4 Social Media Tips for Job Seekers

Debra Wheatman founder and president of Careers Done Write shared her social media tips at The Breakfast Club meeting on February 18. Social Media is here to stay and the successful job candidate has a well-crafted social media plan.

The competition for jobs is fierce with candidates viewing opportunities from all over the world. LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, the most common used channels for finding a position have made jobs accessible on a global scale.  Recruiters and hiring managers must weed through many more resumes making it harder for job seekers to stand out and stretching out the hiring process. Using social media is a way for job seekers to become known in a vast and multifaceted workforce.

1. Consider Creating a Digital Resume

A digital resume is similar to a mini-website that is all about you.  All your accomplishments are in one location making it easier for hiring managers to find you. Digital resumes tell recruiters and hiring managers who you are and what you bring to the company and job. Job seekers can and should also include volunteer activities. This information adds another dimension to your profile and may open up new opportunities to those in a position to hire.

2. Consider Authoring a Blog

The workforce is made up of young people who are using social media in their jobs. Publishing a blog related to your field or a field you would like to break into is a great way to present yourself as someone who is current and knowledgeable. You can connect your blog to your social media channels as a way to build traffic and reach new people.

3. Consider Posting Your Profile on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the place to be for job seekers. You must have a completely filled out profile with your photo. Don’t be shy if you are older or part of an ethnic group. The workplace is made up of all types of people and being diverse or a seasoned professional will work more often than not in your favor. LinkedIn is a great place to learn about companies and connect with the movers and shakers in your field.

One of the great tools on LinkedIn is joining groups. There are many groups on LinkedIn that have a wide range of interests. You can join up to 50 groups putting you in contact with hundreds or thousands of people depending on the group size. Some groups have open admission and other groups approve members. Once you are in a group you can network with the members even if you are not connected to them elsewhere.

4.  Consider using Twitter and Facebook

The sheer number of people on these sites makes it a great way to network. Many companies use Twitter to post jobs. Using Twellow.com to find contacts on Twitter is a great way to grow your followers. Facebook also has groups and many companies are listed there. Letting your Facebook friends know you are looking for a new opportunity in a particular field is a great way to have friends and associates help you look for your next position.

When using these channels it is important to remember to share responsibly. Before posting vacation photos or speaking about a particular topic think about how that will impact your job search.  While on Facebook you can untag yourself in photos or if you are uncomfortable with something ask the person who posted it to take it down.

Bonus Tips

Companies expect applicants to have a digital footprint and concern will be raised if you have nothing posted online. The important thing to remember is what you post online is near impossible to remove. Job seekers should refrain from posting photos or other content that would give them a negative image. For example pictures you took while having a girls night out should not be posted online.

It is also a good idea to share information. When you read an article that you think others might benefit from knowing about post it to LinkedIn or Twitter pages. You can also comment on discussions and article others post These activities may put you in contact with others who can help with your job search.

The successful job seeker should be diligent in monitoring their online presence. Goggling yourself on a weekly basis should be the bare minimum. Klout.com is a site that measures an individuals or companies online presence and is a good tool to use to monitor your online influence.

Debra Wheatman is the founder and president of Careers Done Write, a career services provider focused on developing personalized career road maps for senior leaders and executives across  various industries. She can be reached at 877-389-SEEK (7335), or Debra@CareersDoneWrite.com.

The Breakfast Club meets from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. at the Days Inn, in East Brunswick. The featured speaker for the March 9, meeting is Gerry Crispin. He will be presenting on the topic,  The Candidate Experience: How Good is good… and Why You Should Care. Check out The Breakfast Club online at:

http://www.thebreakfastclubnj.com