how to use social media to get a job

HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA

TO GET A JOBNicki 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 1CLEAN 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 JOBFOLLOWING 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 hicks.nicki@gmail.com