Blog Post: Embrace social media in your job search

A friend recently came to me for advice on his job search.  We went over his resume, which had already seen multiple revisions, and we practiced for referral interviews. But the real advice I gave him was to use the tools at his fingertips to find companies that are hiring, find the right people to connect with and increase his visibility.
 
There is a lot of information out there right now about social media, what it is, how to use it and why you need to care about it. Just as a company would use social media tools to market their product or advertise their job openings, a job seeker can use these same tools to network with others and advertise their area(s) of expertise.

As a professional, you want to be on LinkedIn. It's easy to create a basic profile, but consider LinkedIn as your online resume. Connect with current or former co-workers, colleagues in your industry, alumni members, and business contacts. Ask for recommendations and ask connections for introductions to connections they have at companies you are interested in. Jason Alba wrote an easy guide to learning more about LinkedIn. Additionally, you can research companies on LinkedIn, find key individuals within those companies (if they are on LinkedIn), search the LinkedIn job board and join discussion groups. I like the groups because they offer a way to connect to others with similar interests and provide you with a forum for sharing your expertise. Monitor and participate in discussions on topics within your industry.
 
Twitter is another site that is growing by leaps and bounds. You can create a short profile on Twitter, and you have 140 characters to post. Why not ask your followers if they know of anyone hiring within your industry? Use the Twitter search to find and follow companies posting #jobs on the site, or sign up for www.TweetMyJobs.com and have jobs emailed to you daily. Follow others in your industry and they will most likely follow you back, increasing your network.
 
Facebook is another site that companies are now using to share information on jobs, promote their company culture, and build a network of "fans" to help spread the word to others. One of the more well known Facebook sites is Ernst and Young. Another example is Sanofi-aventis Careers. Don't forget to create your free google profile. Include links to your LinkedIn and other social media profiles.
 
My point is to embrace these social media tools - don't be afraid of them. If you aren't sure where to start, you can find information and tutorials online. Have a strategy before you start creating your profiles. If you plan to use these tools as part of your job search, make sure you keep it professional.
 
Best of luck in your career search! 
 
www.linkedin.com/gingerdodds
www.twitter.com/gingerdodds