How does Social Media impact your employment chances? What is your Online Reputation (Brand You) communicating to others, especially potential employers? What can I do to improve my Online Reputation and increase my chances to be seen in a positive way on the web?

1. Levering Social Media To Your
Advantage
by Val Jelinic
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 1

2. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Quelques facts: Média Sociaux en Suisse*
460’000 utilisateurs suisses
10’000 entreprises suisses y ont un compte
3’900 d’entre elles ont moins de 10 employés
370’000 suisses, 40 millions de visites/mois
10’000 entreprises suisses y ont un compte
70’000 utilisateurs suisses
37’000 inscriptions dont 370 entreprises romandes
2,6 millions d’utilisateurs en Suisse - 62% ont plus de 25 ans
* "Le paysage digital suisse" par Alphazoom Sarl, August 2011
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 2

3. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Quelques facts: Média Sociaux en Suisse*
Pourquoi? Pour:
Recruiter
Prospecter
Réseauter
Promouvoir
Et pour développer son "capital sympathie"
* "Le paysage digital suisse" par Alphazoom Sarl, August 2011
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 3

4. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Employers Also Use Social Media *
of employers used
91% social media to
screen applicants
of these employers
rejected candidates
69% based on what
they saw
however
also 68% of these
hired candidates due to their
online information
* Lab42 study for Reppler , October 2011
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 4

5. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Where to begin? (The 4½ C’s)
1. Create your online presence
2. Choose which site(s) to be part of
3. Commit time to building & maintaining presence
4. Be Consistent (& thus Credible)
Tip: Think TV or Film trailer. A short, attention grabbing profile
that invites the reader to want to know more about you.
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 5

6. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Get involved and start sharing
o Discussion Groups
Industry, Technology, Sector, Region
o Forums
News, Hot Topics, Questions, Debate, Advice
o BLOGs
Ideas Exchange, Comments, Issues, Problems
o Dedicated Websites
Company, Experts, Special Interest, Associations
Tip: Be involved wherever your potential future Employer is
interacting and engaging with people.
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 6

7. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
It’s about Giving not Getting
1. Write recommendations on LinkedIn, Xing, Viadeo, Rezonance..
2. Offer to introduce your colleagues to your contacts
3. Get to know your connections
4. Take time to reach out to new connections
5. Respond to open requests for help
Tip: Your connections are more likely to return the favour
when you have already offered to help them first.
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 7

8. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Things to watch for
! Google your name: see what others are seeing
! Careful what you post: strong language, personal images?
! Connect selectively: how can we help each other?
! Employers use Google: inconsistent CV versions?
! Don’t Lie: qualifications, skills, experience
Tip: Take control of your online reputation,
it is almost impossible to undo a bad first
impression with somone you havent even met yet.
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 8

9. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Social Media Do’s and Don’ts
Do recommend colleagues, it also draws attention to your profile
Do be a facilitator, helper or connector for others
Do respect Netiquette when requesting to connect with people
Do respect the topic/thread of a discussion when sharing input
Do use focus groups to target your existing or desired industry
Do focus on "What I can do for you" not "What’s in it for me?"
Don’t send "blank" connect requests without an explanation
Don’t post anything online without careful consideration
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10. Levering Social Media To Your Advantage
Remember
"Many a small thing has been made large
by the right kind of advertising."
Mark Twain
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 10

11. Thank-you
www.about.me/ValJelinic
17.04.2012 www.about.me/ValJelinic 11