Are you looking for your first job, changing careers, or do you just want to set yourself up to succeed in the future? Social media websites have become important venues for building that all-important network of connections, show the world who you are and what you’re passionate about, and, quite possibly, enabling you to get the job you’ve always wanted. There are many examples of people obtaining various types of work through social networks.
Like it or not, in today’s world of job hunters, the old saying. “It’s not what you know that counts, it’s who you know,” is more true than ever. The good news is, thanks to social networks, the people you know, and the people you have access to, has expanded. What people can learn about you, has expanded too, and you now have the mechanisms you need to control it all. In the world today, some jobs aren’t posted in the traditional places, and the people you may want to attract, are the people spending time online. It’s no longer a world where Monster and HotJobs are the only place to go to find work.
Time Magazine recently published an article describing an individual who obtained a job in eleven days using a job search strategy based on the use of social media. With free tools, and the ability to have unlimited distribution, you can tell people who you are, what you do, what you have accomplished, and why a prospective employer needs you on their team. Do you have a blog or Facebook page? Do you have a profile up on LinkedIn? Do you Tweet? Do you provide reviews on Yelp? Is your video resume on YouTube? If not, why not. All these tools are available to you at little or no cost and employers everywhere are using them to look for you. Social networks have become a place where people go to learn more about you, what you’re interested in, what you do when you aren’t working, and who you are as a person.
Social media is just one of the tools in your tool box. Successful people have online and offline contacts. Be consistent. Don’t post anything on social media sites you don’t want a potential employer to see offline. Put links to your blog, YouTube resume, LinkedIn profile, and Facebook/Twitter page on your traditional, written resume. Be sure your “Brand” is consistent on every platform, and get your name out there. Your dream job is watching.
This post first appeared on Andrew Hudson's Jobs Blog, where I was privileged to publish a guest post.
