At the Society for Human Resource Management, Atlanta conference, I made a point to attend several sessions addressing social media. These sessions were directed to recruiters and human resource professionals responsible for attracting top talent to their organizations. Job seekers can learn a lot from the conversations. [Read more…] about What job seekers can learn from employers
Don’t make these online job hunting mistakes
In an article for the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth Garone shared five tips to help job seekers avoid typical social networking mistakes. While there are a lot of ways to use social media tools to help land an opportunity, it’s easy to make newbie mistakes when just getting started. I’m sure you’ve heard of or read about people who have been fired for what they posted on Facebook. Maybe you’ve seen the compilations of unwise posts from Twitter, such as ResumeBear’s 30 ways to lose a job on Twitter.
As a proponent of using social networking to enhance job seeking opportunities, I encourage people to jump in and take advantage of all the great tools, but it’s important to remember what NOT to do.
These are the mistakes Elizabeth highlights in her article. Be sure to READ THE FULL POST for specific advice and details.
1. Forgetting manners.
I was delighted to be quoted in this section! In short – “Assume your future boss is reading everything you share online.”
2. Overkill.
Signing up for too many networks and not making an effort to complete your profiles does not move your search forward.
3. Not getting the word out.
It’s important to let your networks know you are looking.
4. Quantity over quality.
Connect carefully and personalize your invitations.
5. Online exclusivity.
Don’t spend all of your time searching online; many jobs are not posted.
Don’t miss the expert advice from Sree Sreenivasan, dean of students at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Krista Canfield, a LinkedIn spokesperson, author Emily Bennington and personal branding expert Dan Schawbel in the Wall Street Journal’s FULL POST.
Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk, a review
I’ve heard a lot about Gary Vaynerchuk. He is well known and widely lauded for his approach to personal branding for business owners. He “leveraged social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV,” a video blog about wine. He’s hob nobbed with Meredith and Ann on the Today Show, shared wine with Ellen and Conan and been featured on Nightline, among other appearances.
So, when I was invited to participate in launching his book, I was happy to join in. (I love reading advance copies to share with my readers!)
Gary’s book is a high-energy guide for business owners and would-be business owners to harnessing the power of social media to fuel not only your bottom line, but also your personal brand. (And, if you don’t think you need a personal brand because you are happy with your day job, Gary’s response, “What you think you’re invincible?” He notes, “Developing your personal brand is the same thing as living and breathing your resume every second that you’re working” (p. 38).
He reminds readers how important it is to create bonds with other professionals in your field and to share your ideas and expertise on the social networks. (I LOVE when other writers second what I tell my readers!)
Gary thinks traditional resumes are going to be irrelevant. This is a common belief among the social media elite. I agree that your reputation (aka, personal brand) will be key, but having a great traditional resume is still important for most people! The good thing? Pursuing a new media strategy to support your professional reputation does not prevent you from having a terrific, traditional resume. The best approach? A multi-tiered plan that has potential to appeal to everyone in your target audience.
Other terrific points relevant for job seekers from the book? Wait for it…this is key:
If you are authentic, you will sometimes lose people along the way!
Gary knows this – he admits that his loud, in your face, brash style does not appeal to all wine lovers. He says, “I lose about 12 percent of my viewers right off the bat because I yell and scream like a maniac” (page 85). You can’t be everything to all people, whether you are a job seeker or an entrepreneur. And, you really shouldn’t try. When you differentiate, you will lose some people, but those probably are not “your people.” On the other hand, by strongly focusing on what you have to offer – your best and authentic you – you have a better chance to connect and appeal to a community of “good matches.”
Crush It! is a terrific guide for anyone (entrepreneur or job seeker) who needs a nudge and a guide to begin to shift his or her mindset to move forward with today’s tools. Stay tuned for more thoughts from his book tomorrow, the official launch date!
If you need help using social networking tools for your business or job search and just need a helping hand, contact me to learn how I can help!
A discussion of social media for job seekers
Interested in some great tips about how to use social networking for your job hunt? Wonder why you should conduct vanity searches regularly and what to do if you have the same name as a death row inmate(!) Do you know about pipl.com and why you should incorporate it into your search? I have just the resource for you…
I hope you’ll listen to the High Velocity Radio Show, guest hosted by Stephanie A. Lloyd of Radiant Veracity. I was a guest along with Jenny DeVaughn, Senior Talent Consultant with Talent Connections. (There we are in the picture at lunch after the show.) We talked about using social media for both recruiters and job-seekers. Listeners will gain lots of inside tips and tricks!
You can listen to the show by clicking HERE.
We were joined in the studio by Lee Kantor, co-host, who runs Business RadioX, “an Atlanta-based internet radio network that helps entrepreneurs and business owners connect with their prospects and dramatically grow their businesses by hosting their own radio show and podcasting it on the internet.” If you are in Atlanta, be sure to review Business RadioX to learn about opportunities to host a radio show!
In Atlanta? GA is expecting 10.1% unemployment. Get ahead of the game so you will be prepared to search for your next opportunity with local job search interventions: http://youneedajob.org/.
Live on High Velocity Radio!
I’m excited to invite you to listen live tomorrow – Monday, July 20th – at 10:00 am Eastern time on High Velocity Radio when I will join guest host Stephanie A. Lloyd, Founder and CEO, Radiant Veracity (at the intersection of talent and social media) and Jenny DeVaughn, Senior Talent Consultant at Talent Connections, for a discussion about social media and how to use it successfully for personal branding, finding a job, business development and advancing your career.
Where can you find High Velocity Radio? Follow THIS LINK to Stephanie’s blog for a “listen live” player.
There is no “one size fits all” career advice. Don’t you deserve the best, personalized information and help? Learn how I can help you with your search.
Frustrated that your search isn’t resulting in a job? In Atlanta? Join me and Stephanie for our series of in-person job search interventions. Read more about how to propel your search and sign up here.