The document discusses how social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are impacting the job search process. It notes that LinkedIn is more professionally focused than Facebook and is useful for organizing your network connections, finding new contacts, and effectively targeting organizations. The document provides tips for using LinkedIn to develop and expand your professional network to aid career development and job searching.

1. How Social Networking and New Media are Impacting the Job
Search Process
Presented by Sue Gordon, MS, NCC
Director of Career Development
American University

2.  New Media
◦ New media is a term meant to encompass the
emergence of digital, computerized, or networked
information and communication technologies in the later
part of the 20th century. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media
 Social Network
◦ A social network is a social structure made of nodes
(which are generally individuals or organizations) that
are tied by one or more specific types of
interdependency, such as values, visions, ideas, financial
exchange, friendship, kinship, dislike, conflict or trade.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network

4.  Online social networking is the confluence of
“new media” and traditional networking
 Examples
◦ Facebook
◦ LinkedIn
◦ Twitter
◦ Plaxo
 Who knows what’s next?

8.  http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/phil-
rosenberg/recareered/duel-%E2%80%93-
facebook-vs-linkedin
 A key LinkedIn edge in job search:
◦ “FaceBook really only gives you 1 level of
separation, you can get to a second level with heavy
lifting through a FaceBook app”

9.  Organize their own network connections
 Reach out to existing connections
 Find new contacts
 Effectively target organizations
 Connect to fellow alumni, professional
groups
 Update connections quickly and easily

10.  Facebook : Social, less professional focus
 Twitter: fast growing, mini-blog
 LinkedIn: professional networking
 Alumni sites– use in conjunction with above
tools!
◦ Example: inCircle, which hosts many college sites
and has added an app to work with facebook

11.  Develop and expand a personal network
 Stay in touch with former colleagues
 Actively search for candidates
 Ask employees to activate their networks to
reach out to potential candidates
 View candidates through connections
 Reach out to candidates
 Research candidate backgrounds– for good
OR bad

14.  Your profile is your virtual business card
 Represent yourself appropriately
 Incomplete profiles don’t help and can hurt
 Take a few moments to fill in the gaps
 Share what you have to offer others
 Highlight accomplishments
 Use your status

15. http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanbgordon

16.  What is a network?
 A network is defined as a group of LinkedIn users that can
contact you through connections up to three degrees
away. You are at the center of your network with the
following degrees of connections:
◦ Direct connections make up the 1st degree of your network.
◦ Connections to each of your direct connections make up your 2nd
degree.
◦ Connections to those in your 2nd degree make up your 3rd
degree.
This chain of trusted connections gives inside access to a network
of professionals, companies and industries across the world.

20. Join Groups
And contribute to discussions

24.  A demo!
 Scenario: Sue is seeking to move to North
Carolina and wants to stay in career services.
 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/1/193/675

31. http://www.linkedin.com/answers?categoryHome=
&category=CAR

32.  Recruiters use LinkedIn to:
◦ Find potential employees in their existing network
◦ Verify applicant’ background
 Public profile
 Through their existing connections
◦ Announce opportunities
◦ Post opportnities

34.  “I have used LinkedIn on several job searches
and have been pleased with the quality of the
candidates. We have a search firm on retainer
and we are pleased with the results. I view
LinkedIn as part of the toolkit.”
CEO/Hiring Manager

35. Yes twice! The first [contact] was an email through LinkedIn by
a UK recruiter, followed by a conference call with him.
Thereafter I met with the hiring company in South Africa and
had the interview. I did not get the job though.
The second one was an email through Linked from a local
South African company, followed by an interview with
recruiter, then the hiring company and got then got contract.
In both cases I used LinkedIn to indicate that I am available to
the market.
 Technical Consultant

36. We have found that this is a great way to
network new clients and have students learn
about our workshops. I have not done a search
yet for an employee using LinkedIn but we plan
to in the future. I really enjoy the
professionalism of this site and the creative
things others are doing in the field.
Director of Workshops

37. “I have been actively using LinkedIn for about 15 months and like most
people, it took me a while to get my momentum. Within the last 12
months, I have earned three lucrative consulting engagements. Two
of those clients have since put me in touch with others which has
results in two confirmed and two tentative engagements.
I think some of the important items on the checklist for people just
getting started would include:
1. make sure your profile is complete and up-to-date
2. make sure you have at least one recommendation for each job
you feature
3. join groups that expose you to the industries, interests, and
associations whose members you want to connect with. Then
participate in the discussion forums by posting question and adding
comments.
4. do NOT sell directly on LinkedIn. It's a big turn-off.”
Senior Executive, Life & Business Coach

38. And a Gentle Reminder…. Keep your
online image professional!

39.  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/a
/linkedin.htm
 http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/a
/linkedjobsearch.htm
 Market Watch Story on Combining Google and
LinkedIn
 http://jobsearch.about.com/od/networking/a
/linkedinsuccess.htm