Social Media and Your Job Search

Feb16 2011

Sarah Findle

I had the privilege to present at Elon University’s Professional Discovery Week yesterday about the topic of using social media in your job search. My own job search story is a testament to the power of social media in the job search. My relationship, and eventual employment, with Howard Merrell & Partners started with a simple Direct Message to our former Social Media Marketing Manager, Kipp Bodnar:

In my presentation, I broke the process down into four key focus areas:

BRAND

• Establish your personal brand. Market yourself as you would a client or product. What is your message to potential employers?
• Make your Google search results relevant by creating social profiles, an online portfolio and a blog
• Transparency is key. Expect that anything you post online will be or could be public at some point. Keep your profiles open

FOLLOW

• Follow industry influencers and companies on Twitter and LinkedIn
• Read relevant blogs on a daily basis and become familiar with blogging styles and platforms
• Use hashtags to follow conversation at conferences, events and industry chats

FIND

• Use social media to search for job openings
• Follow job and career related blogs
• Look for blogs specific to your industry, or the geographic location where you are focusing your job search

ENGAGE

• Take the leap and join the conversation in your industry of interest
• Meet people in person who you have begun following online. See who is attending conferences or is located in your city

Click here for my full presentation and resource list.