I’ve been asked to post on how to develop social media networks in the job search. My starting point is to forget about having separate strategies for each social media channel in isolation.
I consider all social media to be one channel, with each place serving a different purpose.
This is my model for what you can use each channel for, and the tone to take in each place.
1; Linked In – This is where you find targets through search, joining and posting in groups and asking questions. Home base and reference point at the start of the search.
2: Twitter – where the conversation starts. Organise your targets through tweetdeck and start replying, commenting, questioning, retweeting and engaging. Gets you on the radar.
3: Facebook – Fan the company and comment or question. Ask for help.
4: Invite to Friend on Facebook for closer conversation, instant messaging, commenting and looking for opportunity. (don’t be disappointed if this is declined.)
5: You Tube – For showing. Great material for sharing in all the channels and promotes your capability.
6: WordPress for telling and sharing. If you are ready to blog in order to showcase your skills and opinions.
This is my model of the stages of building social presence through the channels, to link you with the right targets in your job search.
This is a quick post as I need to finish editing the videos for #HRCarnival. There is still time to record an entry if you want to put yourself in the shop window, in front of many HR professionals and Recruiters. The link is at the end of the post.
It is also a bit of a soap box subject for me. Why do most job seekers not use Linked In as a social media channel where you can find, connect and engage with hiring managers and recruiters? It is such a waste of a great resource, where targeted connections are so easy to make.
Here are my top 10 tips for making Linked In social in your job search:
1: Join all 50 groups that you can. When you target a new connection, look at the groups they belong to and join them. Makes connecting far more likely.
2: Post in groups related to your job search. not just “I want a job.” Ask for advice, document your experiences and share your views. Comment on other posts and get noticed by members.
3; If you belong to group, check the profiles of the members and connect with them directly. Identify who could be useful in your search.
This is a good video from Linked In Groups Help Page that explains how to get the most out of Groups:
4: Make your profile different by adding video that introduces you and states what you are looking for. All you need to do is record on You Tube and use the Slideshare application to add it to your profile.
5: Add a presentation to your profile on what you can offer to an employer. Short and to the point but punchy enough to hit home. Ask people to share it via all their social channels.
6: Add your resume to your profile using the box.net application. You can also add copies of signed references for simple download. (You can use box.net and slide share in all your social places.)
7: Use the twitter application to find which of your linked In connections you are not following on twitter. Check this every week. Find targets on Linked In, follow them (50% will follow back), and look for opportunities to engage.
8: Set up an RSS feed for questions on subjects related to your targeted market. By answering questions and asking your own you will get noticed.
9: Use the “like” button to share posts from hiring companies you are targeting. This will bring you up on their radar as a fan.
10: Check industry events regularly. you can register as interested and offer to help with logistics and promotion given your status. Most will be willing to accommodate you. Check the other attendees and connect with them now you have something in common. You can do this in groups as well as in the comments section on the event page.
ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS LISTED IN THIS POST ARE FREE IN THE BASIC FORMAT!
That’s my top 10 tips. Please share how you get on, tomorrow I will be sharing a few twitter tips for job seeking and sharing more applications I use to network.
Welcome to the first post on Social Job Search. This blog is aimed at helping Job Seekers to navigate their way through using social media to help in you’re job search, as well as offering good old-fashioned job seeking advice. You can sign up to receive the daily post direct to you’re in box.
Where do you start?
Before you begin your campaign, and you should treat your job search as a campaign with a clear plan, you need to answer these 5 questions:
1: What do you want to do next?
2: What salary can you afford to take and live on?
3: Beyond getting a job, what are you really looking for in your next move?
4: What companies do you want to work for and in what locations?
5: Who are you already connected to in your network that could help you?
All sounds simple, but untill you can answer all of these questions, you’re not ready to start. Tomorrow I’m taking a closer look at Linked In. Let me know in the comments any specific posts you would like to see.
1; Linked In – This is where you find targets through search, joining and posting in groups and asking questions. Home base and reference point at the start of the search.
2: Twitter – where the conversation starts. Organise your targets through tweetdeck and start replying, commenting, questioning, retweeting and engaging. Gets you on the radar.
3: Facebook – Fan the company and comment or question. Ask for help.
5: You Tube – For showing. Great material for sharing in all the channels and promotes your capability.
