Posts Tagged ‘social media’

A recent post on a career industry association e-list sparked quite a discussion about job seeker appearance and hiring standards. An association member came across a job board that caters to “beautiful, skilled and talented people looking for employment” and “employers who are looking to hire beautiful, skilled and talented people.” To access job leads, candidates must first register and upload their photo, which is then rated by visitors and members to determine if the account should be activated or rejected.

Is there no end to the limits some individuals will go to in exploiting the tight job market while making candidates feel less than worthy?

Okay, I will admit that appearance has always been a factor in how candidates are evaluated during the interview. After all, don’t we advise candidates to “look their best” when approaching an employer? We coach clients on what to wear, how to fix their hair and make-up, and what subtle things such as facial hair and fingernail length communicate to an employer. And we talk to clients about how they need “to look the part” to “get the part” – which is what makes some job titles, such as librarian or construction worker,  immediately conjure up images that even the most diplomatic employer has to shake.

Set aside the audaciousness of BeautifulJobSeekers.com and we are still faced with reconciling the impact one’s photo has on their success in landing a job. With the widespread use of social media to match candidates to jobs, are employers - who are trying to comply with EEO regulations - feeling like they need to cover their eyes when reviewing candidate credentials on Facebook, LinkedIn and other online networking sites? Are hungry lawyers lining up to pursue action against employers on behalf of candidates who feel they have been rejected because of their apparent age, race, ethnic background – or heaven forbid, height, weight and eye color!?

I don’t know the answer, but it all makes me a little nervous. As a professional résumé writer, I have always scoffed at competitors who advised clients to include a photo on their résumé, but now I am wondering if I should rethink my position. In a country that seems to have lost its senses to reality TV, entertainment magazines, and viewer-cast ballots for who should be the next “American Idol,” maybe it’s time that employers and career services professionals have some serious conversations about how these trends are impacting the job market – and come up with some realistic solutions.

Monday was one of those odd days where my phone kept ringing with inquires about my resume writing and career transition services. With so many resume writers out there marketing their services – a Google search today for “resume writer” turned up 1,520,000 hits – I sometimes marvel at the fact that I am ever found!

As with resume writers, job seekers can easily get lost amongst the competition. Thanks to the Internet, employers can literally choose from thousands of applicants to fill one position. So, with more than 1.5 million resume writers competing for business, why is it that my phone was ringing today – or for that matter, any day? The answer has as much to do with my ability to secure new clients as it does with a job seeker’s ability to secure interviews.

It seems to boil down to the following two basic marketing principles: Referrals/recommendations and brand/image. Potential clients either call me because someone who previously used my services or knows of my reputation recommended me, or they came across my advertising and liked what they saw. Here is how these two principles translate to job seekers…

Referrals/recommendations: Occasionally I will meet someone who tells me that they have never looked for a job in their life – employers always sought them out. How can that be? Well, these individuals were fully aware of their talents and made sure that others in their profession and industries were also aware. They built a strong network of contacts and positioned themselves as experts in their field and as a result, were in high demand.

To get ahead in one’s career and to get a prospective employer’s attention, one needs to make their talents and expertise highly visible. This is not accomplished by blasting one’s resume out to hundreds of employers then sitting back and waiting for the phone to ring. One gains attention by “putting themselves out there” through networking, participating in professional associations, giving presentations to peers, publishing articles, volunteering, and clearly communicating ones value.

Brand/image: If potential clients do not find me through referrals, they find me through advertising. Just as a job seeker advertises their skills and experience via their resume, cover letters, and online profiles, I advertise my skills and experience through phone book advertising, my website, and online profiles. The quality of my advertising either encourages or discourages callers, just as the quality of a job seeker’s resume, cover letters and online profiles encourages or discourages employers to pick up the phone and give them a call.

In addition to the quality of the advertising, potential callers are influenced by how the product is branded. Pepsi and Coca Cola both have excellent advertising; however each unique brand appeals to a different type of consumer. Many of my 1.5 million “competitors” have excellent advertising, but their brand does not appeal to every potential customer.

However, something in my advertising appeals to certain customers, and when having to choose from multiple options, those who pick up the phone and call often tell me they felt a connection. Oddly enough, while I am talking to these callers, I too “feel the connection” and often think to myself how fortunate for us both that we found each other.

The bottom line for those in search of a new or better job is this: Know your brand, and effectively and confidently communicate to the world. Those who like what you have to offer will give you a call – those who don’t will be better served by a competitor. Persevere and even though employers can choose from the large pool of candidates, you too can rise above the competition!

Do you have a digital footprint? Do you know what one is? Is your online presence getting you "turn downs" instead of "offers" from employers?

More than 90% of recruiters and 50% of employers perform Internet searches on candidates before making a hiring decision. If job seekers don’t have a solid, online presence with a strong career brand, the chances of impressing a potential employer are greatly diminished.

Join The Career Clinicians, Kathy Sweeney and Norine Dagliano, as they interview Barbara Safani, an expert in social media and career branding, regarding the importance of building online profiles and participating in social media / business networking sites.

The show airs live on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7 p.m. ET on BlogTalkRadio (http://bit.ly/bXzi0t). The Career Clinicians will be taking live calls at (917) 889-9043.

During the show, Barbara will discuss:

• How job seekers can find out what kind of digital footprint they possess.
• Specific websites where job seekers should have a presence, including LinkedIn, Google Profiles, ZoomInfo, Facebook, and Twitter.
• The differences and benefits between the sites.
• Which type of person is right for each online medium.
• Privacy concerns.
• How a great (or poorly written) profile can impact a job search.

Don't miss this important show to find out the best ways to ensure your digital foot is a positive one!

In today's technologically advanced environment, many people are using social media tools to communicate with friends and family, and reconnect with old acquaintances. But, should you use social media to look for work? Absolutely!

However, before charging out and jumping on the social media bandwagon, I think it is important to understand how to utilize social media to attain the most positive results.

In the first post of this two-part series, I will cover why job seekers might want to use social media as an avenue to attain a job, the types of tools available,  and some guidelines. In Part Two, I will share stories of people who have successfully utilized social media to land a great job.

Why Should Job Seekers Use Social Media?

Social media tools can be very helpful in the job search, if utilized wisely. They can help highlight your expertise, provide visibility in search engines when HR or Recruiters decide to Google your name,  and allow you to network with current / former colleagues and friends who may be able to assist in your goal of landing a great position.

What Social Media Tools Should Job Search Candidates Use?

While there are many social media tools available to job seekers, I am going to cover the major players. It is important to not only know what they are, but how they differ, and the methods to successfully utilize them.

Blogs:

Blogs (aka Weblogs) can be utilized by job seekers to show their expertise in a certain subject matter or industry. Successful blogs have a consistent brand - the readers have a clear picture of who the blogger is and can identify a consistent theme to the posts.

In a blog, job search candidate can convey information on industry trends, provide opinions on topics (without offending or bashing anyone), and seek to educate readers. The content should be engaging and useful to the reader.

Putting together a blog is rather easy. There are several free services available, including WordPress and Blogger, that can walk you through the process of establishing a blog.

If you aren't technically savvy, I would suggest enlisting the help of someone who is. If you don't have friends or family members who can help, you can have your project completed rather inexpensively on Elance.com.

LinkedIn.com:

LinkedIn is a free website where you can develop your professional network and look for jobs. It is the most prominent tool used today by recruiters to source "active and passive candidates."

On LinkedIn, it is important to convey your personal brand with a strong profile and "job title." When using this tool, I would suggest linking with people who can help with your job search, which includes current or former colleagues, customers, vendors, etc.

One very important measurement recruiters use when reviewing candidates profiles is the amount of solid recommendations you have on your profile. They need to be very specific to your expertise and from individuals who have directly worked with you in some capacity.

While the "magic number" of recommendations hovers around 3-5, I would suggest you tap into your network and obtain as many "comprehensive" recommendations of your expertise as possible.

Remember though - networking is a two-way street. If you ask for recommendations, be sure to provide them, as well.

Facebook:

Facebook is a great place to connect with old / current friends and family, and if you want, current / former colleagues. It is more of a relaxed atmosphere than LinkedIn. However, stay true to your brand, and don't post information that is too personal or pictures that show you in a bad light.

While you can set your "home page" as "public," I would suggest setting your other pages to "friends only." This way, your private information and photos cannot be seen by HR Managers and Recruiters.

Twitter:

Twitter is a great tool to convey information in a very concise way - you only have 140 characters to get your information out there. The posts you make on Twitter are called "Tweets."

So, what should you "Tweet" about? You can post a short description and link to a blog post you wrote or specific industry information gleaned from articles you have found on the Internet, such as, "SalesForce.com introduces new tool (then link to the article)."  You can also "Tweet" general factual information you have found through research, for instance, "38% of computer users are switching to Mac."

You will need to have an account to "shorten" your URLs so your "Tweets" don't surpass the 140 character limit. I suggest Bit.ly, as it allows you to track how many people have clicked on the links included in your Tweets.

Also, a great book has recently been published regarding how to use Twitter in your job search: The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day.

Guidelines for Effectively Using Social Media

Here are some general and specific guidelines to follow when using social media:

General Tips:

• Post a picture of yourself on all of your social media pages. However, make sure the photo is a professional head shot. There are several freelance photographers listed in US-Photographers or formal portrait studios, including B2BPortraits or JC Penney that can provide you with a digital photo format.
• Establish your brand and stick to it.
• Don't write about controversial topics unless it relates to your personal brand.
• Make sure what you are writing is fact-based - not some information or trends you have made up.
• Make sure your opinions on a particular topic are useful and positive.
• Contribute to "conversations" on other people's blogs. But, do it in a positive, meaningful way. Post information that solves problems - not creates more discourse.
• Remember that your reputation is key to your success - don't bash other people or products.
• Think before you post. If what you are writing can be misconstrued, don't write it.

Blogs:

• Do not write blog posts that are inconsistent with your brand. An example would be a computer expert blogging about different programs and / or industry trends. Then, out of the blue, he posts a message about Healthcare Reform. Unless he can tie information technology to health care reform, then the post should not be written.
• Don't post 10 blog topics in a week and then not post for a month. The key to successful blogging is to be consistent. If you only have time to blog once a week, that's fine. Just set a day every week to write a blog post and stick with it.

Twitter:

• Do find and follow other experts who don't directly compete with you. For instance, if you are a dog trainer, you don't want to connect with other dog trainers (unless it is Cesar Milan, The Dog Whisperer). Why? Because this negates the purpose of being viewed as an expert. However, you might want to connect with veterinarians, canine nutrition experts, and small business owners who sell merchandise, like collars, leashes, dog beds, etc. These people can enhance your knowledge and will show your followers that you aren't a "one-trick pony."
• Do "retweet" (think of this like forwarding an email to someone) Twitter posts made by experts you follow that are relevant to your brand or industry. Not only will it provide them with visibility, but it will show you are connected with experts and they will likely "retweet" items of interest that you post.
• Don't Tweet about topics that are off-brand. These include tweets about how you are walking your dog, having breakfast, or getting ready to go on vacation.  Once again, be consistent in your theme and ensure the content is useful.

LinkedIn:

• Do connect with people that can help in your job search.
• Make sure you have a descriptive job title and thorough profile that highlights your expertise and skills.
• Don't "spam" people you don't know to try and connect with them - you'll get your account taken away from you.
• If you do want to connect with someone you don't know, either find someone in your network that's connected to the person or write a meaningful "in-mail" that conveys WHY you want to connect with the person.
• Ask for and provide solid recommendations to people in your network.

Facebook:

• Do be careful what your write in your updates. Don't post personal information about your divorce, how you are going out drinking every night, etc.
• Don't post pictures of yourself in compromising positions, i.e., photos of drinking, nudity, etc.
• Don't be a lurker. If friends posts something about their family, job, or life in general, write a comment. Just be sure you don't comment on posts related to their "bad behavior."

Watch for my next post that will highlight job seekers who have successfully utilized social media to land a great job!