Getting your player ready...
As social and professional networking websites like Facebook and LinkedIn become more popular for connecting with friends and family, more and more people are visiting the sites for more specific reasons, namely the job search. Job seekers are using these sites to brand themselves to future employers.
LinkedIn has always been touted as the site to network professionally; however, job seekers are now also turning to Facebook and Twitter for job leads, advice and contact building. Hundreds of recruiters are trolling Twitter, searching for applicants with relevant skills, while job seekers post links to their resumés, websites and samples from previous employers.
Twitter allows users to “tweet” up to 140 characters at a time to be seen by their “followers,” post links and directly message other users. With that much exposure, job seekers have a platform to instantly pursue job leads and professional contacts.
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, one in five (20 percent) Americans use an online social networking site, up from just seven percent in 2005. One reason for this jump is the rising number of business professionals using the sites. Facebook’s most rapidly growing demographic are users 35 years and older, a demographic which already comprises more than half of the site’s daily visitors.
Through blogging and building a social networking page, job seekers have an edge over those job seekers who lack the technical saavy. The advantage is not just for job seekers, as social and professional networking sites are now viewed as a invaluable tool for employed professionals as well. Some companies are choosing to use social networking sites to their advantage instead of banning them. These sites can be used to communicate with current and former colleagues, as well as other industry professionals, share best practices, meet customers, resolve issues and answer questions.
In a survey of about 200 human resource professionals by Challenger, about 10 percent of respondents said their companies view social networking as an invaluable marketing, networking and sales tool, and six percent encourage employees to have a presence on these sites.
Use Twitter/LinkedIn to find jobs
Build your network. Challenger coaches advise job seekers to utilize every person in your personal and professional networks. With Twitter, you’ll grow this network by hundreds.
Build your brand. Your Twitter page can show a little something about yourself with the pictures and colors you choose to use. The interface allows you to post links to websites or blogs, so when building your Twitter page, make sure to include links to these. Include discussions about your work, talk yourself up.
Advertise your job loss. Although a job loss can be a trying time for families and loved ones, telling your “followers” that you are looking for a job can be not only therapeutic, but also incredibly useful to finding a new position. Hundreds of recrutiers are on Twitter and have no problem following your tweets.
Think before you tweet. Remember that you’re marketing yourself, you’re a product. Much like with blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc., you don’t want to post anything that might cause pause (see: nude or racy photos, questionable content, etc.).
Get Recommended. LinkedIn allows users the ability to recommend each other’s work. As professional networking sites become the new resumé, ask colleagues to advocate on your behalf on your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters are more likely to be impressed if past colleagues rave about your performance.
Join Groups. LinkedIn also allows users to create and join professional groups, allowing you to instantly communicate with others in your field.
