This post idea came from Christina Pappas. A lot of people are looking for jobs right now, and it seems like the online world can be a great help in that quest. But how exactly can Social Media evolve into a job-hunting tool? Here are some ideas I’ve seen.
1. Make sure your photo is updated and that it looks the way you would want to look in a job interview (that means a picture of your baby may not be the best choice)
2. Load up your resume into LinkedIn.
3. Use keywords carefully, because people *do* search on LinkedIn. If you want to be found for copywriting, make sure copywriting is one of the words you use in your profile
4. Join groups on LinkedIn tied to your profession of choice
5. Scan the Questions section, especially in your areas of expertise. Start answering questions as often as possible – this not only shows how much you know but it can also reveal a great deal about how you interact with others
6. Keep an eye on companies you’d like to work for. LinkedIn is a good place to see new job openings
7. Network with people who can help you get your foot in the door. Don’t be a jerk about it, but search them out.
8. Do NOT import your Twitter feed into LinkedIn. That’s one of the best ways to lose your entire network.
9. Make recommendations for people you have worked with. There is a general understanding that when it comes to recommendations, it’s polite to return the favor (but only if you truly worked with that person in some way).
10. Don’t post frivolous updates as much as you might on Facebook. LinkedIn is a bit more “formal wear.”
11. If you are using Facebook to network your way to a new job, the photo again will be important. Photos of your kids or of you drinking will not help your cause.
12. If you wouldn’t say it in a job interview, don’t post it on Facebook. Even if your account is completely locked down, people can share your status updates and photos.
13. Keep an eye on who is tagging you for the same reason.
14. Look for active groups that include people with whom you could network.
15. Include your past work experience in your profile, or at least indicate in your interests skills that would help you get the job of your dreams.
16. If comfortable, let your friends know that you are on the look-out for a new opportunity – this can be done off Facebook, but once people are alerted you’re looking, they might be able to help you out.
17. Yep, we’re going to talk about the picture again. Are you noticing a trend yet?
18. Look for relevant Twitter chats. Chats are a fantastic way to interact with people in your field, network, and show your expertise.
19. Again, if you wouldn’t say it in your job interview, don’t tweet it. It’s very difficult to track where that tweet goes once you hit “send”!
20. See if people you admire in your field are using Twitter. Begin by following them and look for opportunities to interact with them in an unobtrusive way.
21. If you are comfortable, indicate in your bio that you are looking for a job, and indicate what you are looking for exactly. People can’t help you if they don’t know you need help!
Your Blog
22. Writing about areas pertaining to your desired profession is a great way to pursue a job using online resources. If you gain some traction as an expert or resource in that field, you could find it easier to get your foot in the door
23. Don’t ignore that all important “about” page. Again, if comfort allows, indicate you’re looking for a job, or if that doesn’t feel comfortable to you, make sure you emphasize your experience and skills.
24. If you want recruiters to contact you based on your posts, bashing other people will probably need to be put on hold (unless you’re in boxing or the WWE).
25. Network with other people who are looking for jobs and share information about the 21st century job hunting process like Renee Decoskey did
Video
26. When Paul Flanigan was on the job hunt, he did a really innovative video resume. This shows outside the box thinking and can help you stand out from the crowd (it’s also easy to share online)
27. Have a friend skype with you and ask questions you think you’d face in a job interview. Let them see how you express yourself through things like facial expression and body language.
28. Do some vlogging and add that to your Social Media presence. A vlog enables future employers to see how you present yourself, how you express your thoughts in real time, and they also get a better glimpse into your personality.
29. Ask friends to provide some video testimonials on your behalf like DJ Waldow did – this stands out just like the video resume does!
Google Plus (Yes, Google Plus)
30. Not long ago, Erica Swallow, writing for Mashable, drew out how you can job hunt using Google Plus. Pretty interesting stuff!
That’s all I’ve got. Now tell me what I missed!
Image by alex dehnel. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/alexdehnel
We think the days of the resume and waiting for full-time employment are in the past. This new job economy demands flexibility, creativity and hard work that uses each job as a stepping stone to the next opportunity.
There are jobs, right now, in our new job-matching engine (think of it like the Match.com for hourly, part-time and temporary work), http://hour.ly.
Best,
Bob
My Hourly Profile: http://hour.ly/profile/?key=5jEBQKM5w6FnjpUD
Margie,
Thank you so much for including my site in this post. As always, this is wonderful. Very useful tips!
Sure thing, Renee! It fit right in! 🙂
Margie, I totally agree about keeping the picture consistent and professional. This past spring, I took an MBA class on personal branding where my professor preached the same thing.
Many of the students had to clean up their fb accounts getting rid of drunk pictures. I had to remove Farmville which was one of the most liberating things I ever did.
If you are looking to brand yourself for career enhancement, you need to realize that employers look at everything you post/posted in the past.
Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront. Miriam
Well said, Miriam! Thanks for the comment!
Thanks so much for writing about this topic Margie! A lot of great talent is available right now (I know, I am actively looking for a new position and competition is fierce!) and this is a great resource. I am spending a lot of time working on my blog content and participating in the LinkedIn groups. End of the day, finding a job is a job and should be looked at as such. I love the idea of a video resume – hadn’t considered this myself! One thing I would add (and love your opinion on this) is to do a ‘Hire Me’ post on your blog and lay out what you like to do and what your ideal position looks like including the type of organization you would like to work for.
Speaking as an employer-someone who has jobs to fill-I can tell you that a self indulgent “here’s what I like to do” post is a sure fire way to be passed up in our company. We look for and insist on teamwork. And quite frankly, after our post that says what we do for our team members, we’re more interested in what a prospective person wants to do for us-not the other way around.
Don’t concentrate of the kind of dream job you’d like, focus on giving a prospective employer an idea of your commitment to them, the people you might be working with, your values in other words. A lot of people ‘looking’ for jobs-not many out there who know how to keep one in the opinion of most employers. Find an employer who doesn’t care about these principals and you’re going to work for a poorly run company.
This always helped me get a job http://howtofixstuff.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-find-job.html