2012 Job Market: 5 Tips for Using Social Media to Find a New Job
written by Todd Wilms, SAP (http://www.forbes.com)
The latest economic reports now describe the economy as “good, but not great.” We are seeing some slightly positive signs that the economy will improve, unemployment rates will drop, and that certain sectors (like small businesses) are hiring again. Still, competition for the 2012 job market will be fierce as we still see in the U.S. 9% unemployment rate, with many more being under-employed.
So, how do you set yourself apart and position yourself for a job in 2012? Social media, in combination with your current job-searching techniques, is the answer.
1: Manage Your “Digital Persona”
Your first step is to see yourself as others will see you. Most people see this as just your “online resume.” However, at some point in the process, your future employer is going to do a Google search on you. Your goal here is to maximize your presence online – to “represent you in the most positive light” wherever you can.
First, remove anything you can that you don’t want an employer to see – start with your popular social media sites like Facebook, and photo-sharing sites like Flickr or Tumblr. Change the privacy settings to private to help remove this content from the public eye. Those pictures of you at your family cookout – smoke in one hand, drink in the other – may be harmless family fun, but you never know when it will tip the scale for an employer.
Now improve the sites you can control, usually starting with LinkedIn. If you haven’t figured this out already, the best quote I have heard about LinkedIn is “it is facebook with a tie.” This is THE place for most employers to find you or research you later. In addition to the obvious resume-like aspects of your LinkedIn profile, ask for recommendations from current and former co-workers. Make sure what is included here is how you want to present yourself.
Next, start getting active. This is discussed further in the next section, but focus on joining LinkedIn groups or communities/blogs/sites that are in your area or discipline. Focus on those which have relevant conversations on your area of expertise. Start answering questions, posting or sharing idea, or promoting great content you see. Think a bit like a magazine publisher – pushing your (and other’s) great content into these groups. Remember, this leaves a digital footprint- much of which will be on your LinkedIn profile page. Employers are in these same communities and will see what you have to offer long before you face them in an interview.
2: Create Your Network
Pride, stigma of being out of work, embarrassment, or other concerns keep most people looking for a job in “stealth mode.” The best advice I have received was to realize that almost everyone has – at one time or another – had to really work at finding a new job. The vast majority is eager to help you, but in true Jerry Maguire fashion, you have to “help them, (to) help you.”
Use your groups and communities to search for former colleagues and connect with them – whether on LinkedIn or other social site or community. Find a few names or authors you want to follow (I am on LinkedIn, by the way) whose opinion you liked or you see as a good connection point for you.
Now that you have your network, start to leverage it. First, don’t just say “hi, looking for a job, let me know if you hear of anything.” You will get a lot of well-intentioned support, but little else. You need to take the reins here and do the following:
- Tell them your situation,
- Tell them what type of job you are looking for (including titles, locations or descriptive terms),
- Provide them a list of companies you would like to work for (this gives them a place to start steering you),
- Give them an indication that you would like to set up some time to discuss this with them.
You need actionable steps and you want these folks to start connecting you to other people to improve your network. True story: I knew one woman who was 9 people removed from her original contact to land her perfect job. That is tenacity!
3: Research Opportunities
Besides just checking the job boards and LinkedIn (which is a valuable not-to-be-skipped step), start looking for opportunities not disclosed yet. Follow your 5-6 ideal companies and read their updates on twitter, facebook, blogs, etc. What are they saying? Where are they expanding? What new deals have they won? Do those have a need for a fine professional like you? In generally, employees are looking for the best person that is the easiest to find. Make it easy for them. John Decker continues, “If someone can get to a manager with a problem before they start formally looking for candidates, and can do so with a good introduction, they have a much better chance of being hired. Be the only candidate, not one of hundreds.”
4: Prepare Yourself for the Interview
Great! You have landed that coveted interview. You need to research the heck out of the company and the people you will be interviewing with. Visit their LinkedIn profiles and see what they are reading, their backgrounds, their roles, etc. Guess what – they are doing the same thing about you. And, since you have worked on your digital persona, you know what they think of you. Be prepared to answer questions on the “pro” and “con” of you. Know how to respond no matter which “position” your interviewer takes.
5: Leverage Intel for Your Negotiations
Just because the economy is bad and you may just “need a job,” it doesn’t mean you need to be at the mercy of your future employer. Try sites like Glassdoor and (again) LinkedIn to see what these companies are offering for your type of job and what the average in the market is. Check your network to see if they have some perks you can ask for (extra vacation, additional training, conferences to attend, etc.) Most often, if you leverage this as “career development” you can find most employers willing to negotiate with you. Worst case, you know that you got the best deal you can, and now you can make the decisions with the benefit of full insight.
Next Steps
Find the few things you know you can do right now. Some of these may not apply to you. Pick your battles. But know that finding any job, let alone that “great job” is hard. The more you practice “socializing your job search,” the better you increase your odds over the next person.
Great blog written by Todd Wilms, SAP (http://www.forbes.com).
If you liked the skills listed above, check out the executive recruiters at BestLogic Staffing. Additionally if you need a new Resume or Cover Letter, visit AssembleMyResume.com.
Wish you the best in 2012 !
