Job Choices - February 2013 - (Page 22)
Social Media in Your Job Search Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and relatives, but it also can be a useful tool in your job search. Employers are using social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to both promote their organizations and connect with potential job candidates. While social media can help you research employers (critical to your job-search success), be sure to use it more actively—as a way to connect with potential employers. By following a few basic tips, you can use social media to get in front of hiring managers. BE AWARE OF THE KEYWORDS YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR PROFILE This is particularly true for sites focused on professional networking, such as LinkedIn. Many employers do keyword searches to find profiles that contain the skill sets they’re seeking in potential hires. DON’T INCLUDE PHOTOS, COMMENTS, OR INFORMATION YOU WOULDN’T WANT A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER TO SEE DON’T MIX PERSONAL WITH PROFESSIONAL The social media you use in your job search has to present you as a potential employee—not as a friend. Follow the rules for writing a resume. GET NOTICED There are a few key points to keep in mind when using social media as a job-search tool. MAKE SURE YOUR PROFILE IS ERROR-FREE CREATE A PROFILE THAT GIVES A POSITIVE IMPRESSION OF YOU You wouldn’t offer up a resume rife with misspellings, would you? Think of it as your online resume: What do you want it to say about you? Hiring managers can get a stronger sense of who you are, and if you’re a potentially good fit for their company, through your profile. CHOOSE APPROPRIATE CONTACT INFORMATION Your e-mail address or Twitter handle should be professional—a simple variation on your name, perhaps— rather than suggestive or offensive. Job Choices | National Association of Colleges and Employers 22
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