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How to Find a Job Through Social Media

February 22, 2012 20 Comments

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Is it possible to find a job through social media, Linked In, Facebook and Twitter?

There is a jargon in management world these days, “bring in a known good person rather than an unknown better person”. This refers to hiring from within a known circle of people, or with recommendation from a known circle of people.

The largest professional network, Linked In, was founded on this principles and today its thriving along with Facebook and Twitter.

In last one year I have seen quiet a few people getting jobs through social media referrals.

I receive requests to refer some one or other within my connections for jobs. Recruiters and HR managers are now actively mining talents through Linked In.

Example, one of my close friends was found out through his Linked In profile. The recruiting manager was his 4th level connection. You may not be as lucky as this guy, as he had some specialized training and diploma which was sought after by his employers.

It also added spice that my friend and his the-then interviewer had similar tastes of reading.

If you imagine typical job of a recruiter, he has to post for the positions, collect resumes, sort through them and short list for further interviewing. All these can be avoided through Linked In route.

Not only Linked in, many other jobs can be had through twitter or Facebook as well.

There are reports of people landing jobs at confectioneries soon after posting baking hall-of-fame on Facebook.

Let’s take Dave, he is a serial entrepreneur, someone who loves to put up businesses in the hopes of selling them in the future. I’ll correct that: selling them for MILLIONS of dollars within the next few years.

For him to achieve that kind of success, he needs best people on-board. They don’t have to be graduates of this and that—though degrees does help in many ways—but he needs them to be deeply passionate and committed to the cause and advocacy of his company.

He is using a variety of methods, both online and offline. For the former, he actually taps on social media websites. He looks for people within his circle or connection with require qualification first. Then he looks for their profile content.

With just a few hours online can get him a few short listed candidates without the tiresome recruitment-through-advertisement process.

Companies were interested — and still are — in passion, teamwork and cultural fit. In today’s world, not only do you need strong hard and soft skills, but you need to develop online influence. When two candidates look the same on paper and are both good communicators, the differentiator will be their online influence. – Mashable

What you can do to improve your chance of getting a job through social media? Here are a few tips.

Let’s begin

Make sure you create an outstanding profile, include your image, details about your current work with position. Make sure your connection is not extremely short. Be outgoing and connect with a lot of people. Throw in some recommendation if you could.

Consider your own page/profile as your digital or electronic billboard. You don’t have to show everything, as you’d like to enjoy some privacy in your profiles.

But display the things you want your future boss to know, such as your current and previous employment, the school you’ve been to, and a well-created bio about yourself. It doesn’t have to be lengthy but just enough to capture enough attention.

If you are on twitter, search with appropriate hash tags. Suppose you are looking for jobs in NYC as accountant. Search for #NYCjobs, #Jobs, #NYCAcountants, #accountantjobs, etc. The recruiters are equally desperate to hire, no harm in sending replies to their tweets.

Make sure your email link works and it’s the one you check most frequently.

Know where to publish yourself

Everybody is doing Twitter , LinkedIn, Facebook or even MySpace. Do you have to be in all of them too? The answer is actually no, to me.

Rather, know where your potential employers are. Beginners would usually hang around LinkedIn, which, for me, is the best site to be if you’re looking for employment.

If I tell you to create a good profile in other social media sites, make sure you can have something here in LinkedIn. LinkedIn job search is a powerful tool and its gaining market share from traditional job sites constantly.

Be introduced

We have a couple of new employees who were simply introduced through social media websites. Those who referred them are the people we trust, so we were confident their friends and colleagues whom they’re trying to introduce are worth the belief and trust.

If you know someone who works in a company you’d like to get into, you can use social media to connect to him/her and communicate about your wish.

Please don’t pretend

No thanks to the Internet, it’s so easy to come up with a profile or even a persona that’s completely exaggerated or even false!

Don’t you do it—ever.

The consequences can be very grave. False resumes get people fired, wrong social network impressions also can get people fired.

These days, the openness of social network has made it easier to track your online actions. When you are searching for job, better keep a low profile on Facebook.

Let others know you are looking

Unless you state you are looking, probably no one from your connections or friend would know that you are seeking a new job.

There should be no harm and no taboo is asking for help. You’ll never know when and how unexpected help would come. As I told earlier, don’t burn the bridges, have rapport with your previous employer managers stay connected with them through social media.

Your friends and family can help you out with clues on new hiring going on somewhere.

Bring your good habits out

If you are an avid reader, list down some of the productivity, leadership, skill building books you read in your profile. If you are part of a chapter, don’t forget to mention that on your Linked In profile

Ensure that the things you are proud about yourself, appear up on your profile. If you blog about topics relevant to your job, make it prominently appear in your profile.

Join some professional groups, employers like your willingness to be in touch with your profession during off hours. Don’t forget to join your previous employer’s alumni group, this shows your respect and love for the past employers. A sign that says you are not dis loyal.

At the same time I would discourage you from sharing your personal, day-to-day life blog. You don’t want to let your future manager know about how unhappy you were last week because it was raining.

Announce your social media presence

Even if you land up in an interview through conventional route, there is no harm in including your Linked in or twitter profiles on your résumé. In-fact that may prompt your interviewer to check out your profiles.

If he/she finds good things there, your stage may get set well before you appear in front of them on the other side of the table.

If you are a writer and have a blog or a website of your own, don’t forget to include social media buttons. This sends a message to potential recruiters that you are savvy to the new age networking.

Some interesting stories about getting job through social media is here, do check them out.

Job seekers, Leverage social media to supplement your resume and skills. Show the world you are with the technology, not behind.

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Comments

  1. Paul @ The Frugal Toad says

    February 22, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    Timely post SB! I would venture to say if you don’t have an online presence an employer would look at that as a negative. Comments made with social media like twitter and facebook are out there forever so be careful what you tweet!

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 2:18 PM

      If you show your professional side on social media, it provide an excellent opportunity to sell ourselves to potential employers.

      Reply
  2. Daisy says

    February 22, 2012 at 9:29 AM

    It’s such a good idea to make yourself known on social media to get a job – employers are using social media more and more to seek out candidates, and also check on candidates that they may want to hire.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 2:19 PM

      Its a convenience, for the employer and for the seeker. Thats why it is now going viral.

      Reply
  3. Newlyweds on a Budget says

    February 22, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    I think linked in is great for helping people find a job. I’ve had 5 jobs in the past five years, and a few of them have all been due to networking. I plan on keeping my latest one though!

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 2:15 PM

      Thats too much job change Ericka!

      Reply
  4. Jai Catalano says

    February 22, 2012 at 11:31 AM

    My brother just got a job interview through linkedin. I get work all the time from FB. And if it were for social media my video wouldn’t have gone viral allowing for nice income.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 2:13 PM

      That shows the power of social media on your professional life. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
  5. MoneyCone says

    February 22, 2012 at 1:27 PM

    I’ve never used social media to find a job. Something to think about though! Interesting post SB.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 2:14 PM

      lately I have been seeing a lot of requests on Linkedin to introduce to others in my connection, so its catching up. Thanks MC

      Reply
  6. Julie @ Freedom 48 says

    February 22, 2012 at 9:03 PM

    I think the benefits of using social media are limitless – but I also get that “big brother” kind of feeling… like I’m being watched. It’s scary to think that any potential employer can hop online and know everything about you in a matter of a few short minutes, without ever having met you. Kinda creepy.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 22, 2012 at 10:33 PM

      I would say, play it to your advantage. show off and win the deal.

      Reply
  7. AverageJoe says

    February 22, 2012 at 11:36 PM

    I think in these tough times people ignore social media at their own peril. For a few minutes a day cost, why ignore it?

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 23, 2012 at 12:35 AM

      Absolutely 100% agree.

      Reply
  8. Brent Pittman says

    February 23, 2012 at 12:28 AM

    Social Media can help for sure. A recruiter will google your name when you are in the final selection process to make sure there are no red flags. Make sure those privacy settings on Facebook are correct!

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 23, 2012 at 12:36 AM

      Great point Brent!

      Reply
  9. [email protected] says

    February 23, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Very Informative SB! I specially like the idea of mentioning the latest profesional & relevant books that you have read.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 23, 2012 at 9:53 AM

      It does help a lot. My manager continuously mentions his connections reading such and such books.

      Reply
  10. eemusings says

    February 27, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    I understand that people in some traditional industries (law, perhaps, is the first to spring to mind) may not see any point to diving in – but at the very least, a basic LinkedIn profile is a start. If you’re not Google-able, you don’t exist.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 27, 2012 at 10:37 PM

      I liked that phrase, if you can’t be Googled, you don’t exist. I posted on personal FB account just now. Yeah even for a machine mechanic it may help to put a profile on LinkedIn.

      Reply

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