As presented at the 2014 STC Summit: To get a position in today's difficult job market is no easy task. With some extra effort to promote yourself and your skills, you can get ahead and establish yourself as a technical communications candidate who is above the rest. The key is learning how to brand yourself. Danielle Villegas shares her experiences of how she created her "TechCommGeekMom" brand while job hunting. Danielle approaches brand creation with seven simple steps. Danielle will provide several examples from her own experiences throughout the talk, and will open the floor to discussion and questions at the end.

1. How Did You Get That Tech
Comm Job?
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

2. Who Am I?
Just like you.
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

3. Danielle M. Villegas
• Currently a Web Publishing
consultant at BASF
• 2012 Graduate of the MSPTC
Program at NJIT
• Write the
TechCommGeekMom blog and
“Villegas Views” on the STC
Notebook blog
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

4. Employers may be aggravating the
'skills gap'
Employers having difficulty finding qualified people
Millions of small- and medium-sized employers are unwilling
or unable to spend $ to bring new hires up to speed; training
often the 1st thing cut; question of ROI
(Source - NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/employers-may-be-aggravating-skills-gap-
1C7450821)
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

5. How Can You Stand Out?
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

6. Specialist or Generalist?
• Generalist=
Multi-Specialist
• Most employers are
asking for specialists
BUT...
• Multi-Specialists have
more value; can grow &
adapt with changes.
Promote your
specialties!
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

7. Examples of Multi-Specialist skills
• Content management?
Sure, you can write, but do you know…
• SEO?
• Use Social Media
(Facebook, Twitter,
Google+, LinkedIn)?
• Web design?
• Instructional design?
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

8. Create an E-Portfolio of
Your Work
• This impresses
employers!
• Provides PROOF of your
skills
• Update regularly
• If needed, "sanitize"
in-house documents as
needed.
http://techcommgeekmom.businesscatalyst.com
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

9. Get an education!
• Take a course--any course!
Learn a new skill or update
ones you already have
• Grad certificates, Master's
degrees available
• Also courses, course
certificates, and
professional certification
through STC
• Learn new software - use
Lynda.com
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

10. Get Involved in Social Media
• Helps to stay on top of
trends in the field and what
the latest technology is
• Connect with experts and
other tech comm pros
• Start a blog to share ideas
and viewpoints
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

11. http://www.businessinsider.com/your-tweets-are-more-important-than-your-rsum-2013-2
February 20, 2013 - from Business Insider:
Enterasys — a wireless network provider — will be
considering applicants for a six-figure senior social
media position, but no paper résumés will be
accepted. Instead, the company has decided to
recruit solely via Twitter.
Jennifer Grabowski, a spokesperson for the
company, tells us that candidates need to have a
minimum Klout score above 60, a minimum Kred
influence score of 725, a Kred outreach of at least
eight, and more than 1,000 active Twitter followers
in order to be considered. Enterasys is hoping to
fill the position by April.
This Company Will Only Accept 'Twitter Resumes' For A Six-
Figure Job
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

12. How do I get involved in
Social Media?
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?
Prezi presentation found at: http://prezi.com/hhekokw0bbrh/?
utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

13. TechCommGeekMom.com
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

14. Get a Part-Time Job in
the Meantime
• Helps to gain new skills or
keep current skills fresh
• Often pays better than
unemployment and helps
build employment credibility
as well
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

15. Network, Network, Network!
• Get involved in STC
activities
• Keep in touch with
people you meet at
conferences
• Use social media! Start
with Twitter and hashtag
#techcomm
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

16. Create a Functional Résumé
Instead of a Chronological Résumé
Improve your chances--show off your skills, not
your history!
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

17. Why We Should Ban Resumes!
The idea of matching someone’s skills and experience on a resume to a job description
consisting of an arbitrary list of skills and experiences seems rather archaic to me. Some
people actually defend doing this faster as a major advance in modern HR practices.
--Lou Adler, The Original Headhunter and Author: Hire With Your Head and The Essential Guide for Hiring and Getting Hired
(February 21, 2013)
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130221192310-15454-why-we-should-ban-resumes?_mSplash=1
Social Resumes Increase in Recruiting and Job Seeking [infographic]
http://www.recruiter.com/i/social-resumes-increase-in-recruiting-and-job-seeking-infographic/
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

18. Machines Read Your Resume First, Not a Person!!
Infographic:
http://www.hireright.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/robots-reading-
resume-ats-recruiting-infographic.png
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom

19. Chronological Résumé
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

20. Functional Résumé
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

21. Summary: Create Your Own Brand!
• Become a multi-specialist
• Create an e-portfolio of your work
• Get an education
• Get involved in social media
• Get a part-time job in the meantime
• Network with other tech comm professionals
• Create a functional résumé instead of a chronological one
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

22. Questions/Discussion?
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?

23. Contact me:
Email: techcommgeekmom@me.com
Website/Blog: TechCommGeekMom.com
E-Portfolio: http://techcommgeekmom.businesscatalyst.com
Twitter: @techcommgeekmom
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daniellemvillegas/
Facebook: facebook.com/DanielleVillegasNJIT
Google+: +DanielleMVillegas
#stc14 @techcommgeekmom How’d You Get That Tech Comm
Job?