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Every Thursday like clockwork the latest job numbers are reported with follow-up comments. Stocks invariably tumble. I don’t have a magic answer as to how and when things will improve but what I do know is….

While you can’t control most of this, you can decide NOT to get caught up in this weekly ‘gloom and doom’ event. I know dozens of people across different industries who have gotten job interviews and others who are starting new jobs now.

The future of job search will be even less about applying to job boards and more about networking, attending events, joining job support groups and having follow-up conversations with as many people as possible along with a LinkedIn presence.

Sunday is a perfect day to plan out your networking week. That’s what I’m doing again now.

With cup of coffee in hand  I update my networking spreadsheet with my new contacts, how I met them and what my next steps will be with each. It takes an hour or so but listening to great ’60s music keeps me going.

Then, while suffering through another Giants game (maybe this week will be different) I’ll start winding down.

In the evening, I’ll list my planned weekly networking activities along with what I hope to accomplish at each.

You may not consider this part of networking or job search, but it’s just as important as preparing for an interview or updating your resume.

What are you doing to prepare for the week ahead?

Texting during job search is more acceptable now than a few years ago. Between an email overload and trying to get messages into a filled voicemail, you should be using every avenue to follow-up.

You could text to

* Ask about connecting
* Ask for more information about a job spec
* Reschedule a meeting you’ve set up
* Follow-up on your status for a job you applied to

I’m starting to see articles like these which suggest the proper etiquette for a recruiter.

I believe texting, if not abused by either job seeker or recruiter, should be part of your follow-up

Some quick do’s and dont’s

Do:

• Keep it short. Long messages are hard to read on a mobile screen. If you need to go into more detail, email or phone would be better. As a rule of thumb, follow the 140-character tweet length limit to ensure your messages are brief.
• Keep it professional. Texting is a more casual way of communicating, but you should still keep it professional. Emojis, abbreviations and slang are off limits.  Before hitting ‘send,’ double-check your message for grammar and spelling errors. Also, double-check who you’re texting, to ensure you’re contacting the right person,

Don’t:

• Text on first contact. If this is the first time you contact a recruiter, text messaging probably isn’t the best option. You might be asked who you are and how you got their number. They might even perceive your mobile approach as intrusive.

The latest Linkedin changes rolled out yesterday and as you see them, consider first how (or if) you’ll use them. I’ll detail them a bit further as I try them.

Most changes are on mobile and will first require you to update the App.

Changes include:

* New look to desktop interface
* Ability to add ‘stories’ on LinkedIn. On the top of your mobile profile, you’ll see images of those who have posted stories. You can add a story as an option when you create a post on mobile. I tested this out and it seems quite simple.
* My personal favorite – linking a Zoom-type meeting to a sent message.

My first thoughts

* I’m not a big fan of ‘Stories.’ I fear a feed with story after story. That was how polls started out and this isn’t Instagram.

* I can see job seekers using the Zoom interface and, perhaps, using a story to promote themselves in job search much like the microphone does.

What do you think?

Quality vs quantity means everything in what you do in networking.

Consider

**It’s not how many people you connect with, it’s what you do as a follow-up to remain in touch with those who you may eventually develop business relationships
**It’s not how many jobs you apply for, it’s the jobs you’re targeting that match your skills and background.
**It’s not how much you post and comment on, it’s how you choose to engage

Hiring managers and recruiters, especially…Be understanding and stop trying to find that ‘perfect’ candidate. They don’t exist on paper but they’re in front of you every day.

Where to start?

*Build a complete profile that markets you in the best way possible (that’s where keywords and engagement come in)
*Know how to use that profile when networking. People aren’t just going to find you. You need to start finding them so they can, in turn, start finding you. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
*Develop a plan – starting with that profile, and then using that profile to network, share your profile whenever possible – through Zoom meetings, on your Email signature, and anytime to speak to someone – we all still go out but not to events. *Get familiar with LinkedIn on mobile