Land a job using social media
Internet job boards have turned into black holes that eat resumes and offer nothing in return. Most job hunters know social-media tools are now the best way to connect and keep you connected with hiring managers, entrepreneurs, recruiters and others employed in your targeted industry.
LinkedIn, personal blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social-media sites serve as your online identity and keep your face out in the public eye.
Unfortunately, using such media can be extremely confusing to those more familiar with traditional job-search methods. The following 10 steps will help direct you through the process and, hopefully, land you the right job.
1. Analyze your situation: Essentially, you are embarking upon a campaign to advertise yourself. As with any advertising campaign, you first have to analyze your strengths, weaknesses, resources and desired goals. Consider the various factors that would impact your career and select the top five companies that best suit your career path.
2. Examine your online presence: Any contacts or hiring managers will run a Google search after first contact. Make sure they’ll find only positive references by cleaning up any potentially negative information, such as less-than-professional photos of you on friend’s Facebook pages.
Balance out negative comments you can’t remove on sites like MySpace and Facebook by asking friends to post referrals or positive comments. Tweak your Profile pages to create a professional image and replace any inappropriate photos with photos showing you in a professional situation and/or revealing your travel experience.
Build a mini-resume in the education and work sections and remove references to any inappropriate group/fan memberships.
Check your credit score and clean up any negative dings. Employers commonly check a potential employees credit scores.
3. Join LinkedIn and Xing: Build a professional resume on the Profile page with a professional headshot. Join groups appropriate to your career area. Ask teachers, former employers and friends to write recommendations. This should be the first professional network you begin building.
4. Build an online resume: There are several tools you can use, including VisualCV, Razum and ResumeSocial.
5. Create your own blog: Blogging is just an updated method of networking. Certainly it doesn’t guarantee a job, but every path to show your talent and abilities takes you a little closer to connecting with the right employer or client.
Use a blog to demonstrate knowledge; showcase your writing and analytical skills; and convince prospective employers you’re on top of changes in your field. WordPress is free and is the easiest and most commonly used blog-builder.
6. Establish your authority: LinkedIn Answers is a great way to establish yourself by posting insightful and helpful answers. Ask provocative questions that show you know your field. Scan both questions and answers for people you should contact.
LinkedInGroups also are an excellent way to network. Read the groups for a few days before you start adding to the conversation. It’s okay to occasionally mention you’re looking for work, but be upbeat and tell people specifics. Xing also offers similar dialogue opportunities.
7. Demonstrate your capabilities: Slideshare allows you to upload presentations and share them with others. These can be presentations you created for a previous employer or specifically for Slideshare. Your slides may be downloaded by other members and used in presentations, which helps you spread the word. Make sure you post presentations on LinkedIn, as well.
If applicable, create a video demonstrating a process or skill set and post it on YouTube, Seesmic or Vimeo. Alternately, you might create a video presentation about market changes or future opportunities. Again, link these videos to LinkedIn.
8. Create a network: Most jobs never make it to job-posting Web sites as many hiring manager frequently ask employees for references before bothering to post the job. Our high unemployment and underemployment rate means posting will result in hundreds of applicants, so many rely on personal relationships to begin the sorting process.
Begin by developing relationships within the five companies you’ve identified. Search LinkedIn and begin connecting with potential contacts with a tailored message explaining who you are, your background and your interests. Establish a dialogue before asking about jobs. Don’t stalk but do be helpful.
9. Join Twitter: Twitter provides unprecedented access to executives, recruiters and employees of your top five companies. Before you start connecting, make sure you’ve created a thorough Twitter profile. Remember, everything you write on Twitter is archived by the search engines and can’t be deleted.
Twitter provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of your industry. Share links to newsworthy items. Connect with friends who can help you and become part of conversations with people talking about your area of expertise. You might also want to join the recruiting solution TweetMyJobs.
10. Listen: Listening is the number one skill you’ll need. Set up listening tools for the companies you’re interested in, the jobs descriptions or fields you’d like to be in etc. Share that info with your networks and become a resource for others.
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