Social Media as a Job Search ToolMichele Martin, The Bamboo Project Inc.

@michelemmartin

I’m Michele

Our Agenda

Today’s Hiring Environment—Some Context

Key Points About Social Media

How Job Seekers Should Use Social Media

Google Tools for Organizing the Job Search

The Hiring Environment

*This does not reflectthose who have dropped out of the labor force altogether.

Promoting from Within

When there’s an opening, 42% of jobs are filled internally.

Less Pressure to Hire

Rise of Temp/Contract Workers

30-40% of workers are in “perma-temp” or freelance/contract work.

20% of job growth has been in temp workers

Multiple Hiring Sources

45% of external hires come from referrals and applications receivedthrough the company website.

Rapidly Evolving Requirements

Too Many Applicants

Recruitment Management Software

Implications for Job Seekers

Fewer jobs with more competition for those jobs

Changing nature of jobs—more “contingent” and PT workers, more rigorous and rapidly changing job requirements.

Greater difficulty getting noticed

Need to navigate confusing online systems and multiple social networks

Implications for Job Seekers with Disabilities

Focus on expanding social networks—who you know is critically important!

Communicate value as an employee, not as a person with a disability.

Self-advocacy

Staff focus on coaching people in goal-setting and implementing job search plan

Key Points About Social Media

No Magic Bullet

Complement, not Replacement

Not Just for “Professionals”

Need a Plan

Find Information

•Job leads

•Company info

•Industry/occupational info

Build/Maintain Connections

And make existing networks “visible.”

Communicate Value

A Job Search Plan, Optimized with Social Media

Basic Questions

What is my geographic radius?

Who, within that radius, hires people like me?

Which of these organizations would I want to work for?

Who do I know who is connected to those companies?

Who do I need to know who is connected to those companies?

How can I connect to the right people and to current AND future openings?

Job Search Goals

Focus efforts on target companies and getting to the people within those target companies that can help me get noticed.

Demonstrate to target companies and people that I’m the best fit for their organizational needs, culture and values.

Expand “weak ties” for job leads

Nurture “strong ties” for more help

Step-by-Step Job Search Plan

Identify target companies

Research target companies

Network into target companies and leverage/build relationships with key people

Look for both posted and unadvertised opportunities

Demonstrate value to target companies (not based on disability!)

Keep it all organized!

Identifying & Researching Companies

Why Research?

Who will hire you?

Where do you want to work?

Who’s in your network and how might they help?

Customized job search tools

Interview prep

Culture match

Tools/Tasks

Google Maps Identify potential companies in geographic area

LinkedIn Research/follow companies & find connections

Google Alerts—ongoing info about people, companies, “breaking news”

Google Maps Keyword Search

maps.google.com

LinkedIn Company Keyword Search

LinkedIn Company Profiles

Company Insights

http://www.google.com/alerts

Keywords

Names of companies

Names of key people in organization

Industries

Key skills/certifications

Industry trends

Other Options

Company Career websites

Twitter—Find/follow company and hiring managers

Facebook Fan Pages

Summary

Make a list of companies that will hire you and that are in geographic area.

Compile research on the company

Follow on LinkedIn/Use Google Alerts to keep expanding on information/research

Networking to Your New Job

Two Main Goals

Expand current network—the more people you know, the more opportunities you are aware of.

Nurture and build relationships in existing network—the closer your connection, the more likely they are to go out of their way to help.

LinkedIn Is Your Best Friend

Focused on professional, not personal

Shows how your network is connected into companies

Helps you identify people you want/need to connect to within companies

Contact management that helps you build professional relationships

1. Sign Up for an Account

2. Create Your Profile

Start Connecting

Connect through email contacts

Regularly review “People You May Know” on LinkedIn Home Page.

Review contacts of new connections—who might you connect with?

When you meet people in person, follow-up with a LinkedIn connection

Say “yes” more than “no.”

Building Your Network Join and participate in Groups—great way to get

to people for connections!

Be a good “neighbor”--update your status, share articles, make referrals, give advice.

Ask for introductions from your 1st level contacts to get to 2nd and 3rd level connections.

For 3rd level connections, join groups they belong to and interact via the group

Interact!

Update status with professional info/announcements

Review newsfeed and comment/respond to activity.

Share links to online resources that are useful to your network/profession.

Provide unsolicited recommendations for colleagues and others

LinkedIn Contacts Management

LinkedIn Home Page

LinkedIn Company Search

Working a Job Opening

Networking to a Specific Company

Search for Company

On Company Page “How You’re Connected”

Click “See All”

1st level connections are direct

2nd level—view “Shared Connections” then ask for an introduction from your 1st level connection to your target contact

Other Ideas

View the profile of your target connection for specific information to include in a “request to connect”

Look for Groups they belong to that you can join.

When selecting potential networking contacts, focus on relevant job title and/or number of connections.

Status updates Work you want Companies you want to connect

with

Fan Company Pages/Interact

Social Media and Personal Branding

Elements of the Brand

Personal Appearance

Competencies

Personality & Attitude

“Differentiators”

Personal Parameters

The “Big 4”

Can I Count On You?

Are You Qualified?

Will You Fit In?

Will You Stand Out?

How to Communicate Your Brand

Portfolio

Networking

Resumes/Cover Letters

Interviewing

Online

LinkedIn Profile

Complete the entire profile!

Upload a professional photo

Have a great headline and summary

Highlight accomplishments, not responsibilities

Set Profile to “Public”

Link to other online tools (Twitter, Slideshare, etc.)

LinkedIn Skills

LinkedIn Recommendations

Requesting a Recommendation

Select carefully

Send personalized request

Provide some guidance on what they should highlight for your job search

Try GIVING one first!

1. Clean up “digital dirt”

2. Project positive image

Facebook Posting

Remove all photos that are not “professional”

Untag yourself in photos that are unprofessional.

Review timeline and delete posts/comments that reflect poorly in job search

Review Fan Pages you’ve “liked” and “unlike” inappropriate pages

Review apps/games

Facebook Privacy

You have to choose privacy

If you need to go on “Lock Down” Settings at “Friends” or “Only Me” (through “custom” in settings

page) for posting Limit audiences for past posts Disable public search Disable searches by email address

Positive Strategies

Use status updates to connect, let people know about job search, comment on professional issues.

Revise profile to emphasize professional/ educational accomplishments

Share links/resources

Choose friends wisely

Join and get active in groups and on Fan Pages that are connected to your profession and/or to companies that interest you

Wiki Portfolio

Wikispaces.com

Can upload documents and images

Can embed PowerPoint, video

Use to share: Introductory video Work samples Certificates Recommendations

Finding Job Leads

Tips for Job Boards

Don’t spend a lot of time on boards—LEAST effective form of job search

Use boards for research

Search locally

Search specifically

Use “niche” boards where possible

Apply through company website

LinkedIn Jobs

Jobs in Groups

Finding Leads on Facebook

Company Fan Pages

Job Board Pages

Facebook Applications

Networking with friends

BEWARE—You’re mixing personal/professional on Facebook!

Twitjobsearch.com

Tweetmyjobs.com

#hashtags

Organizing the Job Search

Some Tools

Gmail

Google Drive

Google Calendar

Why Gmail?

“Preferred” account by employers

Gateway to other Google products

Labels for organizing

Filters to automatically route emails

Excellent search

Integrated with Video, Chat, Calendar and Tasks

Gmail Tasks

Shift + T automatically adds open email to task list

Google Drive

Upload or create Word, PPT, Excel documents, including forms.

Store online—accessible anytime, anywhere

Private or shared with others

Online editing, commenting

Commenting

Sharing

Editing

FORMS

Templates

Calendar

Find a Time

Note—Calendars must be shared.

Other Features

Share calendars with others

Invite people to add item to their calendars

Have reminders sent to cell phone

Set to automatically email daily agenda each morning

Embed calendars in other websites

Can enable attachments to events

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