How to leverage your social network to find your next job.
The past five years have brought tremendous growth in technology and the way that we relate with it. From better laptops, smartphones, tablets and the rise of social networking, we are more connected than ever before. These days, I can be out running errands and still find out what my sisters are doing and how their kids are without even having to pick up a phone. It's truly amazing.
All of this connectivity is fun, but when you are looking for a new job, it can be an extremely useful tool. Not only can they be used to make connections at companies and find out about job openings, they are also being used to screen potential candidates. When employers are narrowing down their list of potential employees, they often take a look at the applicant's social networking profiles in order to get a better idea of who they are.
It seems a bit intrusive for a company to look at someone's Facebook page, but it gives them an idea of who the candidate is and how they would fit into the corporate culture. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 34 percent of hiring managers have passed on an applicant based on information they found on a social networking site.
That's a lot. Knowing how important it is to use the tool effectively, here are 5 tips:
Update frequently - Your profile is really important and you should take the time to update it on a regular basis. This way, when a potential employer looks at your page, they will be getting the best, most current information.
Be professional - Don't post status updates about how much you hate your boss and how you can't wait until you can get out of that hell-hole. This won't impress anyone - let alone help you get a job. A hiring manger isn't going to feel empathy for you, they will just think that if they hire you that one day you'll be badmouthing them on the internet.
Be selective about what you like - When you "like" a certain page by clicking a thumbs up button, the information is stored in your profile and posted on your Facebook wall. So, be careful about the groups you like and make sure they don't say the wrong thing about you. Not everyone shares your sense of humor and they might get the wrong idea when your "like" groups include things like "I live on beer".
Keep it safe for work - If you are looking for a job, understand that your social networking profiles are fair game. Go through your accounts and look at every picture and each piece of information to be sure that there isn't anything you wouldn't want an employer to see. Ideally, you should do this before you begin your job search rather than try to explain it later.
Pay attention to your friends - It's not just you who is being judged here, but also your friends. Unless you have changed your privacy settings, your friends list is public information as well. Keep a close eye on what they write on your wall or the pictures they share. If you have several friends who have trouble knowing what is and isn't appropriate, adjust your privacy options.
Although there are ways to completely lock down your social networking profiles, it's a better idea to make them job search friendly. Employers who screen candidates this way might skip you over if they can't find out more about you. Instead, give them everything they need to see you as a great fit for the job.
Do you use social networking in your job search? Are there other tips that are important? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for Administrativejobsblog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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