Embracing Social Media as a Job Search Tool
June 17, 2009 by Deb Ng
Filed under Writing Gigs
The other day I announced on Twitter that I was returning back to freelancing and consulting. Within a couple of hours I had three clients signed on, one who represented multiple clients and needed me to create a heavier web presence for each.
That I landed three clients from Twitter wasn’t surprising for me, I’ve been singing the praises of using social media for job search for some time now. What surprises me is how so many people are reluctant to look beyond the usual job boards to find work.
Social Media is Not Evil
I enjoy the excuses, “I refuse to join THAT cult” one anti-Twitterer informed me. “I stay away from social networking as a matter of principal” said another.
Come again?
Everyone who has mentioned they refuse to or they’re reluctant to get involved in social media don’t always have a valid excuse for getting involved. Many don’t do it because it’s new and they don’t know a thing about the social networks. Others have difference fears, for instance, privacy issues. What they don’t always realize is that on most social networks, they can be as private as they wish. They don’t need to use their real names, location, or private details. It’s easier for someone to follow them home from the grocery store than to find information on an anonymous Twitterer.
Safety issues aside, there are also those who just don’t get the social networks or feel they’re a lot of noise. It’s hard to explain the appeal to folks who refuse to drink the Kool Aid, but the benefits of social media as a job search tool abound. There are places to build an online resume complete with references and recommendations, places that post jobs, and even places to help job hunters with their searches.
Linked In
Linked In is used by many professionals as an online resume. List your education, career history and have co-workers and colleagues post references. It’s even becoming acceptable for job hunters with a rocking LinkedIn profile to use that link in place of a resume.
Employers browse Linked In to learn more about applicants and there’s even a job board. The more folks you have on your network, the more people there are to recommend your services. I was hesitant to embrace LinkedIn but now I’m so glad I did.
I’ve discussed Twitter as a job search tool many times, but I can’t stop singing its praises. There are jobs posted on Twitter all the time, plus job seekers are tweeting their availability with positive results. Twitter may seem like a lot of noise to those who don’t get it. Those of us who do – hear it loud and clear.
Relationships Lead to Jobs
With social media it’s all about relationships. The person who you’re talking to about technology today can be a person who is looking to hire tomorrow. If you know your stuff, the people who follow you in the social networks will remember you. Yesterday I learned of a couple of developers who might be interested in helping with a project, today I received several recommendations for business card designers. Who is recommending you?
Social media can serve many purposes. Interested parties can make friends, network with like-minded people, learn the latest news, receive recommendations, learn about new products and, yes, even find work.
Are you still going to resist?
Related Reading:
Resistance is futile! Okay, I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. I guess the thing about Twitter is that I just don’t feel like I’m interesting enough to catch anyone’s attention there. It’s just hard for me to jump into a conversation with a group of strangers, even in the virtual world. So, I have an account, but I rarely use it. And when I do, I feel like I’m talking to myself.
I, too, have gotten freelance gigs on Twitter; any freelancer or consultant out there who doesn’t embrace social networking is effectively throwing money and job opportunities out the window! While there is a lot to be said for doing things the old-fashioned way (business cards, etc.), social networking is not going away and those who “don’t get it” are missing out. There is a TON of information out there on how to use Twitter for business!
@Alison – I’m soo with you about not being interesting enough. I have several accounts where I tweet for clients, and that’s going very well because I have something to say related to their issues. But when it comes to my own account, I don’t have a lot to say.