From a recent segment, I did for Great Day Houston on using social media to find a job.
To start:
- Looking for a job is a full-time job, treat it as such. Plan to spend time on your efforts and be consistent with those efforts.
- Know what you want going in, a general idea is ok but some idea – what industry, what position, what location, what salary.
- Do your homework, Google that industry, position, location, salary as well as the person doing the interview and the competition.
- Google yourself and make sure nothing negative comes up. If so, spend some time cleaning up that link/post.
- Clean up your pages – posts, pictures, videos, anything inappropriate friends have tagged you in. Don’t rush, spend some time doing this. This could be the number one reason you don’t get that job.
Then and only then:
- LinkedIn: Your online resume and headhunter resource, many using this platform to fill positions
- LinkedIn: Professional picture
- LinkedIn: This is your resume. Make it look sharp and professional
- Twitter: More like an industry happy hour with co-workers and acquaintances, mingle, listen, meet, contribute
- Twitter: Position yourself as a leader/expert in your field.
- Twitter: Share interesting articles/blogs/information in your field.
- Twitter: Follow people in the industry/company you want to work for, ‘re-tweet’ them occasionally, develop a relationship
- Facebook: More like a friend or neighbor’s party or even a party at your house. You can be more personable and these should be the people you can ask for advice and help
- Facebook: Ask for what you need, what you are looking for.
- Facebook: Let friends/family know you are looking, be clear on what you are looking for, ask for introductions/contacts
- Facebook: Be very appreciative of any efforts on your behalf
Don’t:
- Misspell words and use bad grammar.
- Type in all caps.
- Use abbreviations like WTF and LOL
- Be negative.
- Be smarmy.
- Be mean or rude.
- Use foul language.
- Complain.
- Say it isn’t fair you don’t have a job.