Employers and recruiters are relying more and more on social media to find valuable employees. In a survey of 600 employers, conducted by Jobvite.com in 2010, 73% of respondents stated they use social networks or social media to support their recruitment process.
Also, an additional 9% stated they plan on using social networks in the near future. Beef up your old strategy of relying on Internet job boards by incorporating a few social media platforms. Don’t be content with simply peppering companies with your resume and hoping for the best.
The majority of jobs are not posted on the Internet. Some studies report that 80% of jobs are found through networking. Employers typically use a list of employee referral candidates before taking the time to check out resumes submitted online.
Attract Jobs Opportunities With a Blog
Gain job opportunities through a powerful personal brand. How can you do this? By creating an informative, authoritative blog. Base the blog on your passions and expertise. Yes, it will require creativity, a lot of writing, and consistency. Often, high quality blogs lead to job offers or freelance assignments. WordPress.com is a popular blogging platform you can use.
Why is this huge professional network so popular with employers and recruiters? First of all, it’s free, and a large number of top professionals are members. Check out others’ personal profiles and make connections with relevant people.
Search for the companies that interest you; hopefully you’ll find employees with connections to people you know. You can ask your personal contacts to connect you. Paying a monthly fee allows you to email individuals you don’t share a common contact with. Often, people who have been laid off send an email to everyone in their group requesting assistance and contacts.
Fill out the entire profile and use important keywords to attract recruiters. Get at least one recommendation from a current boss, former employer, or friend to get a “1” next to the “thumbs up” graphic people see when searching for you. Connect with as many people as you can. Some members import all their email contacts. As an added bonus, you can search for job openings on LinkedIn.
Connect directly with employers and recruiters via Twitter. How can you do this? By performing Twitter searches, following recruiters on your account, and using the “@” sign to occasionally communicate with them. You need a complete profile to follow people on Twitter.
Provide a link to your blog or LinkedIn account so recruiters can gather information about you. Those with hundreds or thousands of Twitter followers sometimes get job opportunities by simply sending a tweet stating they got laid off and need a job.
A Twitter tool named Twellow allows you to search a person’s bio and the links they list. Perform a search for companies you’re interested in and you’ll probably find names of its employees that have a Twitter account.
Post a note on your Facebook page stating you’ve been laid off and the type of job you’re searching for. Notes typically stay on your friends’ screen longer than a status update; however, you may as well use both.
YouTube
Yes, some people actually create video resumes and upload them on YouTube. Keep it short and emphasize the value you bring to a particular type of job. Also describe your background using a story-like approach.
Strong networks often lead to employment opportunities. These days browsing job boards and sending out resumes is not enough. Using social networks is vital.
Len Dreifort is an expert on a number of different job topics, including careers in the graphic design field. He writes articles about these topics for Work Coach Cafe.
