How to Manage Your Career with Social Channels

How to Manage Your Career with Social Channels Recruiters [like me] use social media to connect with talented people â€" and connect them with pretty amazing companies.  But, what happens when you’re an active job seeker â€" but not active on social media? Does that mean you won’t find a job? Yes and no. Quick fact: 35% of employers are less likely to interview applicants they can’t find online -CareerBuilder Survey So, how does a job seeker [whether active or maybe just “window shopping”] bridge the gap between being a non-social savvy job seeker to a job seeker that can essentially get headhunted by a recruiter [like me] using social channels? Let’s start with the basics… I chat with many job seekers every week â€" one common question I’m asked: “Which social media platforms should I be on to get noticed by a recruiter?” I always reply: “It depends.” Tip: Determine who your audience is. [i.e. Audience= recruiters/companies/CTOs] If you’re an active job seeker the no-brainer-thing-to-do: create a LinkedIn profile [it’s free]. You may also want to create a Twitter Instagram account as well [I’ll get to that part later]. Tip: If you’re an Interaction Designer looking for work â€" is LinkedIn ideal? Yes and no. It can be difficult to showcase your portfolio on LinkedIn- but what about creating a Dribbble account? BINGO! The main idea understand who your ‘audience’ is before you sign up for any social channel. Next comes the social media audit. What does that mean? Review any Social Media Platforms you currently use: Website (if applicable) LinkedIn (if applicable) Facebook Twitter Instagram Tip: If you decide to use [Facebook, Twitter, Instagram] to support your job search efforts- review the content that is posted on these channels. Tip: If the channels noted above are chosen for personal use ensure you review your privacy settings. Now, let’s start with some basics [Resume vs. LinkedIn] From my experience I prefer LinkedIn; however, recruiters, hiring managers and companies still prefer to see a resume as well. Note: you can also download a PDF version of your LinkedIn page [this may pass as a resume for some jobs you apply for]. After either creating a LinkedIn account [check out their help section if you need support with this] or logging into an existing account: this is where the magic happens. Let’s start with giving your LinkedIn profile life: Ensure your Profile is up-to-date [including the summary section ensure there is content under your employer section [i.e. you can include years of experience, clients you’ve worked with, skills you’ve mastered, industry events you attend] Also include a portfolio in your summary section [especially for designers] Ask for testimonials [from previous employers, colleagues, schoolmates] Showcase Skills [I’ll get to this part soon] Tip: Avoid titles like: Ninja, Guru, Self-employed, Looking for Opportunity. Why? When recruiters do a Boolean search string in Google â€" they’re searching for specific titles that are relevant to the jobs they are promoting [i.e. Software Engineer OR Communications Specialist] Tip: Are you a contractor or consultant? I’d recommend the following as your title header: Software Consultant â€"Next available for work February 1 Tip: What about a remote contractor? LinkedIn users can change their location to remote â€" I’d recommend not listing your location as ‘worldwide’. Want to be contacted? Easy. Include your email address in either the summary section of your LinkedIn profile OR include it in the ‘Advice for Contacting’ section on your profileâ€" [you can also include any other forms of contact based on your preference]. Want to connect with Recruiters at the company you wish to work for? Go for it! Not sure where find them? Quick tip:  Search recruiters on LinkedIn. Make sure to complete an advanced search. See below. Next â€" Twitter/Instagram Tip: use the same profile picture for all your social media profiles to create consistency. It will help recruiters recognize you. Tip: By adding appropriate links [i.e. LinkedIn profile link or personal website] to your Twitter or Instagram account this will allow a recruiter to be able to reach out to you. These are just a few tips and tricks to allow you to proactively manage your career using social media â€" you can also stick to the basics by applying for roles on Indeed and Monster â€" determine what works best for you and your job search efforts!