Congratulations to Facebook on hitting this monumental milestone!
We look forward to seeing your continued innovation and focus on creating a fantastic experience for user’s to connect and share with the people in their personal lives as we at BranchOut strive to continue helping people connect and share with the people in their professional lives.
Don’t you just love that feeling you get when you leave an interview and know that you connected with the interviewer and really proved why you’d be a valuable asset?
Feel free to loosen your tie, but you aren’t quite off the hook yet! While the interview is still fresh in your mind, it’s time to thank your interviewer/s (if it is more than one interviewer, send separate emails). Email is typically the way to go as it is quick and makes it easy for an interviewer to respond if they have additional questions….or better yet, good news! Send your email within the 48ish hours.
A thank you note is the perfect opportunity to remind the interviewer why you are the obvious choice for the role. If you forgot to mention anything in your interview, this is your shot to bring up examples of why you’d be a great fit. It’s also a great place to ask calculated questions if you would like to followup on a topic you discussed.
At the end of your interview, you should have been told next steps (a date when they anticipate getting back to you). If told, “we will follow up with you by Tuesday,” feel free to end your note with a “looking forward to hearing from you on Tuesday.” It is a subtle way to remind them that you expect to hear back by a specific date. If you don’t know what next steps look like, include a sentence at the end of your email asking next steps.
Phone screens deserve thank you notes too! Just a quick few sentences thanking your interviewer for their time and letting them know specific reasons why based on your previous experiences, you know you’d be a great fit.
Remember, people hire people they like. Culture fit is very important, so if you made a connection and discussed travel, kids, sports…whatever, throw in a simple one-liner to reconnect and establish your friendly personality. However, if you aren’t sure if it’s too casual, it probably is (this includes email signatures that have links). Keep your email short and to the point.
Oh! And don’t forget to spellcheck!
What?
An informational interview is an interview with the intention to collect information about a job, career field, industry or company. It’s an opportunity for you to learn from an individual without feeling the pressure of a formal interview.
Where?
This depends on how well you know the person you are interviewing! It is safest to air on the side of formality and meet at a coffee shop rather than a bar, office or someone’s home. Make sure that you are accommodating when deciding a location.
You can also opt for a phone chat if scheduling becomes difficult (of course, be prompt to the call and be sure to confirm the date, time and phone number a day or so before the chat).
When?
Again, accomodate the schedule of the person you are interviewing. When you set up the conversation, be sure to stress that you are thankful for their time and happy to work around their schedule. If you do go to a coffee shop, it’s nice to show your appreciation for their time by offering to treat them to coffee.
Why?
A conversation with someone in a role or company that you are interested in will give you an opportunity to ask the hard questions. However, assume that what you divulge can possibly be shared… meaning be careful to present yourself positively. Keep in mind that if you are interviewing someone about a company they work for, they might be able to put in a good word for you and act as a reference or endorse you on BranchOut (they might even get a referral bonus if you land the job, so it might be in their best interest to help you).
Come to your conversation prepared, do your research and don’t be afraid to come to the meeting with a pad of paper with the questions you have pre-prepared written down.
How?
Oftentimes, informational interviews are a bit more casual than a job interview, but you should feel out the context based on your relationship with the individual you are meeting.
Use BranchOut messaging and introduction features or email to set up the interview, stay professional, appreciative and courteous.
Follow up! Send over a quick thank you note and reference specific parts of your conversation that you found valuable. If there are next steps (like submitting a resume or making an introduction), now is your time to remind them!
Your Stories
We want to hear about your informational interviews and how you used BranchOut to connect! What worked? What didn’t? What do you wish you knew going into the conversation? Share your story with us in the comments below.
BranchOut is thrilled to announce a new series of interviews with our internal team in our SF headquarters. We’ve asked you what kinds of questions you have for our team and we picked our favorite answers.
If you have burning questions to ask the team, we are listening and would love to answer. If you have questions about how to use BranchOut, please email contact@branchout.com. Otherwise, share your questions for our team in the comments below!
To kick things off, we are introducing the man, the legend… ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ray Soriano!
Q: Ray, what were you up to before joining the BranchOut team?
A: I worked in sales and sales management for Yahoo! HotJobs for 11 years before we were acquired by Monster Worldwide in 2010. Then I worked with Monster for about a year before I left for BranchOut.
Q: What do you do now at BranchOut?
A: I manage the BranchOut sales team. I collaborate with executive leadership and the team to develop goals, strategy, and messaging.
Q: What are 5 things you could never live without?
A: Let’s see – family, travel, food, cold beer & soccer
Q: What is your favorite catered BranchOut lunch?
A: The made-to-order burritos.
Q: QUICK! What’s your go-to pump up sales song?
A: Final Countdown by Europe!
Q: BONUS USER QUESTION!
“Of all the awesome toys you guys have at the office( like the basketball, foozball, ping pong etc) what’s your favorite? Going along with that, what’s been the favorite event or activity the BrO team has done? BrOwling? Holiday bash? The sweets on Valentines day?”
A: The hoops game is my favorite – its a challenge of concentration and execution. There have been so many great events, but I’d have to say my favorite event was the ping pong doubles tourney!
BranchOut, the largest professional networking application on Facebook, has surpassed 25 million registered users, adding more than three new registered users every second.
The continued adoption of BranchOut by global users spurred another round of funding, as BranchOut has closed $25 million in Series C financing led by Mayfield Fund. Previous investors Accel, Norwest Venture Partners and Redpoint Ventures also participated in the round. This financing brings BranchOut’s total funding to $49 million.
Powering the Professional Profile for Everyone
BranchOut is the first professional network to enable all workers, regardless of industry, role, or level, to create secure professional profiles on the Facebook Platform.
“We power the professional profile for the Facebook generation,” said BranchOut Founder and CEO Rick Marini. “Online networking is not just for managers and executives. New college graduates, retail workers, nurses, software engineers and military veterans re-entering the workforce can all benefit substantially from having strong professional profiles on Facebook. We’re making it easier for our users to find jobs through their established and authentic Facebook relationships.”
BranchOut is a powerful tool for both job seekers and recruiters because it enables them to utilize their real relationships, while tapping into the unprecedented scale of Facebook. BranchOut’s 25 million registered users can leverage their network connections of more than 400 million professional profiles to help them find jobs, recruit talent, and open doors to new opportunities.
Network Effect Fueled by Mobile and Global User Growth
Much of BranchOut’s growth has come from its emerging mobile user base. Since adding the ability to connect with Facebook friends from its mobile application in February, 40 percent of its new users now join from mobile devices. BranchOut is now accessible via Android smartphones, Apple iOS devices, and tablets.
With an average of nearly two million new registered users joining weekly since February, BranchOut is also growing rapidly from increased international adoption. Approximately 50 percent of all new users join from countries outside of the U.S. – primarily in the U.K., Europe, Australia, Canada, and India – to utilize both their personal and professional relationships on a single network.
International growth has been fueled by key overseas partnerships. Earlier this year, BranchOut partnered with StepStone and totaljobs.com, the leading job sites in continental Europe and the U.K., respectively. BranchOut’s “Inside Connections” feature is integrated on both sites, allowing job seekers to leverage their Facebook friend networks to land jobs.
The Series C funding will allow BranchOut to expand its San Francisco-based team of 45 people.
“It’s unprecedented to see this type of growth, which makes BranchOut one of the most used apps on Facebook,” said Tim Chang, a managing director at Mayfield Fund. “I’m excited by the opportunity BranchOut has to introduce the notion of a professional social network to the 90 percent of the population that is not on LinkedIn. BranchOut is about establishing and crafting your professional identity, which extends far beyond just job searches and connection requests.”
Chang joins BranchOut’s Board of Directors, which also includes Marini, Kevin Efrusy from Accel Partners, Geoff Yang of Redpoint Ventures, and Co-founder of Ooga Labs, Stan Chudnovsky.
Hi everyone! My name is Marshall Zhang and I’m a senior at Lehigh University, majoring in Computer Science & Business. Last semester, I was a University Marketing Associate for BranchOut and I was fortunate enough to become one of the Northeast Regional Marketing Associates this semester! Post-graduation, I am looking forward to working at Ernst & Young in New York City.
The Ten Best Jobs for Recent College Grads
As this semester is coming to end, some soon-to-be college graduates have been worrying about their future careers after those four years of collegiate bliss. Admittedly, finding a job is still tough and it’s been an uphill battle for recent grads; personally, I have some friends who are still frantically searching for a job (they should’ve been using BranchOut, just saying!). However, rest assured to those still looking, as CareerBliss.com has compiled the top ten best jobs for recent college graduates:
#10 – Registered Nurse
Average Salary: $61,707
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “[e]mployment of registered nurses is expected to grow 26 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.” Because of the aging baby boomer generation, many job opportunities will be showing up.
#9 – Occupational Therapist
Average Salary: $66,923
Like registered nurses, occupational therapists have a faster than average employment increase. However, keep in mind that each state has different licensing rules!
#8 – Network Engineer
Average Salary: $69,079
According to CNN Money, there will be a 53% increase in 10-years time. Technology is constantly changing, so network engineers will always be in demand.
#7 – Physical Therapist
Average Salary: $57,000
All healthcare employment opportunities are expected to greatly increase, and physical therapist occupations are seen to increase faster than average! However, like occupational therapists, physical therapists need different licensing based on the state.
#6 – Financial Analyst
Average Salary: $61,517
Having a bachelor’s degree is required for entry-level positions, but a master’s degree will help advance your career!
#5 – Product Manager
Average Salary: $72,717
This is a very diverse occupation so, admittedly, the salary range could be temperamental based on the field you’re in.
#4 – Sales Manager
Average Salary: $68,676
While the employment growth is average (at 12%), the pay for this position has a great increase rate.
#3 – Business Analyst
Average Salary: $72,773
Hiring is increasing for this occupation, with a 24% jump in the upcoming years! Having a master’s degree will help further your career even more.
#2 – Sales Representative
Average Salary: $47,629
Being a people person will help you excel in this position, so if you feel like you have the charisma to be a representative but not the skills to be involved in the technology world, then being a sales representative is for you!
#1 – Software Engineer
Average Salary: $71,916
Finally, software engineering is one of the most lucrative fields to be a part of right now – there is always a demand for new technology and with a 30% projected increase in 10 years, companies are looking for the best and brightest to fill this role.
It may seem odd that the average salaries fluctuate among these top ten jobs, but CareerBliss.com based their findings on 1.8 million data points – from hiring trends to overall employee happiness.
Also, for those curious where they should go once they graduate, I was also able to find a bonus top ten list on Forbes.com – the “Ten Best Cities for Recent College Grads”:
These are considered the best cities based on unemployment rate, cost of living, and average hourly salary wage. Forbes acknowledges that, while unemployment has increased and wages have decreased, these cities are the best bang for your buck!
Why is it important to add extracurricular activities to your resume? We asked, and you answered!
Amy Sherman: If you’ve had a job or extracurricular activity that you’ve worked on for a long period of time, mention it on your resume even if it doesn’t relate to the job you’re applying for.
Lu Gram: Gives potential employers a fuller image of candidate, better idea of wheter or not candidate would be a good fit.
Jen Allen-Gold Canyon: Being a part of extra curricular activities shows you are a well rounded person.
Porter Versfelt III: That can often be a good idea; one can find a new client or employer who shares your interest or hobby and that kind of human connection helps put a job candidate over the top. On the other hand, you also fine folks who have a bias, prejudice or ignorant attitude about a particular interest, hoppy or belief and it can backfire on you. I suggest that you tread gingerly.
Shawn A. Watzka: Mentioning extracurricular activities on you resume might be of common interest to the person making the hiring decision or reviewing your resume. It can give you an edge or hurt your chance of being considered.
Adam Straughan: It shows a commitment and interest in things outside of the working environment. A person can fill out an application form or resume which paints them as the perfect person for a job, but those qualities are decided by the business and the kind of person which they want to hire. We almost sculpt ourselves to their needs. It’s the decisions we have made ourselves, such as the extracurricular activities which we undergo in our spare time, which truly determine the kind of people that we really are and are a true reflection of the kind of person which a business will be hiring. It is the most interesting section of any resume in my opinion.
Richard Dietrich: I will put that I’m an Eagle Scout on my resume until I am retired. I want the potential employer to know my affinity to finish something that I start, no matter the time period (long term or short term).
Joe Corbalis: ”All work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy”
Paul Rigby: Can potentially show ur a rounded individual….. and demonstrate soft skills…. Just don’t put likes socialising or reading without explanation!!!!!!!!!
Arlene Cathey: To connect with more people like you.
Kevin Ackermann: Not only does it show that you are able to make things happen within your own control, but also that you are able to play your cards right. This means, positioning yourself above the average while showing your passion, desire and hunger to succeed in life!
Heather Hildreth: Extracurricular Activities not only show that you like to interact with people but also help the employer to bond with you on something if he/she is also involved in a similar thing. Activities like scouting, rowing, and greek life especially have a very close, almost exclusive community, and I think that when an employer finds another person in his community, he/she is more likely to want to try to help that person out.
Stephen Adamson: Depends on the country you are in, some places they really don’t care about extra curricular activities so if you apply for an international job best check the corporate culture and tailor your CV accordingly.
Amanda Houlk Holland: I had a recruiter tell me not “fill space” on my resume with anything unrelated to the job I was applying for.
Joyce Omondan: Just to be sure u have a balanced life.
Scott Azevedo: I’m not sure how important it is but if the hiring manager also enjoys extracurricular activities, the interview process may fair well for the job seeker. My opinion is adding activities to one’s resume certainly can not hurt if done so discretely. Example: I coach youth football and I work with underprivileged children in my community. Both of these may suggest a high degree of character, responsibility, dedication and a desire to better the lives of all involved. To a hiring employer, these qualities are desired incorporated traits for any employee. In my opinion, these traits are solid building blocks a new employee’s personality should have.
Sherry Tate Craven: Shows commitment and interest in your community and a willingness to promote and work toward a more interesting and positive lifestyle.
Jason Stallone: Extracurricular activities reveal qualities about you that your resume might not. Like dedication, enthusiasm, commitment, experience and strengths. Here is a great one: say reading is one of your extracurricular activities and The Art Of War is one of your favorite books. Its a known fact that many goverment officials and even business men study the book because its tactics are very effective in the business world too. It just might give you that edge to get the job done and make you stand out over other potenial candidates.
Tony Carbon: It shows your an over-achiever.
Wendy Prescott: It shows your tremendous ability to manage not only your work and social life, but also life balance!! My boss has told me that he prefers to hire based on this element! It is good sound business!!
Lawrence Tagoe: Joining professional organizations such as Alpha Kappa Psi – Psi Upsilon Chapter at UC Merced proves that you can stay dedicated to a group of people. Also, it shows that you can step outside of conventional means of learning and take it upon yourself to learn (in this case about business/management) outside of the classroom.
Dione Hussey: Remember that you are not the only one under scrutiny…you also want to “fit” your job into your life and you are also choosing them to be a part of that. I will alway put my interests and activities on my resume because I will never work for a company that doesn’t think bigger than themselves and believe in community involvement. If they don’t like what they see…then I’m better off aren’t I?! It would go against what I believe–NO compromises!
Lisa Fitzpatrick Rose: It shows more about who you are!
Ignatius Murmu: It assures the Recruiters ”You are that bit of Extra than the ordinary”
Avinash Bhatia: It gives an idea about your overall personality.on job and off job
Rita Felker: My career advisor helped me establish 2 resumes – 1 with all my professional skills and background; and one that states my community service and skills utilized. My first resume refers to the second. During job interviews it took our conversation to a more indepth discussion. Employers had very positive responses.
Siddhesh Kolhe: it shows you have extra edge over your qualifications. . so u will never get bored with reguler business work..
Lizelle Letts: It proves that you are capable of living a balanced lifestyle. Its a good way of taking a break after work to ensure you don’t experience burn outs which could in turn affect your work life.
Anshuman Pakharia: It shows do you have something to get yourself refreshed and to understand that what are your area of interest, apart from work. It also shows that what you are interested to do if you are not working.
Safia Zaidi: Because apart from your academic and professional qualifications might possible that employer will show interest in your interests like sport,theatre as they could be useful for organisation.
Karuhun Parahiangan: As it shows your plus, ie the extra points to your standard public achievement (curricullum). It reflects exactly the integrity of yours (knowledges, tallents, hobbies, environtment/
Lacey Wallace: The importance is applying your experience in helping other’s . Branching out to reach other’s in the community .Service work , fundraising build’s character and knowledge in growth of the talent’s that you are able to share . To be the one that stands out in the crowd . The one that is remembered for good works . To grow in change and challenging to bring positive difference in your field and community .
University Marketing Manager, Product Manager and new team of National Marketing Associates meet in San Francisco for Management Development workshops and tour of HQ
The Marketing Associate Program has been fortunate to have 120+ interns for the 2011-2012 academic year, boasting over 60 associates in different levels of management, representing some of the most versatile, not to mention diverse, institutions in the country. From Ivy Leaguers like Brown, Cornell, Yale and UC Berkley to Tier 1 State Schools like the University of Florida, University of Colorado, and Southern Methodist University the MAP covers institutions of all sizes and levels. Last, but not least, we can’t go without rightly mentioning liberal arts and smaller campuses like San Diego State University, The University of the Pacific, and Widener University. This wide demographic of schools adds even more to the already rich culture of innovation and sense-of-family at BranchOut.
The MAP has made amazing strides in their Marketing Associates, who have honed their leadership skills by building their own team of Marketing Advocates, brainstormed and executed guerrilla marketing campaigns and even participated in product management, helping create a sleeker interface for the core product, the BranchOut Facebook App.
National Marketing Associates in a Brainstorm Session at BranchOut HQ
The Marketing Associate Program has carved out the roadMAP (I couldn’t resist!) for many young professionals that go through the program by streaming live webinars with Silicon Valley’s brightest minds, including the Director of Product Management at Salesforce, an engineer from the early days of Facebook and a Software Engineer for Dropbox. It’s no secret that BranchOut is invested in the well-being and career outlook of their Marketing Associates. Watch a MAP creation here!
The MAP is made up of so many more wonderful things that cannot possibly be summed up in a single blog post, so for now, I leave you with a video we shot at BranchOut Headquarters. It’s a spin-off of the popular viral sensation viewers witnessed on YouTube not too long ago. Take a look and like the video, if you haven’t already! Let’s all put BranchOut on the MAP.
There’s nothing like ending on a pun.
Cleaning up your online identity isn’t just about hiding aspects of your life you don’t want to share with everyone in your network, it’s also about promoting the best version of yourself to advance your career!
1. Lock Down Your Privacy Settings
Tip: Google your name on a computer with a cleared cache to gain insight about your first impression
2. Be Positive
Tip: If a random person who has never hung out with you reads your tweets and posts, would they think you are someone they would want to employ?
3. Stay Professional
Tip: Get your friends on your team, make sure they aren’t abusing your Facebook wall with inappropriate pictures and posts
4. Build Your Brand
Tip: Find people with personal brands that you relate to and emulate their style
5. Be Consistent
Tip: Use platforms that will help you schedule tweets, blog entries and posts
It’s happening! Graduation is looming just around the corner. If you haven’t started thinking about what you are going to do with your degree (congrats by the way!), now is the time to do some self-reflection, put your networking skills to use and find your dream job or internship.
Self Reflection
Regardless of where you feel you fit in the career totem pole, this should always be a part of your thought process when thinking about your short-term and long-term career goals. What do you enjoy and feel like you are good at? Enjoying something and being good at it often go hand-in-hand.
Shop Around
Yes, I just gave you permission to shop, but put away your wallet and do your research! You think you are interested in advertising? Do you really know what advertising actually entails or do you just have a vague idea of what you’ve interpreted advertising to mean from watching too much Mad Men*? Use BranchOut to network and find meaningful connections in roles that sound interesting to you.
Maybe everyone you know is graduating around your year and you don’t have too many connections in the workforce yet. Think twice. BranchOut allows you to professionally connect with your friends-of-friends and the power of these genuine connections in helping you make a warm introduction is invaluable. Leverage these connections to conduct some informational interviews. Come prepared and ask the right questions.
Getting Your Networking On
In 2011, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that there are 21.1 applicants per job. This number may sound daunting, but remember that when you use inside connections you are often able to have your resume stand out in the crowd.
Make sure that when you do get these introductions, you are ready. Position yourself to standout by adding professors and colleagues on BranchOut and request that they endorse you, adding to your creditability as someone prospective employers would be interested in hiring.
Protect Your Online Identity
Cleaning up your online identity isn’t just about hiding aspects of your life you don’t want to share with everyone in your network, it’s also about promoting the best version of yourself to advance your career!
1. Lock down your privacy settings by using Facebook’s limited profile features and lists
2. Maintain a positive online character, no one wants to hire someone who seems negative
3. Stay professional by using BranchOut as a solution to keeping your Facebook content private, while displaying your professional profile to your network, the world of recruiters, HR managers, and employers
4. Build consistent habits while building your online brand
But more on this here…
Enjoy the last few months of school, soak it all up while making time to prepare yourself for your job search.
*Editor’s note: there is actually no such a thing as too much Mad Men.