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JobMonkey
Volume IX, Issue #23
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Use Social Media to Find Work

It's a tough economy out there, as those of you who are job seeking know all too well. Ten years ago, online job ads were the wave of the future. Today, they are all but passé. So, what virtual tools can help you land your next job today? Check out this week's spotlight article on the 4 Ways to Use Social Media to launch your well-networked job search. For more on the hot topic of using social networks to find a job, be sure to visit Around the Monkey, where we highlight some of the JobMonkey blog's best posts on this topic. Finally, if you are looking for work, we've got all your hottest leads in our Job Boards section. Thanks for reading us this week!

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Career Adviser: Get on Board with LinkedIn
2) Spotlight: 4 Essential Social Networking Tools to Find a Job
3) Around the Monkey: Navigating the World of Social Networking
4) JobMonkey Job Center: Online Jobs

Find out why you should set up a free job seeker profile on JobMonkey: Learn More.

 

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CAREER ADVISER: LinkedIn: Too Important to Ignore
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by Amy Lindgren

Are you on LinkedIn yet? If yes, good. - although you can probably improve your entry, you're on the right track. If not...well, that's your choice, but it's not a good one if you're in job search or career development. And these days, who isn't?

You probably know this, but here's a brief definition: LinkedIn is an Internet tool used to connect people, usually in a professional capacity, based on common contacts. It is, essentially, a networking tool, although it can be used for information gathering as well.

At the risk of oversimplifying, it can be said that LinkedIn is used two ways: To find someone and to be found by someone. When it comes to job search, finding someone would be the advanced use, and being found would be the basic.

Finding someone else using LinkedIn is advanced because you need some level of familiarity with the system and creativity or persistence. It's not rocket science, and there are plenty of people who want to give you advice, so no need to worry. When you're ready, you'll do fine.

But being on the site for others to find? Child's play. Just go to www.LinkedIn.com and plug in information about yourself. It will go into a master database searchable by others, including employers who want to find talent without posting a job. Which is actually happening - people are being found by employers and invited to interview. That can't happen if you're not on the system, so it's time to jump in.

When you're ready, you can strengthen your entry to improve your odds, but for now, just being there is an important first step.

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SPOTLIGHT: 4 Essential Social Networking Tools to Find a Job
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If you have been looking for a job for a while, you know how challenging today's market is. Whether you are looking for a traditional job, like a school teacher or nurse, or for a more unique career, say as a river raft guide or even an ice cream truck driver, you need to be using social media as your top networking tool.

Did you just read that and think "social what"?! No worries, even someone inexperienced in the ways of online job networking can quickly become an expert in their own job search! Here are four of the best ways to get you started in using social media to find your next job.

1. LinkedIn

Did you know that there are more than 40 million users on LinkedIn and that three out of four job recruiters now say they use LinkedIn to research prospective employees? Given numbers like these, there is no way you can afford not to be on LinkedIn. Once you have set up your LinkedIn profile, you can start 'linking' in to job leads. You will want to check out the vacancies section, the Q&A section, and join discussion groups. Dedicate just a few hours every week to networking online at LinkedIn and you will do a world of good for your job search.

2. Twitter

Are you on Twitter? Odds are the answer is yes, since Twitter has grown to over 105 million users, with an additional 300,000 users signing up every day! If you're not signed up yet, do it today. Not only is Twitter a great way to network for a job, but it's also an awesome tool for learning more about potential employers -- and for them to learn about you. Remember: Your posts (known as "tweets" on Twitter) are far from confidential, so even if you are tweeting about personal stuff, keep it clean!

Once you are all signed up, try this exercise: Identify the top 5 companies or organizations you would like to work for. Find them on Twitter. Follow them and then follow some of their followers. In no time, you will have a network of people directly tapped into your ideal place of employment. And, hey, while you are there, be sure to follow JobMonkey for all the latest career news and job leads.

3. Blogging

One of the most attractive qualities in a job candidate is expertise. Looking to get a job as a cake decorator? You will probably need more than just a picture of the cake you decorated for your kid's birthday party to establish your cred. No matter what your resume says, employers want to know that you get what they do -- and can jump right in with both feet. What better way to prove your salt than by blogging about what you love to do? There are plenty of free blogging platforms out there (Blogger and Wordpress are two of the most popular), so in no time you can be spreading your very own gospel. Plus, blogging is a great way to foster relationships with others in your field: They comment on your blog, you comment on theirs, and before you know it, you've got the inside track to possible job leads before they ever hit the classifieds.

4. Facebook

Facebook is the world's most ubiquitous social networking application, with over 350 million users. But did you know that it's also a great way to find a job? And that employers are now checking Facebook pages like they check references? How do you ensure you project the right imagine? Start by setting up a work-friendly profile. Then it's time to search for groups within your area of interest. Join the groups and make your presence known by participating in discussions, responding to wall posts, and sending personal messages to follow up. Here's another suggestion: Identify prospective employers. Check out their list of friends to see if you have anyone in common. On Facebook, it's far fewer than six degrees of separation, so work your existing network to get an introduction to your future one.

By actively managing your social networking presence, you can quickly differentiate yourself from the crowded job field. Start by implementing the above suggestions with these four social media tools and in no time, you will have an active online network engaged in helping you to find your next job!

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AROUND THE MONKEY: Navigating the World of Social Networking
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Do you want to learn more about how to make the most of your online networking efforts? The JobMonkey blog has several tutorials on the biggest social media sites, which can help you launch your online job search today:

Boost Your Resume with Social Media Skills
Tutorial: How to Find a Job on Twitter
Tutorial: How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job
Top 10 Career People to Follow on Twitter

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JOB CENTER: Online Job Opportunities
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Are you ready to launch your online job search today? Savvy job searchers know they need to maximize their social networks to help them find leads on prospective jobs before they ever hit the open market. Of course, that doesn't mean you skip the traditional routes, especially when one-quarter of all job seekers land their jobs that way. If you want to find out about cool jobs for hip and savvy Internet users like yourself, be sure to make the JobMonkey Job Board a daily stop in your job search trails. Updated daily, our job board is free for job seekers and features thousands of job openings from every imaginable field. Want to head abroad for a few months? We've even got international job leads.

 

 

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