Career Corner - Using social media in your job search
Social media has a place in all of
our lives, whether we like it or not.
Personally, I'm not as passionate
about Facebook and Twitter as
some of my friends. For the most
part, they enjoy following friends
and others who post and tweet
about nonsensical activities and
events that are happening in their
lives. While most of us have
become smitten with the social
side of social media, it has also
become an important tool for job
seekers due in part to the new way
that people are finding and landing
jobs.
If you think about it, networking has always played a huge part in how individuals find jobs, and if you want a successful career, you need to have a strong network. Online networking is relatively new and is really just meeting and interacting with other professionals via the Internet. If you aren't already doing it, then you should consider starting, but keep in mind there are many pitfalls of online networking. You need to avoid spamming, shouting, begging and requesting to add someone to your network without an explanation, not to mention just being downright annoying online. Follow the general rules of networking, which include being respectful of other people's time, being positive and proactive, making appropriate connections with people you have something in common with, and above all, being prepared to give something back.
A good place to start online networking is with LinkedIn. With more than 225 million users, LinkedIn has grown to become one of the most popular networking sites for professionals. Get started by creating a LinkedIn profile, uploading your resume, and joining groups that share your career goals. Use it to search for companies and connect with recruiters who are also using LinkedIn. In essence, use it to build your online network.
Having an online presence is essential these days, and managing that presence is also essential. Nowadays hiring managers are also using social media to do their research on candidates. According to Joshua Waldman, author of Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies, “More than 80 per cent of recruiters are using LinkedIn to source candidates and more than 50 per cent of hiring managers can determine whether a candidate's personality is a good fit for their company just by seeing their social media presence. Regardless of how you feel about it, employers are likely using social media to check you out.”
Information for just about everyone can be found online today, especially by someone who knows how to conduct the right search. If the thought of this scares you at all, then you may need to do something to manage your online persona.
If you haven't already searched for yourself online, start by using Google, reppler.com and pipl.com and WebMii and go through the steps to remove any information that isn't favourable. I'm sure you've already been advised about how to set your privacy settings on Facebook so not everyone can creep you, but you may want to revisit that too, especially with the ongoing changes to Facebook, as you may need to crank your settings up a notch. Your online image is important, so if you need to ask friends to remove some unfavourable pics, posts or content, then get to it. Let's face it, recruiters will use whatever online methods they can to investigate your online presence, and they should, as they wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't.
Need assistance with your job search or writing a resume and covering letter? Drop by the Career Services office in D1063. The Career Services staff are available to assist you on an individual basis. Visit the office in D1063 to arrange an appointment with the consultant responsible for your program or call 519-452- 4294. To access job listings for Fanshawe students and graduates, visit www.fanshaweonline.ca or www.fanshawec.ca/careerservices. Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/FanshaweCS, Twitter @FanshaweCS and Pinterest pinterest.com/FanshaweCS.
If you think about it, networking has always played a huge part in how individuals find jobs, and if you want a successful career, you need to have a strong network. Online networking is relatively new and is really just meeting and interacting with other professionals via the Internet. If you aren't already doing it, then you should consider starting, but keep in mind there are many pitfalls of online networking. You need to avoid spamming, shouting, begging and requesting to add someone to your network without an explanation, not to mention just being downright annoying online. Follow the general rules of networking, which include being respectful of other people's time, being positive and proactive, making appropriate connections with people you have something in common with, and above all, being prepared to give something back.
A good place to start online networking is with LinkedIn. With more than 225 million users, LinkedIn has grown to become one of the most popular networking sites for professionals. Get started by creating a LinkedIn profile, uploading your resume, and joining groups that share your career goals. Use it to search for companies and connect with recruiters who are also using LinkedIn. In essence, use it to build your online network.
Having an online presence is essential these days, and managing that presence is also essential. Nowadays hiring managers are also using social media to do their research on candidates. According to Joshua Waldman, author of Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies, “More than 80 per cent of recruiters are using LinkedIn to source candidates and more than 50 per cent of hiring managers can determine whether a candidate's personality is a good fit for their company just by seeing their social media presence. Regardless of how you feel about it, employers are likely using social media to check you out.”
Information for just about everyone can be found online today, especially by someone who knows how to conduct the right search. If the thought of this scares you at all, then you may need to do something to manage your online persona.
If you haven't already searched for yourself online, start by using Google, reppler.com and pipl.com and WebMii and go through the steps to remove any information that isn't favourable. I'm sure you've already been advised about how to set your privacy settings on Facebook so not everyone can creep you, but you may want to revisit that too, especially with the ongoing changes to Facebook, as you may need to crank your settings up a notch. Your online image is important, so if you need to ask friends to remove some unfavourable pics, posts or content, then get to it. Let's face it, recruiters will use whatever online methods they can to investigate your online presence, and they should, as they wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't.
Need assistance with your job search or writing a resume and covering letter? Drop by the Career Services office in D1063. The Career Services staff are available to assist you on an individual basis. Visit the office in D1063 to arrange an appointment with the consultant responsible for your program or call 519-452- 4294. To access job listings for Fanshawe students and graduates, visit www.fanshaweonline.ca or www.fanshawec.ca/careerservices. Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/FanshaweCS, Twitter @FanshaweCS and Pinterest pinterest.com/FanshaweCS.
