1. Turning Connections into Jobs
Using LinkedIn and Twitter
By Tafia L. Allah Pringle
September 16 at 6:12 AM
Through his observations of both the employers and employees, effectiveness as a communicator,
and incredible knowledge base, Mike Bruni has professionally and personally impacted the lives of
thousands of top talent from all branches of the military and professionals throughout the metro DC
area. He is also one of the growing number of employers using LinkedIn and Twitter to recruit top
talent.
In a two part phone and e-mail interview, Bruni was asked about the impact of social media on HR,
steps college students should take to secure their first job, and his role as a Talent Acquisition
Director at SC3, an Alexandria, VA based leading provider of high-end mission support, consulting
and technology solutions to the federal government in defense, intelligence, and civil markets, and to
major corporations and nonprofit organizations.
Gone are the days when social media were most commonly used to read the latest celebrity gossip
and catch up with family and friends. Social media has a more important role for college students
seeking new ways to stand out in a crowded market of graduates.
As Director of Talent Acquisition for SC3, Bruni leads a very talented team of Talent Acquisition
Specialists. “Social Media actually changed the way we recruit. With the advent of platforms like
LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, it has allowed recruiting the ability to identify more talent much
more rapidly, and has allowed us the ability to connect and communicate with potential employees in

2. a way that we could not previously. It has also given us an ability to market recruitment and brand
our organizations to the talent pool that exists.”
“SC3 and many organizations, Tweet often and some recruiters do actively use Twitter as a
Sourcing Tool. Twitter is used as a way to build Talent Communities by recruiters. Students should
really research organizations they are interested in working with, and once they have identified these
organizations, it is wise to follow the organizations and connect with staffing representatives as well
as other employees in those organization. It’s always good to follow firms to receive press releases,
advertisements, job postings, etc. Make sure to personalize all LinkedIn invites, and follow as many
targeted employers on Twitter as possible.”
“A student can market their academic achievements and projects by building out online profiles and
marketing those. LinkedIn can be one of those tools. About.me is another platform. LinkedIn has
become the go to network for both professionals and hiring managers.”
College students are becoming aware of this and using it to network. Yet, many create a profile and
leave it blank. A job seeker’s profile represents their brand. Employers view social media to learn
more information about candidates. The key is having more college students use LinkedIn and
Twitter as a source for identifying opportunities.
In today’s aggressive job market, the quickest way for a college student to get an interview is
through a referral. But, what happens when you don’t know who to contact about your job search?
The answer! Tell everyone that you’re in the market! The next step is to use LinkedIn and Twitter to
network and gain a position.
Since LinkedIn is one of the most used platforms in social media as it relates to recruiting and hiring,
Bruni recommends students use the LinkedIn App to create a profile and monitor as well as
contribute to it regularly. “Most employers use LinkedIn as a form of recruitment. Students need to
make themselves known and visible on this platform. Also, take advantage of a firm’s talent
communities through their websites. It’s always good to be on a firm’s radar especially firms that a
student may be pursuing for employment.”
Bruni added that LinkedIn provides a number of benefits for a recruiter. “It is a platform to easily
locate and link talent as well as a platform to build business relationships. LinkedIn is also a very
good research tool. It always allows recruiters the ability to contribute to various talent communities.”
When asked about the importance of buzzwords, Bruni replied. “Buzzwords are typically the hot
skills that firms or organizations are looking for in a candidate. My best advice is that if you see a
proper noun in a job description and you possess this particular skill, it needs to be on your profile or
resume. Recruiters and Talent Acquisition Professionals are seeking out keywords through
technology as well as initial screening.”

3. “When applying for a job, demonstrate on your profile and in your resume that you meet the
qualifications. Remember, employers and human resource professionals give a resume 6 seconds.
Statistics has shown this to be true. It depends on the volume of hires. The larger the company, the
more intense the time crunch, Vetting of resumes takes more time. Therefore, time spent on
reviewing resumes is limited to 6 seconds. Articulate in the resume. Conduct great research about
the companies you are pursuing, and know the culture.”
Career fairs are a great way to be introduced to an employer, and apply for an open position. Bruni
recommends, “The 30 second pitch at a job fair should relay your interest and how it ties into
opportunities and careers with that particular company or firm. Firms prefer candidates that know
what they want, as well as how their education and experience align with the Firms requirements
and goals. Students really need to have a good idea of what they would like to do. They must
conduct a self-assessment. Decide what types of opportunities they would like to pursue as well as
research heavily organizations that offer these types opportunities. Students should really do their
due diligence on the firms that will be attending the job fairs, before attending.”
Important takeaways from this two-part phone and e-mail interview with Michael Bruni: Employers
want to see demonstrated training, and experience. Resumes are very important, and should be
concise. College students seeking jobs can take the opportunity to develop their skills on social
media and attract hiring managers. It’s fine to request a connection with employers on LinkedIn. But,
personalize each invitation. Prepare, prepare, and prepare your 30 second pitch before each career
fair. Finally, research organizations or firms before applying for a position.