life? How would you communicate these strengths in a resume?

Ask yourself: What do I speak about with natural confidence? In what situations (work and non-work) have I been at my best?

You wrote that you can “sell snowballs to Eskimos”. So, what makes it hard to “sell” yourself? This is not to say that it’s all in your head. It is time consuming to create a resume and cover letter, especially given today’s increased expectations. You don’t have to do it alone. There are resources - such as Susan Ireland’s book The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume – which can help you choose the resume and cover format that’s right for you. You may also want to refer to increasing numbers of studies that show that older workers are great investments for companies and check out where older workers are getting those jobs.

Perhaps the most useful question you can ask yourself is: What kind of work environment do I want to be in? Organizations have different “cultures”. Some, especially start-ups, newly expanding or slightly out-of-the-way companies often prefer people who’ve lived life a little out of the box. They often have less need of stable managerial types who’ve stuck with one thing and instead value people who are creative, energetic, have broad experience and the flexibility to “go with the flow”. Moreover, these kinds of companies don’t always have the luxury to offer high salaries and fancy packages – so they’re more willing to gamble on less conventional employees.

One last thought, many people like you decide to start their own businesses. Entrepreneurship is not for everybody and has its own tradeoffs. But self-employment allows for a lot of creativity and freedom to be your own boss. If you haven’t found the “perfect job” so far, here’s your shot at seeing how close you can get.

Again, it goes back to what is most important to you right now.

Good Luck and remember to go where you are valued!

Honey Smith, Ed.M., is a Professional Life Coach who helps job seekers fast forward their careers, master life transitions and fulfill their potential.

Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
On his Dumb Little Man Tips on Life blog, Jay put together a list of his recommended resources on 100+ Ways to Write a Resume Cover Letter.

And take a look at the Cover Letter Guide and samples on my site: susanireland.com.

From Self-Employment to Employment

Question
I have had a sporadic and unproductive work life. At 43 I have no children or a marriage as an excuse.

I have worked independently as a massage therapist and yoga instructor for the past seven years. Now, I want very much to do something else.

I am working on a resume to submit to Stony Brook University to do something managerial. Considering I had my own business [massage/yoga] what would I head that work experience as?
-- Valerie

Answer
by Richard Yadon, Health Career Professionals, President/CEO

Your question is as much about resume writing as it is managing your career. Let’s tackle the resume question for now.

Keep in mind that your resume is really nothing more than your marketing brochure. You are the product and the salesperson. Your resume has to quickly, very quickly, grab the attention of the hiring manager or human resources representative. If they can’t readily find a connection between what they need and what you offer they will move on to the next resume in their stack. How you head and describe your past business experience is dependent upon what the University is looking for.

For instance:
If they are looking for someone to manage clerical people you might want to list the heading like this:
Manager/Owner, Massage & Yoga Business

If they want someone to manage a specific program, you might list the heading like this:
Program Manager/Owner, Yoga Therapy Programs

I recommend you take the following steps:
1) Try to find out to whom the position reports.
2) Call this person, tell them you are interested in the position, but you’d like to know more about the duties and responsibilities. Listen carefully because you will learn the needs of this hiring manager. If you can’t talk with the hiring manager, see if Human Resources can give you this information.
3) Make a list of your business ownership responsibilities and compare it to the duties of the job to which you are applying.
4) Find the correlations between the two lists and construct a heading that will grab the attention of the hiring manager or HR representative. Your heading must demonstrate experience with the kind of management they need.

Richard Yardon's firm, Health Career Professionals, is an executive search and employee development company focused in the healthcare industry. If you'd like Richard to help with your job search, email him.

Susan Ireland's Two Cents
Valerie, I searched online to find some good posts/articles about entrepreneurs switching to employment. They were hard to find! There were a gazillion articles about transitioning from employment to self-employment but very few on the reverse. Yet, I know you are not alone. Many consultants and other self-employed folks are moving back into employment because self-employment simply isn’t the right thing for them.

Here’s a comment by Repique to a post on Ask the Readers: Find the Right Career?, which I think says it well.

Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.

Are You Linked In?

Guy Kawasaki thinks you should be:

Most people use LinkedIn to “get to someone” in order to make a sale, form a partnership, or get a job. It works well for this because it is an online network of more than 8.5 million experienced professionals from around the world representing 130 industries. However, it is a tool that is under-utilized, so I’ve compiled a top-ten list of ways to increase the value of LinkedIn.

Read Guy Kawasaki’s complete post, 10 Ways to Use LinkedIn.

Be sure to scan the comments that follow his post to hear the pros and cons of using LinkedIn for job search, recruiting, reference checks, and business networking.

Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and my answer here in The Job Lounge.

Or make a comment about this post by clicking the Comments link right below this post.