These days most agree the world has changed in dramatic ways. What has some frustrated, though, is just how fast it’s all changed. Think about it— MySpace is just five years old, Facebook is barely four, and YouTube just over three.
These profound changes in many ways represent how the world largely communicates today, and is why Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance created the Professional Career Resource Expo to be held Tuesday, March 17, 2009 8:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. at the University of South Florida, Marshall Center.
So, the MyJobHunt Blog staff recently chatted with Joan Brannick, Ph.D., who will lead a Resource Expo session called, “Put Your Best Facebook Forward: Using the Internet and Social Networking to Find and Get the Job of Your Dreams.”
Here’s what Dr. Brannick told us:
MyJobHunt Blog: What is the overall focus of your workshop; what most will attendees go away with?
Dr. Brannick: The focus of the workshop is to introduce participants to the world of social networking and how tools such as LinkedIn and Facebook can help them in their job search. Participants will walk away with knowledge of these tools and specific strategies for using these tools to find a job that is a good fit for them and for the employer that hires them.
MyJobHunt Blog: What’s the biggest difference in job hunting today versus 5 years ago?
Dr. Brannick: For both applicants and employers, the biggest change in job hunting today is the use of the internet. For applicants, it’s the way to finds jobs and people who can help them find jobs and get hired. For employers, the internet is the way they advertise jobs AND it is the way they find out information about applicants that may not be on their resume. FYI, employee referrals is the most popular method now that employers use to find applicants. It’s more important now, more than ever, to use and build your network of family, friends, professional colleagues, etc. to find jobs. Social networking tools such as LinkedIn and Facebook make it easier for applicants to find and connect with their network (which also gives them access to their network’s network).
MyJobHunt Blog: How can candidates best utilize Facebook and social networks for job searching and networking?
Dr. Brannick: Use these tools to connect/inform your existing network of your job search. Use these tools to make new connections with people who can help in your job search. And use these tools to create/reinforce your brand (who you are and what you have to offer an employer)
MyJobHunt Blog: How are Employers uses social networks as part of their hiring process?
Dr. Brannick: Employers now use social networks to find out information about applicants that is typically not presented in their resume. Most employers, as part of the hiring process, will Google applicants and will search for an applicant on LinkedIn and Facebook to see what information (if any) they can obtain about an applicant (work experience, friends, family, hobbies, photos, etc.). An applicant should Google themselves and check out their information on LinkedIn and Facebook to see what information is there. Whatever information is there should reinforce the applicant’s brand (their experience, their accomplishments, their strengths, their reputation, etc.).
MyJobHunt Blog: What are the ‘must do’s” and the “must NOT do’s”?
Dr. Brannick: In a broad sense, applicants should:
1. Know themselves (their values, what kind of company they want to work for, their accomplishments, their strengths, etc.)
2. Know others (the success of social networking in a job search starts with the applicant’s network – family, friends, professional colleagues, etc.)
3. Have a plan; building on the foundation of knowing themselves and knowing others, applicant’s need to create a plan for things they can do (resume, website, blog, video interview, etc.) to increase their visibility with others who can help them get a job
4. Work the plan; approach your job search as you would a full-time job; prioritize your efforts and do one or more things daily to move forward on your plan
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