How to Use Social Media to Get a Job

HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET A JOB Nicki Hicks

DISCLAIMER
Social media will help with your job search
Don’t replace it with traditional tactics
Monster, Jobs in ME
Craigslist
Networking
Tried and true methods
Emailing employers (before and after interviews)
Thank you letter

SOCIAL MEDIA IS…
… well, why don’t you tell me what you think it is first?

OK, OK. SOCIAL MEDIA IS…
The same as “social networking”
A virtual water cooler
An online conversation
“ Talking at” v. “talking with”

HOW WILL SOCIAL MEDIA HELP YOU?
Brand yourself
Network and build online relationships
Acquire the skills to brand your future company

REMEMBER…
It’s not what you know,
but who you know.

SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE “NEW AGE JOB HUNTER”
General pointers
“ Big Three”
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
RSS feeds
YouTube

GENERAL SOCIAL MEDIA POINTERS: SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW
Think before you post…or tweet…or put anything out there.
Ask yourself:
What would my parents think?
What would my advisor think?
What would my future boss think?

FACEBOOK: STEP 1 CLEAN UP THOSE PROFILES!
Pictures
Videos
Wall
Pages/Groups
Apps, Games, etc.

EMPLOYERS DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS

FACEBOOK: STEP 2
Spice up your Info
Who are you?
What are you looking for?
Start joining conversations

FACEBOOK: FIND A JOB
Make it apparent you’re on the job search (within your info)
Look for Job Hunting pages, like:
Jobs in ME ( http://www.facebook.com/JobsInME )
… and become a fan
Fan companies you’re interested in applying for/have applied for. Engage with them.

LINKEDIN
The most professional social media platform
The “virtual resume”

LET’S CHECK IT OUT…
www.linkedin.com

LINKEDIN: GETTING STARTED
Fill out your profile as completely as possible
Make connections
Add Applications to your Profile
Twitter
Blog
Slideshare, etc.
Answer (or ask) questions
Join groups

LINKEDIN: FIND A JOB
Have a finished and professional looking profile
Acquire as many recommendations as you can
Join the right groups (Job posting groups, etc.)
Answer (or ask) questions
Engage and connect with your network – especially those at a potential employment opportunity

USING LINKEDIN REALLY WORKS?
Breanne Cooley landed a job by leveraging LinkedIn
Reconsidered LinkedIn Group strategy
Reached out proactively to network
Looked beyond surface of people’s profiles to find common interests
Included LinkedIn URL as permanent part of email signature
Stepped outside of social networking comfort zone and stuck her neck out!
Here’s her full story

WHAT IS TWITTER?
Micro-blogging
140 characters to say something
Answer: “What are you doing?” or…
What are you reading?
What are you thinking about?
What do you want to know? etc...
Rule #1: Always add value

LET’S CHECK IT OUT…
www.twitter.com

TWITTER 101
@nickihicks = reply
RT = ReTweet (e.g. RT @nickihicks: I’m teaching a business seminar class at SJC how to use Twitter.)
Direct message = private message
# = hashtag
#followfriday
#heavymetalfriday

TWITTER: FIND A JOB FOLLOWING THE RIGHT “TWEEPS”
Follow job search accounts
Search on Twitter search ( www.search.twitter.com )
Twellow.com – The Twitter Yellow Pages
Wefollow.com
Nearbytweets.com – Local Tweeps

USING TWITTER REALLY WORKS?
David Gallant used Twitter to find his current job by:
Saw a job post on Twitter
Emailed resume to the employer
Included links to both his Twitter account and blog, adding depth to his resume
Here’s his full story

TIPS FOR THE “BIG 3”
Choose your picture (AKA avatar) wisely
Don’t make it all about you (all the time)
Be yourself
Engage people
Social media is a conversation!
Ask questions
Provide resources
Always add value
Or…give before you get

RSS FEEDS
A lot of your favorite job search sites will have RSS feeds and email updates.
Why go to them everyday?
Set it up so they update you!

YOUTUBE…COULD IT SET YOU APART FROM THE COMPETITION?
Employers may not necessarily be looking on YouTube just yet, BUT…
What if they Google your name? Your video will come up.
What if you include the video in your email to a potential employer? If that doesn’t add depth to your resume, I don’t know what does!

CREATE A VIDEO RESUME
Example video resume

BASIC INTERVIEW RULES APPLY
Wear business attire
Don’t speak too fast
Look at the camera, not your script

TIPS FOR VIDEO SUCCESS
Keep it short and sweet (under 2 minutes)
Answer the questions
What makes you different?
Why should I hire you?
Be yourself!

TECHNICAL VIDEO TIPS
Create a title with keywords specific to your resume (“Video Resume for Nicki Hicks – New Graduate with Marketing Degree”)
Create a detailed description that includes main points from your resume
Attach a PDF or doc version of your resume

THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS WITH
Create your own brand
Show potential employers you can operate in a Web 2.0 world
Improve your writing style and creativity

NOW WHAT?
Join Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter if you’re not already there.
Fan, follow, and join the right groups/people.
Start joining the conversation! Engage with those groups/people.
Cross promote
Link between profiles
Include your LinkedIn account, Twitter handle, and even YouTube video resume in your email signature

NOW WHAT?
Step out of your comfort zone
Cross promote in real life by networking
Add depth to and differentiate your resume with social media

THANK YOU!
flyte new media
http://flyte.biz
www.maine-seo.com
Social
www.facebook.com/nickihicks
www.linkedin.com/in/nickihicks
www.twitter.com/nickihicks
Email
[email_address]

How to Use Social Media to Get a Job

by Nicki Hicks on Apr 15, 2010

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How to Use Social Media to Get a Job — Presentation Transcript

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