Optimizing Your Job Search
Using Social Networking
Long gone are the days when people submitted their resume to a human resources department, were interviewed, and then hired. If you’re relying on simply submitting your printed resume, you’ve not only missed the boat…it ran you over!
The “boat” that you’ve missed is social networking. A recent survey by Jobvite reported that 80 percent of companies use or are planning to use social networking sites to find and attract candidates. Ninety-five percent of respondents use LinkedIn and 59 percent use Facebook to research candidates. An amazing 42 percent also use Twitter. A whopping 66 percent stated that they have hired candidates based partially on social networks.
The Jobvite survey also showed that it’s not entry-level positions that are being filled. Respondents hired 43 percent of their mid-level employees and 51 percent of senior-level employees due at least in part to social networking.
We’ve talked with many recruiters who say that before they even bring someone in for an interview, they look at their LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter pages. They also said that they have often eliminated someone from the interview process based on this review.
Clearly, it’s important for job seekers to have an online presence—and have it be as professional as possible. Many people already use LinkedIn. However, are they using it to its fullest potential? LinkedIn has a status bar that indicates when all the fields have been completed. However, it’s only looking for actual completion—not the quality of what is there. The beauty of LinkedIn is that is takes your resume and expands it. While it’s still best to have a two page printed resume, you can dramatically expand this information on LinkedIn. One of the best resources to walk you through the process of using LinkedIn to its fullest potential is the book “Rock the World with Your Online Presence” by Mike O’Neil.
With more than 350 million active users, Facebook is clearly the big dog on the block as far as social networking goes. Facebook is no longer just a site for people to share vacation photos, inspirational quotes and what they’re watching on TV. If you’re looking for a job, you should be using Facebook to find people who help you with your job search. There are also numerous groups and Fan pages that are great sources of information. More importantly, there are many pages now dedicated to job seekers.
The key to using Facebook during your job search is to keep your posts professional. Don’t eliminate yourself from a position because you post tasteless jokes, use bad grammar or have pictures of you getting drunk every weekend! Even if you have your security settings set so only your “friends” see your posts, keep in mind that your friends should be one of your sources for referrals and recommendations. Don’t give them a reason to doubt you.
It’s perfectly acceptable to still have “fun” posts on your Facebook page during the time you’re looking for a job. Employers like knowing they are looking at well-rounded candidates. Just keep in mind that you never know who might see what is being posted.
The same holds true for Twitter. It’s a great resource for job postings, researching potential employers and finding people who can help in your job search. But, keep it professional at all times.
What’s critical in this process is that once you start using social networking, you keep using it. Keep it current with at least several posts a week…daily if possible. You don’t have to spend hours every day in front of your computer, but you want potential employers know that when you start a project, you continue it— and let’s face it, searching for a job is a project! We’ve all seen examples of someone who has a LinkedIn page, but hasn’t updated it in years. If you aren’t using the sites on a consistent basis, you should delete your accounts.
Finally, it’s a good thing for everyone to remember that even if they aren’t currently looking for a new job, social networking is a great way for a new job to find you! The Jobvite survey found that 77 percent of the respondents use social networks to reach candidates who are not actively seeking employment.
Confused about how to create your online presence? We’ll be happy to help, including providing private training if that’s what you require. Contact us for more information.
