Greg David outlines effective uses of technology in a job search. He recommends using proven tools like contact management software to organize connections and automate communications. Key advice includes using LinkedIn to build expertise and networks, avoiding common mistakes on email and applications, and leveraging free tools like Twitter to share information and find open jobs. David emphasizes setting up systems to back up data and avoid technical issues that could delay a search.

1. Effective use of technology in a
job search
Greg David, Gregory Laka & Company
Copyright 2009

2. Use proven tools and techniques
• 10% of job seekers who use proven tools and
techniques significantly reduce the time, pain,
frustration, and cost of a job search
• They set themselves up to be more successful
from the beginning
• They are back to work 30-70% faster, and find
the search to be more enjoyable

3. They use technology the right way
• Don’t abuse email by trying to use it as a means to have a
conversation
• If you need to go back and forth more than twice, you are
misusing the technology
• Ask people if they are “phone” or “email” people, and store
that info in their contact management record
• Professionally “brand” your phone number, voicemail, emails,
signature, on line profiles, resume, cover letters, etc

4. They avoid making common mistakes
• Don’t email or call just to keep your name in front of them
• “Train” those who answer the phone at home
• “Professionally” record your phone greetings
• Do not do mass emails CC’ing everyone
• Do not send bogus emails trying to sneak your way into an
organization
• No resume spamming (fit MUST haves; fit 90% as minimum)

5. They spend money on their search
• If you make 50K/100K annually, you are losing $4166/$8333
monthly. Those who spend money and do an effective search
shave 1/3 to 1/2 off their job search timeline
• Use resume distribution tools to penetrate all the proprietary
databases of all the search firms that have jobs you fit
• Contact me via email at Greg.David@Laka.com and I will
provide you a tool to distribute your resume electronically

6. They spend money on their search
• Get a resume done professionally (MUST be ATS compliant)
• Get a career coach
• Read books on how to interview and how to interview others
and read them (it is a science and you need to master the
technology behind it)
• Have examples of your work to leave behind (careful)
• Use bluetooth technology to share your contact info
• Learn: Audible.com

7. They spend money on their search
• Join employment organizations like Gray Hair Management
(www.grayhairmanagement.com)
• Join associations like AITP, SMA, SHRM, etc.
• Invaluable events, websites, emails, member lists
• Get to events that cost money. Make A+ contacts. B,C, D,
and F players will be too cheap to go
• Join a private club ( www.ulcc.org )

8. THE BASICS: TECH TO
USE STARTING DAY ONE

9. Before you do anything:
• STRONGLY consider buying a new, reputable, well warrantied
computer
• Think you can’t afford it? Consider the loss of what is the
center of your job search universe at the worst possible time
• Purchase a USB based or better yet, online back up recovery
system that backs up your system in real-time
• Spend a little extra to have the most up to date software and
get a durable business machine, not junk
• Do research & buy a top PC/notebook

10. Before you do anything:
• Order your backup cd’s (most manufacturers do
not have the OEM cd’s included with your
machine. You will have to order them----do it
now!
• Create a recovery USB immediately! This is
critical!
• Get virus software and avoid Norton &
Kaspersky!

11. Before you do anything:
• Do all of your MICROSOFT updates and keep
rebooting and rebooting to insure you have the latest
updates---do not rush this process
• Download or order good utility software that you can
find from your favorite software store or www.cnet.com
• Proven software is Advanced SystemCare which you
can get via www.cnet.com or System Mechanic (I like
the professional edition) (WIN 10 users-avoid these
tools)

12. Computer hardware & software
• MICROSOFT has the best OS, app software, & browser for a
job search. Apple doesn’t
• Get a phone with Internet access and email
• Seconds and minutes count. Be reachable
• Get a reliable cellular provider
• Dropped calls or garbled calls will affect how others assess
you when they call to screen or interview
• Get call forwarding
• Always be reachable (unless you are in an interview)
• Buy the latest contact management software
• This is the most important tech item to have
• Goldmine, Act!, or Jibberjobber

13. Benefits of Contact Management Software
• More organized
• Higher accuracy
• Can do ‘campaigns’
• Automate emails
• Automate letters
• Automate cover letters
• Automate sending
resumes
• Easy follow up
• Automate sending thank
you notes
• Far superior planning
• Better strategy
• Can apply metrics
• You will use it again
• Be more productive
• Can custom design data
gathered for your
personal needs
• Major competitive edge
• Can be fun

14. Email and electronic communication
• Only use Google’s gmail for email
• Never use Yahoo, SBCglobal, Hotmail, AOL, Earthlink,
Comcast, or any other provider. This is NOT optional
• Set up your PC so your full name is used in your Internet
set up
• Set up a business looking email address
• i.e. greg.david@gmail.com or greg_david@gmail.com or
greg.david.laka@gmail.com or gregory.david@gmail.com

15. A word of caution:
• On resumes, in your email signature, on your vcard, in your
stored contact information in your address book, and in your
Outlook setup, NEVER add:
• Middle name
• Middle initial
• Certification
• Academic degree information
• Title of any kind
• Nickname
• NEVER use initials for your first name (i.e. G.A. Smith)
• If you do, you will make it more time consuming for someone to consider
your credentials and to work with you, and you will significantly increase the
number of times your info is not stored nor entered properly
• Often, your info will just be deleted

16. Email and electronic communication
• Only use MS OUTLOOK for managing your email
• Allows you to use LIVEINBOX which can be found at
www.liveinbox.com -----terrific software for a job search
• Allows for LINKEDIN (www.linkedin.com) integration
• Allows for GWABBIT ( www.gwabbit.com ) integration
• Allows for use of SimplyFile to store email with 1 click

17. Email and electronic communication
• Use Newsle (www.newsle.com) to receive news
alerts on those in your address book
• Use MS OneNote to (daily) store valuable articles or
documents for you to use in your search when you
want to reach out to someone or do a ‘campaign’
• Use M8 ClipBoard to store all of your copy and paste
“templates” that you use daily to automate responses
and email to people/firms (or SPARTAN) (and to
automate filling out on-line applications)

18. Email and electronic communication
• Use LastPass ( www.lastpass.com ) to store logins
and passwords for each site you use (especially for
all of the corporate sites and tool sites you will be
visiting regularly).
• Use Social360 as a Chrome browser add on to be
able to take people on LinkedIn and find them
immediately on other social sites (search the
Chrome web store at www.chrome.google.com )

19. Email and electronic communication
• Do use the SIGNATURE from LINKEDIN to
have a professional signature in your emails
• Set it up to be included in each email including
replies (iPhone users use OUTLOOK on your
phone) (NOT OPTIONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
• Cover letter MUST be a separate document---never
make cover letter part of resume document
• ONLY use MS Word. Many ATS’ cannot store
ADOBE or PDF files

20. Email and electronic communication
• When applying, never claim to be the perfect
candidate ----you alienate the reader
• Don’t “choke the baby” by follow up
• If you find the need to keep your name in front of a
firm or person, you do not have enough activity and
are casting your net too narrowly
• Ask how to best follow up

21. Email and electronic communication
• Get a good video cam and set up an account
with www.skype.com to do video calls
• Use formal and business like pictures on your
LinkedIN and Facebook profile
• Proofread ALL emails before sending them and
don’t just rely on spell check

22. Use MS Office Word 2010
www.microsoft.com

23. MS Word 2010
• Resumes will be compliant with 100% of the Applicant Tracking
Systems on market---eliminate ALL formatting when possible
• Increases likelihood your info is kept and saved
• Will be able to read all corporate documentation sent to you
with no delay
• Put in keyword summary of skills at end of resume to increase
the number of times your resume appears in keyword search
results
• Save resume as firstname.lastname.doc

24. MS Word 2010
• Do NOT put your name, contact information on
the header nor the footer when building your
resume (do not capitalize your entire name)
• Tailor each resume to each posting that you
see to make it quick work of getting into the
‘yes’ pile www.jobscan.com
• Never put borders, pictures, shading, graphics,
etc. into a resume

25. A word of caution when sending resume:
• NEVER send an email with a link to your resume or to your
personal website. NEVER send an email asking questions
before you send your resume
• If you do not want to be ruled out for being a general nuisance,
which is what most screeners will see you as, just send the
resume and let them sort it out
• Committing any of the above sins, only accomplishes the
following: It will make them work longer and harder to work with
you, and cause them to endure more irritation and frustration.
Not a good strategy for getting a “first date”. More often than
not, I would suspect they will just delete your email

26. A word of caution when applying:
• Ignore title when applying (always read ALL job
requirements---IGNORE DUTIES) never
challenge MUST haves
• Fit 90%? Apply unless must haves in conflict
• Never use ‘quick apply’
• Never apply based on title (were you listening?)
• I can do that job-you DON’T fit (this is not 1970)
• Resume SPAMMERS are real-are you one?
• Resume SPAMMERS get blackballed

27. A word of caution when applying:
• The job posting does not include all the
requirements
• Years included in the posting? Open your eyes
• Perfect fit? You are wrong and now you are the
problem
• Proof you make emotional decisions without
having all the facts
• Assumption based decision making
• Reactionary – low cognitive skill
• Risky hire

28. Adobe Acrobat
• Write white papers that you can share on the
Internet or attach to your Internet profiles
• Perfect opportunity to share information with others
• Enhance the perception of you as a Subject Matter
Expert
• Have others learn about you with no effort
• Make sure it is proof read by others and it is well
written
• Incorporate eye catching graphics
• Be consistent

29. LIVEINBOX
www.liveinbox.com

30. LIVEINBOX will rock your world
• Instant & complete history of emails exchanged
• Puts a face with a name
• Access to contact info without searching for it
• Instant & complete history of all files exchanged
• Historic summary of all appointments
• Can immediately click to contact’s LINKEDIN or
Facebook or Twitter profile
• Hoovers summary on contacts employer
• See who you communicate with most
• FREE*FREE*FREE

31. Microsoft People APP
www.Microsoft.com

32. PEOPLE is an amazing tool to:
• Have your address book available on all devices with
all contact data including social media
• Quickly find contacts within organizations
• Share your contacts with others
• Have more useful information, which is more accurate,
without effort on your own
• Remove duplicates from multiple sources
• FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE

33. Social Media=Branding SME

34. Social Media Explained:

35. www.linkedin.com

36. LinkedIn: Common mistakes
• Avoid typos or inaccuracies
• Don’t blindly link to anyone/everyone
• Keep your network contacts confidential
• Use external email for your known contacts (not
inmail) to increase odds of/speed of response
• Do not use social or casual photos for profile
• Do not comment negatively to anyone ever
• Do not be sedentary---need to change and develop
your profile daily/weekly
• Learn and use functional titling

37. LinkedIn profile: Creating your brand
• Make it real
• Make it complete
• Don’t oversell, and don’t exaggerate
• Make it warm and inviting
• Make an impact with figures and percentages
• Include groups, associations, networks
• Have all contact information available
• Build a network of diverse people (not just your
profession)

38. LinkedIn: Recommendations
• You need to have at least ten—20 is better
• Recommendations need to be from people who are
senior to you in the food chain and/or from heads of
business units and/or customers
• You should not write recommendations for everyone
who writes one for you
• They need to have substance
• They need to be more than 1-2 sentences
• Don’t be afraid to ask for them
• Have them edited if need be

39. LinkedIn: Join the right groups
• Joining the right groups is critical---100!
• Regularly search for new groups
• Join in discussions and contribute positive info
• Avoid negative topics. Never share negative
info even if it is true
• Avoid connections from limited profile people
• Become known as an SME (Subject Matter
Expert)
• Gain respect, give respect, be nice

40. LinkedIn: Rekindle relationships
• Academic institutions
• Prior places of employment
• Charitable organizations
• User groups
• Associations

41. LinkedIn: Become an expert
• Attend webinars on how to best use the tool
• Attend physical events on how to use the tool
• Share experiences with others
• Learn from others
• Become known as “a giver” as opposed to “a
taker”
• Put up PowerPoint presentations (MUST DO)
• Offer guidance and support to others based on
your knowledge and experience

42. Linkedin: Searching for info
• More than searching for particular firms/people
• Search groups and discussions for info & jobs
• Search jobs area for posted jobs
• Search on job titles and companies to see where people have
gone to work (very useful)
• Job search on firms you have worked for to see where people
from those firms have gone to work
• Use LinkedIn in conjunction with doing a campaign based
search to learn useful information to include in search
campaign
• Search presentations
• Follow others
• Set up automated job search agents

43. LinkedIn: Be careful…
• It can become a “time waster” so manage your
time versus your return on time invested
• Not everyone is a real person behind that
profile
• i.e. scams
• i.e. corporations looking to harvest info for hiring
• i.e. corporations looking to harvest info for
marketing
• i.e. competitive intelligence, business intelligence,
industry intelligence mining

44. LinkedIn: Be careful…
• Same applies to Twitter----no one wants to hear that
you woke up, went to the bathroom, brushed your
teeth, are sitting at the airport……DO NOT SHARE
MEANINGLESS INFO WITH OTHERS
• Don’t recommend others to people unless they want
you to---causes major irritation and obligates people to
speak to them

45. The most valuable and misunderstood
tool in a job search
ESPECIALLY SINCE MOST DO NOT USE IT!

46. Twitter is simple to use!
• Go to www.twitter.com and sign up
• Create a profile that shows who you are
• Share information with others by “tweeting” or sharing
short blurbs of info
• Others will begin to follow you
• You can block anyone you wish from following
• Use www.tinyurl.com to shrink long web addresses so
you can tweet them
• As you share, you will develop followers

47. Twitter is a great learning tool
• To find open jobs, go to ‘Find People’ and use
keywords to find people and groups that tweet their
openings
• Following Subject Matter Experts will allow you to
learn information, techniques, tools, and ideas that
you can use in your search
• Giving to others will develop a reciprocity rule with
others more likely to help you if they feel you have
been an asset to them

48. Tweet your way to a larger network
• You can invite others to follow you
• Take advantage of ‘suggested users’ to link to noteworthy users
of Twitter to help you learn, become more aware, and have
useful information
• Link your Twitter/LinkedIn and Twitter/Facebook updates
• FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE

49. Facebook*MySpace*YouTube*
• Most executives feel that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
is beneath them
• Most executives feel that they are for kids
• Most executives do not understand them
• Most execs don’t use them
• This reinforces the belief that they are out of touch and
they are often passed over for candidates who are
more savvy

50. Facebook & Twitter & YouTube
• Most firms that use these tools to hire never come into contact
with qualified execs
• Firms that use them often want to find more technical, more
creative, more adaptable, more tech savvy candidates
• Are you letting them know about you?
• Are you using FB/G+/Pinterest/Twitter/YouTube to create
your brand?
• Are you getting out of your comfort zone to create a new
brand for you?
• Are you demonstrating what they want?

51. Facebook & YouTube
• www.facebook.com Use it for branding and
building a social network
• www.YouTube.com Use it for branding and
building a social and professional network
• Use it for learning new things

52. Google+, Pinterest, Instagram
• www.google.com Use G+ or Google+ for
branding and building a social network
• www.pinterest.com Use it for branding and
building a social network
• www.instagram.com Use it for branding and
building a social network
• www.snapchat.com Use it for branding and
building a social network

53. Warning on social sites and the internet in general
• If you opt to get on the Internet, you agree to be scrutinized by any and all
for what you do
• It is not just what you do, but what others do who are linked to you---you are
guilty by association
• This is true for all sites; none are exempt
• You cannot hide or prevent others from seeing what you have out there,
regardless of what you believe----make smart choices
• NEVER write anything negative---even if it is true
• Be careful what you write in any and all emails
• They never die

54. Warning on social sites and the internet in general
• If you love TRUMP, please be quiet!
• If you dislike TRUMP, please be quiet!
• If you love the Democrats, please be quiet!
• If you love the Republicans, please be quiet!
• If you dislike the Democrats, please be quiet!
• If you dislike the Republicans, please be quiet!
• If you like puppies more than kittens please be quiet!
• If you are for stronger banjo control laws in the US please be quiet!
• Ok. You get the idea! Keep your opinions and your hands to yourself!
• Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one and if you share yours, be
prepared to suffer the consequences
• Be positive and show the best side of yourself!
• It is okay to post about bacon. Bacon rules!

55. Use GOOGLE JOBS to create a jobs robot
• www.google.com
• MUST have a gmail account
• MUST use Chrome browser
• MUST be signed in
• MUST know how to search
• MUST know how to access
• Create many, many search strings
• Save jobs
• Gather data
• Be SMART

56. Use it as a time saver…
• Create a large quantity of searches and save them so they are
automatically sent to you via email daily
• Allows you to respond before others
• Allows you to save time not searching and put that time into
other search activities
• Increase the quantity of job leads and you can increase the
quality of what you can choose from *****Also see
www.linkup.com and www.simplyhired.com
• FREE*FREE*FREE*FREE

57. Develop a blog and blog often
• Find a free site like www.blogger.com
• Develop an attention gathering name for your
BLOG
• Select a website template
• Follow the online directions to create your first
post---make it professional yet attention getting
and write about something you are an expert at,
that is of benefit to others
• Go to your URL to see if it loads properly
• URL is your site address

58. Develop a blog and blog often
• Share your blogs URL with others through
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc
• Include the URL in all of your contact info on all
sites, on your resume, and on your business
card
• Make sure you include it on your vcard in your
phone so you can Bluetooth it to others

59. Use technology to brand you
• Create presentations to email (links/URL’s)
• Create presentations on usb sticks to give
• Create examples of work on usb sticks to leave
at an interview
• Create examples of work on usb sticks to use
as part of a campaign based job search
• Create virtual presentations to share with others
on skills you are a Subject Matter Expert at
• Volunteer your time to speak at events

60. Show your measured skills
• www.brainbench.com (skills) (behavior)
• www.proveit.com (skills)
• www.testingroom.com (access to numerous)
• www.keirsey.com (temperment/Myers-Briggs)
• www.jobdiagnosis.com (career assessment)
• www.outofservice.com/bigfive/ (personality)
• www.whathalf.com (career assessment/aptitude)
• www.quintcareers.com (very valuable career site)
• www.wonderlic.com (skills) (behavior)

61. Traditional job boards overview
• www.monster.com
• www.dice.com
• www.careerbuilder.com
• www.indeed.com
• www.ides.state.il.us
• www.illinoisskillsmatch.com

62. Tier two job board market
• www.simplyhired.com
• www.netshare.com
• www.ritesite.com
• www.vault.com
• www.craigslist.com
• www.theladders.com
• www.latpro.com
• And many others found at
https://www.betterteam.com/job-boards Outstanding
list of job engines

63. Other noteworthy websites
• www.worldwit.com
• www.techleaders.net
• www.yahoo.com (yahoo groups)
• www.vault.com
• www.msn.com (groups)
• www.quintcareers.com
• www.google.com (groups)
• www.ilworkinfo.com
• www.reCareered.com (GREAT INFO SITE)

64. Other noteworthy websites
• www.bls.gov (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• A better way to get employment information
• www.info.com (searches Google, Yahoo, Ask, About)
• www.bing.com
• www.lycos.com
• https://duckduckgo.com (doesn’t track you)

65. Gamechangers!
• Google for Jobs (worth repeating—become a master)
• www.slideshare.net to share resumes, SME content
• www.jobscan.com Use BEFORE you apply
• Know why “most people land through networking is a
lie” and what has changed
• Become a master at CHROME extensions to find
contact data on others
• Use FranklinPlanner to plan your day
• Use POMODORO to manage your time
• Is your LinkedIn job seeker feature set to ON?
• ReferenceUSA (library)

66. Gamechangers!
• Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive (Go MS)
• MS OneNote build a library of what you learn
• MS OneNote build an archive of SME content (others)
• MS OneNote share with others as a gift
• The objective is not to land a new job but to fix YOU
• Manage your career, maybe for 1st time ever?
• Manage daily learning---be a learning machine
• Read, reflect, journal, plan DAILY
• APPLY METRICS!
• START, STOP, MORE, LESS model
• Maslow’s Competency Model

67. Which raises a good point that is
timely…
• Your “personal technology” MUST be to explore all
options as Life or God determines will come to you
• When we try to control a search, we limit what we
stand to gain, and lengthen the time we are in search
mode
• We also use the opposite model that intelligent people
use “on the job” ---we go from a narrow to a wide
funnel

68. Successful decision making…
…starts with a wide funnel!
• Look at all options, interview for all roles, do not
handcuff yourself and live with regrets later
• Evaluate all----don’t say ‘no’ to anything until
you have an offer
• At work you would evaluate all options and over
time, apply criteria to ‘whittle it down’

69. You never know where your job offer
will come from…
…so to use the opposite approach you would use
at work limits your positive outcome
• Consider all locations
• Consider all reasonable titles and scopes of
responsibility
• Consider all industries and organizations
• The connections you make can well lead to job
offers you would never be in a position to
receive

70. The options will come from:
• Connections with search firms that are favorable
• Connections with employers that are favorable
• Connections with hiring executives that are favorable
• Jobs that you do not have to relocate for
• Jobs that allow you to wait to relocate
• Jobs that you might never have a chance at in your home
market

71. The key to a successful job search…
…is having more job options
• The more you interview, the better you’ll get
• The better you get, the greater your chances at offers
• The greater your chances at offers, the more offers
you’ll get
• The more offers you get, the more selective you can
be
• Offers mean options
• Think CAREER MANAGEMENT – NOT job search!
• Play CHESS, not checkers!

72. MASTER THE NEW MODEL!
• The job offer you accept is the LEAST
IMPORTANT of all
• The jobs you are rejected for are the most
important
• FOCUS on knowing WHY this is, and doing
what the top 1-3% of people do
• Do you have a HIGH getting HIRED IQ?
• 97% of professionals do NOT

73. Greg David, President www.linkedin.com/in/gregdavid
Laka & Company www.twitter.com/gregdavidlaka
312-528-9107 https://plus.google.com/+gregdavidlaka
greg.david@laka.com www.pinterest.com/gregdavidlaka
www.laka.com www.facebook.com/greg.david.laka