1. Lookingforwork – Social Mediamightbe the bestoption
Anne Cameron
If there’sanythingthe pastdecade hastaught people,it’sthatfindingajobcan be reallydifficult.
Some have losttheirjobsthroughno faultof theirown.Some have reacheda crossroads intheircareers
whena jobfallsshortof expectations.Andsome are recentcollege graduatestryingtofindthatfirstjob
out of college.
So where doyoustart?
There are traditional job-huntingfirmsandwebsites,butone of the fastestgrowingareasforjob
seekersissocial media.
Whenmost thinkof social media,theysee anavenue forreconnectingwitholdfriends,watchingthe
latestviral videos orkeepingupwith a favorite sportsteams. However,social mediaalso isone of the
bestoptionsforjobseekers andanideal wayto brand yourself.WebsiteslikeLinkedIn,Facebookand
Twitterhave revolutionizedhowcompaniesandrecruiterscansee us.AccordingtoRodneyStigall,a
professionalrecruiterandmanagingpartnerat Stigall andAssociatesinMelbourne, targetedrecruiting
has become easierbasedof social mediaprofile.
For example,anengineerinMelbourne mighthave asuggestedpostcome across theirfeedon
Facebook.Some mightwonderwhytheyare receivingsuchapost because theyare notseekinganew
position.
The company postingthe position wasable touse informationfrom aperson’s profiletoreach them
and informthemof thisnewopportunity.There are greatadvantages tothis.A personmight notbe
interestedinswitchingpositionsorcompaniesbutyoumayhave a friendwhois.Companieswhopost
on Facebookreceive compensationforeachclickreceived.
Companies alsohave beenknowntouse Twittertobringawarenesstotheir brand.Afterseveraltweets
aboutwho theyare and what theydo,a companyis mostlikelytotweetthattheyhave several openings
inan area and will include the linktotheirwebsite. A person seekingemploymentwithaparticular
company wouldbe wise tofollowthem.Bydoingthis,the jobseekerwill receivejobpostingsbefore
othersusingonline job sites.Thatpersonhasan advantage because theyhave receivedinformation
aboutthe companyforsome time, they have researcheditand can prepare a coverletterandresume to
suitthe position.
Possiblythe mostprofessionalandwell-knownsocialmediajob site isLinkedIn.Itisacommunityof
businessprofessionalsfromall overthe worldand indifferentprofessions.Don’tgetconfusedandthink
that thisisthe bestplace toreconnectwitholdfriends;thatiswhatFacebookisfor.
LinkedInisanoutlettoshowcase skillsandprovide more in-depthinformationthanwhat can be shared
on a one-page resume. Thisisagreatplace to showcase a skillset.The page iseasytoset up.LinkedIn

2. walksusersthroughthe steps,andif they are not readyto answera question while fillingoutthe info,
skipit.A personcan go go back to it.
LinkedInisalsogoodforconnectingwithotherprofessionalsin the same demographicareaor industry.
Networkingisapowerful tool thatcanhelpgetadditional informationonpossiblenew postingsoreven
informationtoaidin a current search.One greatoption of LinkedInforcurrentprofessionalsisthat a job
searchis secret.Noneedtoworry abouta current employerfindingout.
WithLinkedIn,userscangrowconnectionsbyindustry,interests,profession orpositions.Peoplecan
joinseveral circlesbasedoff theseoptions.Butwhatisthe benefit?
“If youare interestedinworkingforaparticularcompanyor industry,LinkedIngivesyouthe
opportunitytoconnectto the recruitersanddeveloparelationshipbefore evenapplyingfora position”,
Stigall said.
By reachingoutto the recruiterspriorto applying, apotential jobcandidate hasgiventhemafirsthand
impressionof themselvesasa professional. Employers will be more likelytomove thatperson forward
to the nextstepinthe applicationprocess,giventhey have the necessarycredentials.Thisprocesscan
take some time soit may be more beneficialforcurrentstudentswhowill be graduatingtopursue this
optionthan current businessprofessionals.
Recruiterswill searchLinkedInprofilesforthe bestcandidate priortocreatinga jobpostingforthat
position.Theyhave alsobeenknowntorecruitemployeescurrentlyworkingforothercompanies;if
theyhave the skillsandeducationrequiredforthe position.
Recruitersand hiringmanagerscanspeakin regardsto the best candidatesforthe position.
“Say I am lookingfora writerforfashion,we canreview variouspublicationsandstate thispublication
has the bestfashionwriter,”Stigall said. “We cango directlytotheirLinkedInandreachout to them
aboutthe possible jobopportunity.”
Thoughsocial mediaisone of the bestwaysof brandingyourself,there are alsosome downfallstoo. As
an applicant,social mediapagescould be scrutinizedforwhattheycontain.Here are a few helpfultips
sharedby Stigall:
Dos:
 AdjustyourprivacysettingsonyourFacebookto private;onlydisplayinformationthat a
recruiterwouldneedtosee.
 Use yourreal name.Callingyourself byanickname mightbe greatforyour friends,but
professionalswill notbe able tolocate youor mightbe turnedoff by the name.
 Have a professional emailaddress;if anemployerwantstosendyouan email insteadof
messagingyouthroughthe site,havingsomethingwithglitters,sparklesorsexymightsendthe
wrongimpression.
 Keepanappropriate profile picture.Itisgreatto supporta legitimate cause orshow thatyou
are a fan of a certainteam,justkeepittasteful.
 Watch your spellingandpunctuation.ThoughFacebookismore relaxedthanLinkedIn,youmay
wantto be careful howyoupostthings.

3.  Postyour additional interestsoutsideof work,aslongas theyare cleanandlegal.Employers
enjoyseeingwhattheirfuture employee will doontheirdaysoff.Theyare more likelytohire
someone whohelpsoutinthe communitythanapersonwhohas no additional interest.
 Reviewyourprofileinformation,make sure thatyouhave nogrammatical or spellingerrors.
 List volunteerworkyouhave done.
 Like companiesthatyouare interestedinworkingforonFacebookand/orfollow themon
LinkedIn.
 Postyour full resume.The resume youprovide forajobpostingshouldbe one page.LinkedIn
will allowyoutoposteverypositionyouhave workedandkeepall the bulletpointsyouhave
fromthat position.Keepinmindthattoomuchinformationcanbe a bad thing, so try to keepit
to five bulletsorless.
 Get that professional picture doneforyourLinkedIn,itcansetyouapart fromotherapplicants.
 KeepyourLinkedInprofessional.If youhave a connectionwhoissendinginvitesforpartiesand
othernon-businessrelatedsocial gatherings,kindlytell themtotake ittoFacebook.
 Connect.That newconnectionmightleadtoanew opportunity.
 Stay positive –nothingisworse than negativity.If youare startingto feel thatyourcurrent
positionisbreedingnegativity,itmaybe time tolookfor a new position.
 Learn howto properlyuse the sitesbefore addingconnections;itistoyourbenefittobe familiar
withhowthe siteswork,youwill be able toupdate informationmore frequentlyandlookmore
professional.
 Put yourprofessionalsocial medialinksonyourresume –how will the employerssee themif
youdon’tshare them?
 While makingexcessive changestoyourLinkedInprofile,turnoff the “NotifyyourNetwork”
buttonso that everyupdate will notbe outthere forcurrentco-workerstosee.
Don’ts:
 Allowfriendstopostdirectlytoyourtimeline.There isasectioninsettingsthatwill allow youto
approve all postingsbefore theyare shared.Thoughyourfriendsmaythinktheyhave yourbest
interestatheart,your future bossmaynot be as excitedthatyouwonyour thirdstraightgame
of beerpong.
 Use profanityinyourpostings;it’sunprofessional andwillbe perceivedassuch.
 Postpicturesthat couldbe controversial,justkeepitclean.
 Friendyourboss.There will come atime that youforgetthat yourboss is on yourFacebook,and
youmay lose thatdream positionbecause you sayhow muchyouhate your job – itmightbe
due to a bad day,but it mightnotcome across thatway.
 Friendyournewco-workers.How well doyoureallyknow peoplewhoyouhave beenworking
withforlessthan a week?Use yourdiscretiononthis.Some peoplemaybe offendedthatyou
friendedone personandnotthe other.Alsorememberthatsome people will trytouse your
postingsagainstyou.
 Share everyopinionandrantthat youhave.I know thisisdifficult,especiallyif youare very
adamanton an issue,butrememberyoumightbe onthe soap box andoffendingyourfuture or
currentemployer

4.  Overdo it.One to two social mediasitesare fine.Don’tfeel thatyouwill needtobelongto
everysocial network;rememberyouneedtokeepthemmaintainedwithuptodate
information,failure todosocouldget youoverlookedforapositionandcreatesmore workfor
you.
 Sendpersonal messagesforanyone onsocial networksyoudonotknow.If you have meta
recruiterat a jobfair youcouldask to add themsotheyknow you are interested,howeverjust
seekingone outandsendingthemrandommessagesmightcome off the wrongway.
Patience isalwaysimportant.Butfollowingthese tipscanhelpapersonfindthatdreamjob.