job seeker

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 3

To continue my series on effectively using social media in your job hunt, I’m going to dive into Pinterest and Twitter this week. Is your brain on overload trying to process all the information? Need a quick refresher course? Catch up on our tips for LinkedIn and Facebook now!

Pinterest and Twitter are not the most common social job hunting tools compared to LinkedIn and Facebook, but they are another way to get your name out and show off your social skills! Let’s dive in:

Pinterest. Bored of pinning travel destinations, recipes and DIY projects? Neither am I! However, you can add another dimension to your Pinterest profile: Welcome to your professional Pinterest. Depending on your area of expertise or field of interest, you can use Pinterest as more than a home improvement and décor site.

Dress for success. Designer brands and trends are littered across Pinterest, for both women AND men. Yes, that summer sundress is cute but the office appropriate, trendy skirt and blouse are also worth pinning. Create a board for interview and office attire, but be realistic about what you are pinning; only pin outfits or styles you would realistically wear.

Pinterest Best Dressed Woman

Pinterest Best Dressed Man

Pin your experience and interests. Before you create your own resume board, browse other similar boards to see what other people are doing and what stands out to you. Once you complete your research and have some of your own ideas, begin pinning your professional skills. Experienced in ERP? BioPharm? Engineering? Did you know companies within each of these industries are on Pinterest? Pin interesting articles and pins from these companies and associated boards that fit your skill set and show off your interests. 

If you choose to pin your resume*, create an eye catching description. You can create a pin by scrolling over the plus sign in the upper right corner and choosing Upload a pin. This allows you to upload a file from your computer and create pin. Before you upload your resume and create a pin, make sure your resume is up-to-date and has been proofed with both spelling and grammar double checked. 

Pinterest Add Pin

*If you choose to pin your actual resume: Pin your resume at your own risk. If you do upload your resume, remove your personal contact information and create an email address specifically for your online resume; include that email as the form of contact for interested parties. Do not list the companies you have worked for, instead identify each company by the industry they are in: for Fidelis Companies, I would instead say Specialized Recruiting and Consulting Firm.

Follow job search boards. There are thousands of job search and resume tips on Pinterest. Most are in the form of creative infographics, others link to blogs just like this that walk readers through writing the perfect resume. Search for keywords like “Resume Tips,” “Job Search,” “Interview,” etc. and variations of each of those terms and follow the boards and/or users. Don’t limit yourself to the most common phrases or you’re likely to miss out of some of the best tips!

Pinterest Job Search

Pinterest Interview

For additional tips on using Pinterest in your job hunt and tips on protecting your work and dealing with spammers, read 10 Tips: Use Pinterest to Get a Job.

Follow company boards. If a company you are interested in has a Pinterest account, follow their boards. Not only will this give you an insight to the company atmosphere, some companies post their position openings on their Pinterest profile!

Twitter is one of my personal favorite social media sites, but can you use it during your job search? Absolutely and here’s how:

Twitter. As a 140 character micro-blogging site, Twitter forces users to get to the point quickly and isn’t that what potential employers are looking for today? No fluff, just facts about your experience and abilities? With hashtags (#) and handles (@) Twitter gives users the opportunity to be as creative as possible in as few characters as possible.

Your Twitter @handle. If you’ve ever scrolled through Twitter, you’ve probably noticed some…let’s say strange user handles. Unique and individual is great, but when using Twitter as a professional or for your job search, you want to choose something that is easily identifiable and, for lack of a better phrase, grown up. Most people use their name, in some variation depending on availability, so they are easily recognizable and searchable across other social media platforms.

Twitter Bio. With an additional 20 characters in the bio area, you have 160 characters to showcase who you are. During a job search, you can use this area to your advantage and highlight your top skills and abilities. Hashtags are active in this field, so if you are looking for a position in public relations, you can hashtag key phrases used in the industry when listing your skills, i.e. “Interested in #PublicRelations. Experienced working in #crisismanagement.”

The infamous #. By adding a hashtag – or pound/number symbol for those not familiar with Twitter lingo – before a word or phrase without spaces, that word or phrase is now searchable throughout all of Twitter. Therefore, by using the example above in reference to creating your bio, you can click on #PublicRelations and view other tweets that have the same phrase hashtagged or mentioned. Interested in tips, advice and tweets of other users looking for a job on Twitter? Click on #Discover on the top bar of your Twitter profile and type in #JobSearch or #jobs. Same for Twitter, the more generic you are in your Discover search, the more results you will find.

Twitter Hashtag

 

 

Follow, Follow, Follow. Figure out who the top influencers are in your areas of interest and begin following them. Interested in certain companies and want to stay connected to their tweets and industry news? Follow the company accounts and company employees. If a company has employees that tweet about the company and day-to-day happenings, this is a great way to gain insight about the company atmosphere before ever stepping foot inside.

Create content. Once you’ve started following industry leaders and companies you are interested in, retweet content they post that interests you; this can be something as simple as a quote or an article the user shared. By adding a personal touch to the retweet, i.e. a comment in front of the retweet (RT), you show your followers and the original user you didn’t just robotically retweet their thought, article, blog, etc., you took time to add your personal thumbs up of the tweet.

Twitter Retweet

 

For tips on retweet etiquette, view this article.

Once you gain your footing with Twitter, it’s time to start sending out your own tweets. Simply sharing other user’s tweets won’t cut it forever. Kick start the job search process by carefully crafting 140 character snapshots of your resume, enhanced but not overloaded with relevant hashtags, and get to tweeting!

Since you’ve already researched your areas of interest, the Discover section and followed companies and industry influencers, you are well equipped for the Twitter job search.

Professionalism applies when using both Pinterest and Twitter. When commenting, pinning and tweeting, be aware of every word you type; once it’s out in cyberspace, there’s no coming back. Imagine your social profiles as your first impression. Before you’re ever invited into a company for an interview, you can bet the interviewer has run an online search of your name, and any social profile you have can pull up in that search.

What do you want that company to know about you before ever shaking your hand?

Stay tuned next week for my final installment, where I’ll be talking about how Google+ can enhance your search!

 

Casidy Lemons

Casidy_DBJ Event

 

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 2

Last week I wrote about effectively using LinkedIn to find a job. Compared to other popular social media platforms, LinkedIn is viewed differently by those who actively use the site to find job applicants and professionally network. LinkedIn is viewed, out of all the social media platforms, as THE professional networking site. However, it is not the only tool available for job seekers. To view my tips on using LinkedIn for your job search, click here

This week I’m looking at Facebook and how you can leverage your friends and their personal and professional connections to help jump start your job search.

Facebook. Have you ever heard of Dunbar’s Number? Neither had I until recently. Dunbar’s Number is a theory that says a person can realistically only deal with a limited number of friends, connections, followers, etc. due to cognitive limitations. From this theory, the recommended connection count on any social network is 150. However, I’m sure we all know several of our own Facebook friends who have over 500 or 1,000 friends. Do they actually know each of their “friends” or do they simply friend anyone they meet? The answer to that question could actually help you with your job search.

Leverage your friends. No matter your personal friend count, you can ask your friends for help during your job search. If you’re the type of person who keeps your profile private and only accepts friend requests from people you know and stay in contact with regularly, your small network could work in your favor. These people interact with you and know you personally; therefore, they want you to succeed and are the most likely to help with your search.

Most Facebook users fill in their work history on their About section. Take an afternoon and “Facebook stalk” the About section of your friends’ profiles for their work history. See a company you are interested in? Message that friend and start a conversation about the company and their experience. Is it a good company to work for? Did they like working there?

Facebook Message

Once you receive a response and a two-way conversation is established, move on to more direct questions: Did they leave on good terms? Are they still in touch with former coworkers? Don’t ask for the inside connection or who they know in the initial message; you might not know their personal experience with the company. You also don’t want to seem like “that” person, you know the type, the “friend who wants a favor to get your foot in the door” type. When requesting information or a friendly favor, give something in return, i.e. the story of why you are looking and what interests you about this company.

Give them a reason to share and they could in return give you more information than you imagined.

Did you know, each time one of your friends’ comments or likes a post, it shows in their Timeline for all of their friends to see. Remember those friends with 500+ “friends”? This is a great way to engage more than your inner circle. Encourage your friends to share your post with their network and expand your possibilities!

Use Timeline to your advantage. Facebook has a habit of changing the site design more frequently than most users prefer. Timeline, for example, came with a lot of pros and cons when it was released. A big pro is using it to get your job search request out in the Facebook world. Posting a status update will broadcast your post to all of your friends, so when they login and scroll through their timeline, there’s your request asking for help in your job search.

Want to make it even more eye catching? Images are said to be the most interactive and engaging posts on Facebook. Add a quirky image to get their attention!

Facebook Status Update

And don’t be afraid to actually ASK for help. More people will comment and interact with a post when there is a “call to action.” And calls to action aren’t just for business and brands; you want your friends’ feedback so just ask. Once they comment or like your post, it becomes visible to their network, which could expand your reach even further.

A con of Timeline is you’re newsfeed refreshes so frequently, your post could not be seen by your friends. Be cognoscente of what your friends are doing when you post your request. Are they working and can’t view Facebook at the office? Be aware and make sure your post gets the most exposure possible.

Manage your privacy. Friends with your boss or coworkers on Facebook? Announcing you are looking for a new job wouldn’t be very smart, would it? There seems be constant controversy over Facebook’s privacy controls, but they’ve recently made it easy to manage each post’s individual privacy. To the left of the Post button on status updates, photos and check-ins, you have the option for which friends can see certain content.

These settings can be set universally for your profile under Settings: Privacy, but looking for a job is a different post from “I just ate at this great new restaurant!” Make sure your settings are configured accordingly.

Facebook Privacy

Want to take it a step further? Choose Custom and target specific people that you either want to or do not want to see the post(s) you are sharing.

Facebook Custom Privacy

Follow companies that interest you. Most companies, today, have a Facebook fan page, but not every company posts job openings on their Facebook site. Because there is a stigma that Facebook is not LinkedIn, there is a fine line for companies when it comes to posting interesting content or becoming  a job board. They want to reach as many customers as possible, without offending fans with “spam” content such as job posts. If there is a company you are interested in but they don’t have a way to view job openings on Facebook, post on their wall asking for more information about their process or where you can find more information. 

Facebook Careers

If a company has a Facebook page, most likely there is someone in charge of monitoring the page and should respond to or acknowledge your post. They may only be able to direct you to their website, but in that case there are still other outlets for finding an inside connection. (See last week’s LinkedIn blog.)

Depending on the company size, most will have contact information listed in their About section, so be sure to scan through that page. It may only be a phone number to their company operator, but sometimes they can be your best friend and help guide you to the appropriate department or point of contact.

Facebook About

Facebook is viewed as a no-no by most people when it comes to the job search process, but if you use it right, it could be your biggest asset. Facebook is built off of personal connections and interactions. People tend to be more honest and open to discussing real world experiences about companies and the ups, downs and how to’s of job hunting. Companies try to connect with their fans by posting relevant and interesting topics, so you could learn a lot about a company by how they handle their social presence.

Befriending your boss in your online world isn’t for everyone. Beware of your Facebook profile and how it can not only help you in the job hunt, it could just as easily destroy you. Employers are looking at social profiles of new applicants more and more, so is your profile something to be ashamed of?

Stay tuned next week for Part 3. I’ll be talking about how Twitter and Pinterest can help with the search!

Casidy Lemons

Casidy_DBJ Event 

Finding A Job in the Social Jungle: Part 1

Finding a job with social media can be a daunting task for those not of the millennial generation. While more and more people, of all age ranges, have embraced social media as a social outlet to connect with friends and family, but using these same networks to find a job is an uneasy subject. Maybe you think employers aren’t hiring candidates they discover from social networks?

Wrong.

Companies are turning to social media not only to connect with customers, but to interact with potential new employees. There are hundreds of articles online sharing stats ranging from various user demographics to the most popular topics or brands people view/share/tweet/pin/+1/like, but what most people aren’t aware of is how to successfully present your social profiles to a potential employer.

Over the next several weeks I’ll be doing a four part blog, walking you through the top social media sites and how to use them to their fullest potential to land your dream job.

The question is though, with the US unemployment rate at 7.7%, where do you start?

LinkedIn. At the end of 2012, LinkedIn had over 200 million registered users, 160 million of those were active users on the 10 year old professional social media network. LinkedIn should be the first stop for any person looking to make a career change or join the workforce out of college. And with their recent site updates, it is easier than ever to boost your online profile (resume). With the addition of Endorsements, Projects, Publications, Patents, etc., it is easier than ever to present your entire virtual resume to potential new employers.

Be professional. First and foremost LinkedIn is a professional network. It’s not Facebook, so keep your beach profile picture on your Facebook page. People with profile images are more likely to be given a second look, so keep this in mind when deciding which photo to choose. A clean face shot, from the shoulders up is best. If you’ve been to a conference or work event recently and had pictures taken, choose the clearest picture and crop everyone else out. This profile is all about you, and first impressions are everything.

Utilize the company search bar. Know of companies where you are interested in applying? Search for them on LinkedIn. If they have a company page (which most companies do) you can research more about the company, view their connected employees and read reviews posted by other LinkedIn users. Have a common connection with a hiring manager or someone working in the area where you are interested? Request an introduction from your shared connection.

Utilize your connections. With the new Insights feature, you can see everything you have in common with a connection or other LinkedIn user, such as groups or connections, skills & expertise or previous work experience. For example, below is an image of my Insight graphic with a fellow employee:

LinkedIn Insights

Another way to easily find employees at potential companies is by simply looking through your own connections. And if a user doesn’t have their connections blocked, you can view the “People Also Viewed” section to find potential new connections.

LinkedIn People Who Viewed

Don’t harass potential new connections. If you request an introduction from a shared connection, wait and see if the company employee chooses to connect with you. If after a week or two you don’t receive a connection request, send one yourself with a quick note introducing yourself; mention your shared connection and why you are requesting to connect with them.

After you hit send, don’t ask for another request with them. If you have that option at all, it is because they denied your connection request and asking them again could only ruin your chances with that connection and not make a very good impression.

Instead, continue networking through other company employees. If you don’t have a shared connection with someone to request an introduction, but feel they would be a great way into the company or someone you should be connected with, send your own request introducing yourself and a brief note with why you are interested in connecting with them.

Once you are connected with someone in the company, begin a dialogue with them about the company. You can send messages (not paid InMails) with anyone you are connected with, so take advantage of this feature. However, don’t harass them this way either. You want to put your name in the back of their mind, but not in the “This person is crazy” way.

Join groups and be an active member. Groups are another way to see potential connections. Depending on what the company does, they may have groups they own, in which case you can join to network with other users, learn more about the company and participate in discussions.

Outside of potential employer-owned groups, make sure to join groups that are based on your field of interest and your alumni groups. At the moment, you can be a member of 50 groups on LinkedIn, so take advantage of this. If you are currently working and can’t view your group discussions during the day, you can choose to receive email updates about the most popular discussions on a daily or weekly basis. Take advantage of this and stay on top of group discussions and top influencers.

If you are actively participating in discussions, a potential employer’s employee could reach out to you instead of you doing the leg work.

Search for jobs directly. Another new feature is the “Jobs you may be interested in” section. On the new profile design, you can click on the Jobs tab across the top bar and search for jobs posted on LinkedIn. This can be done with a free account, which is great news to those not in the recruiting industry!

Searching for jobs can be as easy or as specific as you choose, by looking for specific job titles, using only keywords that may be listed in the description or with the advanced search, pinpointing a specific region, state or city. You can also narrow your search by industry or the number of days since the job was posted. You can do a variety of these searches and save the results so you can stay updated with the opening and easily view the company and not lose your search results.

LinkedIn Search for Jobs

Below the “search for jobs” search bar are “Jobs you may be interested in.” These are jobs LinkedIn thinks you may be a fit for based on the information you provide on your profile. This is a great place to get started if you’re not sure what keywords to use or what titles may be the most common for the position you are seeking. Search through the recommended job posts, get an understanding of the keywords and phrases companies are using when describing the position or required experience, and then begin your search.

LinkedIn Jobs you may be interested in


“Discover jobs in your network” is another new feature. This feature works similarly to requesting an introduction through a common connection; you can request to be referred to a position based on your connections and the company employees in your LinkedIn network. This feature may not be as personalized for your career path since it is utilizing your connections’ connections instead of your profile and experience like the “jobs you may be interested in” section. 

LinkedIn Discover jobs

Searching for a new job is tough; it’s a full time job in itself. There are numerous tools and sites available now to help job seekers, these are just a few.

Be on the lookout next week for Part 2 where I will dive into how to take Facebook from simply social to your job hunting tool!

Casidy Lemons

 Casidy_DBJ Event