Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

How Twitter can help you find a job

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5858249526_2298a25375_mCan you find a job using Twitter?

Maybe you’ve heard that “Google is the new resume” and that your online presence is the most important thing hiring managers will consider when you apply for jobs. In reality, most companies are not abandoning the resume, and hiring is still done using traditional methods in most companies. However, social media should still be a key component of your job search. Why? What many people forget is that the most time honored way to get a job is via networking, and social media is just the latest and greatest way to tap and grow your network. Twitter is one of the best online tools to help you network well online.

When used well, Twitter can be a real door opener for job seekers who are wiling to try a new strategy to reach out and connect with people who may be able to refer them for jobs. If you’re not convinced Twitter can help you, consider this: CareerXroads, a consulting practice, conducts annual studies about how organizations source and hire employees. Their most recent study showed that nearly half of all companies make at least one hire for every five referrals they get.

Even if you’re not good at math, it’s clear that you’ll have a better chance to land an interview (and a job) if you can increase the number of contacts who know, like and trust you. Luckily, Twitter is a terrific way to improve your chances in all of those areas.

How can Twitter help you compete in today’s job market?

What Can Twitter Do For You?

Provide a mechanism to help you demonstrate your expertise.

Job seekers don’t always spend time thinking about how to showcase their expertise, but it’s an important strategy everyone should keep in mind. If you’re an expert in your field, but you don’t make an effort to let people know, it’s difficult to attract opportunities, and unlikely anyone will approach you with an opportunity for a job. When you use Twitter to share information and news about your industry, you make it clear that you have your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in your field, even if you’re not currently employed.

In addition to highlighting what you know by posting status updates to appeal to people in your field, Twitter gives you a chance to demonstrate skills employers like to see. For example, if you say you’re a great, efficient and effective communicator on your resume, you can prove it by having a useful and well-written stream of information on Twitter. If you’re touting your skills as a great team builder, you can show how you built a community on Twitter as proof.

Allow you to meet and connect with people beyond your normal circle of friends and colleagues.

There’s a logical limit to how many people you can meet, even if you go to every networking event in your area. When statistics show how important referrals are for job seekers, it becomes a numbers game in addition to a skills issue: how many people know about you, and how many of them would be willing to pass along your name for an opportunity or introduce you to a key contact?

You may be surprised by how generous people on Twitter can be. Even if they have not met you in person, many people who connect with you online and see a useful and intelligent stream of information via your Twitter handle may be willing to connect you with someone who could change your job search trajectory dramatically! Don’t think of Twitter as frivolous; it can help provide some important contacts and potential access to people you’d never otherwise easily access, including CEOs, hiring managers and colleagues at target companies.

Teach you new information.

It’s important to keep abreast of what’s new in your field, but there’s so much to do everyday, it’s easy to get out of the loop. Once you follow a well-connected, informed group on Twitter, you’ll never need much more than to sign into your Twitter account to learn what’s new and what’s hot in your industry. Ideally, you’ll become one of those go-to people to follow, but on your way there, you’ll learn a lot about what’s going on in your field by following other people who care about the same topics as you and tweet about them.

Help people find you

When you take the time to demonstrate your expertise and expand your network, the next logical step is that you’ll make it easier to find you. One of the best things about social media is the opportunity to reverse the job search process: instead of always applying for jobs (pushing your resume and application into a position), social media allows you to be out in the media sphere so hiring managers have a chance to find you. Wouldn’t it be great to be recruited to your next job, without even needing to apply? That’s more of an option when you hop on Twitter and other social media sites to showcase what you know and engage with potential colleagues.

Don’t discount the social media tool with the bird logo — you could be 140 characters away from connecting with someone with the power to change your career!

photo by eldh

How to win at a phone interview

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Companies often use phone interviews to screen candidates before meeting in person. Seize your chance to impress the interviewer so he or she can’t help but want to meet you in person. Consider the following do’s and don’ts.

How to have winning phone interviews

Don’t miss the details. What time is the interview? Is the interviewer calling you, or is it up to you to place the call? Does everyone have the right phone numbers? Who will be interviewing you? (Make sure to get the correct spelling of their names and also their contact information so you can easily follow up with thank you notes.) When the interview is remote, it’s very easy to muck up the key details, but if you are waiting for a call and the interviewer expected you to initiate the conversation, you’ve lost an opportunity. It’s wise to send an email to confirm all the specifics so everyone is on the same page.

Don’t take the call from a noisy place. There is nothing worse (for you and the interviewer) than trying to have a serious conversation when there is a lot of noise in the background. It does not matter if the noise is your daughter’s soccer game or the cappuccino machine at the local coffee shop; it’s up to you to find a quiet place to take the call. If you don’t, the interviewer will question your judgment, and no employer wants to hire someone who doesn’t make good decisions.

Don’t forget to tell your friends and family you’re on a business call. Even if you are in your home office with the door closed, if your roommate or family members don’t know you’re on an important call, expect to be interrupted.

Don’t schedule an interview when you have other responsibilities. Needless to say, it’s not a good idea to schedule an interview while you’re at work. Other bad times: when you’re in charge of children, driving or expecting a service person or visitor. Make sure you can give the interviewer your complete attention, or you may regret it later.

Don’t interrupt for a call that’s waiting. Just as you would never answer your phone during an in-person interview, don’t ever be tempted to ask the interviewer to wait a minute so you can pick up the call that’s waiting. Not only is it rude, but it’s possible you’ll get disconnected. When you are in an interview, give the interviewer all your focus and attention.

Do write some notes and refer to them. Be ready for the interview. Take advantage of the fact that the interviewer can’t see you and keep a few notes handy to help you remember to say all of your key points. Use bullet points, not complete paragraphs. (You don’t want to read them word-for-word.)

Do prepare as you would for an in-person meeting. Just because the meeting is over the phone doesn’t mean the employer isn’t serious about your candidacy. Return the favor and prepare and research as you would for an in-person interview. Learn all you can about the organization, their successes and their concerns. Be prepared to explain exactly why you are a good fit for the job.

Emote. In a phone interview, you need to be extra attentive about your tone and enthusiasm. If necessary, stand up when you’re on the call. Smile and gesture as you would in person to help make sure you verbally project your interest in the job.

Use a phone that won’t drop the call. You do not want to lose the interviewer in the midst of your conversation. Be sure to take the call on a reliable phone in a location that isn’t typically problematic.

Listen carefully and take notes as long as it doesn’t distract you. Just as it’s OK to refer to your prepared notes during your interview, you can take advantage of the phone interview setup to write down things during the interview so you’ll remember them later. It can be helpful to jot down a few things so you can write detailed thank you notes. Don’t feel compelled to transcribe every word, but some well-placed notes may help you later. You’ll be glad when you get the job.

A phone interview can be a great opportunity to shine, and without the pressure to shake hands well or dress in exactly the right thing, it can be a lot easier than an in-person meeting. Don’t blow your opportunity to make the most of this chance.

Get a job – four things to do now

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4 job search tipsIf you haven’t been successful landing a new gig, maybe it’s time to stop and take a look at your tactics. Don’t assume you haven’t found a job because the economy is poor; there are jobs out there. It is up to you to demonstrate how and why you are a good match. [Read more…] about Get a job – four things to do now

How to get a job when you’re overqualified?

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Overqualified for the job.Shouldn’t it be easy to get a job if you are more than qualified — even overqualified — for the opportunity? If you’re an experienced engineer with a Ph.D. and you’re having trouble landing an entry-level engineering job, it can be tough on your morale. However, you should not be surprised when employers don’t jump at the chance to hire someone who isn’t a perfect fit for the job, even if that means turning away someone with too many qualifications. [Read more…] about How to get a job when you’re overqualified?