Interview: April Williams, Author of Social Networking Throughout Your Career: What’s all the Buzz About?

Book Title:
Social Networking Throughout Your Career: What’s all the Buzz About?

Website URL:
http://www.cyberlifetutors.com

Social Media Links:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aprilmwilliams
Facebook: http://www.faacebook.com/aprilmwilliams
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams

What is your book about?
How to make the most of the today’s popular social networking tools to boost your professional image and how you can avoid career limiting mistakes.

* Learn which tools are most important today to reach your target audience
* See how you can use different tools based on your specific career stage
* Find out how to get big results from a small investment of your time
* Apply best practices to your time online to avoid social networking etiquette missteps
* Discover how to build a strong network to land your next job faster
* Identify ways to create your personal brand and communicate your unique selling proposition
* Understand trends in the marketplace so you are not caught unaware when you are considering a job change It seems everyone is talking about social networking tools these days.

Newspaper stories and daily comics make light of our “tweets”. We have all heard about social networking and many of us are using these sites regularly. In fact, these tools have sparked a communication revolution by changing how we talk with each other and the speed in which information travels. If you are a professional looking for a new job, considering a career change or even planning to be in the job market for more than one more year, it is important to understand how to leverage the most common social networking tools. If you are not effectively managing your online network you will appear out dated and behind the times to current employers or recruiters. Currently, 80% of all companies use LinkedIn as their primary recruiting tool. That means if you are not using LinkedIn effectively, other candidates will be hired for the job, which may be a perfect fit for you.

What inspired you to write your book?
Business owners and job seekers who are not using these tools effectively are missing out on building relationships and building new business. I wrote this book to share these concepts and how to tactics with others.

How did you come to do what you’re doing today?
My background is IT project and program management for Fortune 50 companies. When I was laid off during the recession of 2000, I found a new job within four weeks while many of my former co-workers were out of work for months or even a year. It was through networking contacts that I landed a new position with another Fortune 50 company.

Currently, I am a business owner. Speaker, author, coach, teacher, blogger. 3 years ago, I escaped corporate life and opened my own company enabling me to control my own destiny.

Can you describe a typical day in your life?
No typical days here. My month is filled with these activities:
* Several presentations to business or career groups on social networking or career topics.
* Teaching social networking classesat two Small Business Development Centers.
* Coaching businesses on marketing.
* Career coaching executives.
* Writing career blog.
* Client consulting at Small Business Development Centers.
* Networking and practicing what I preach.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?
The fulfillment from seeing business grow and clients advance in their careers. It is exciting to see their business evolve.

Are there any people and/or books that have inspired you along your journey?
Alltop’s Guy Kawasaki and John Jantsch Duct Tape Marketing. Elizabeth “Biz” Kellam realtor in Honolulu, Hawaii is inspirational.

Can you share some business tips for our readers?
If you are not using social networking sites, at least reserve your name and company name so they are available if you change your mind.

Can you share something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I also write a travel blog called “Where Are You Today?” at http://www.aprilmwilliams.com where we travel to off the beaten path locations in Illinois, Hawaii and beyond.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
For booking information, visit my site at http://www.cyberlifetutors.com .