How Can I Use Social Media Networks to Get A Job?
September 23, 2011 9:03 PM Subscribe
Beyond just saying "I want a job", how can I effectively and creatively use social media like Facebook and Twitter to get a job?
That depends: What job do you want? What hard things can you help people with? Ask for advice, not for a job.
Assuming you're not in danger of starving, post something like this:
"I have signed up for ( -name of training program in my industry- ), and will be busy ( -every weekday from 6 to 9 PM for the next three months, because of studying-). To make sure I don't flake out, I have given ( -amount of money- ) to ( -NameOfFriend- ), and if I quit or flake out he will donate it to ( -a cause that is evil- ), but if I ( -succeed with good grades- ) he will ( -take us out to awesomeRestaurant to celebrate- ).
posted by sninctown at 9:26 PM on September 23, 2011
Assuming you're not in danger of starving, post something like this:
"I have signed up for ( -name of training program in my industry- ), and will be busy ( -every weekday from 6 to 9 PM for the next three months, because of studying-). To make sure I don't flake out, I have given ( -amount of money- ) to ( -NameOfFriend- ), and if I quit or flake out he will donate it to ( -a cause that is evil- ), but if I ( -succeed with good grades- ) he will ( -take us out to awesomeRestaurant to celebrate- ).
posted by sninctown at 9:26 PM on September 23, 2011
Depends on your industry. For mine, there are various hashtags that HR/Recruiter types use for jobs that provide an easy way to look on Twitter. For example, I have a search for #MyFieldJobs (one of those tags everyone uses, mostly) saved. A lot of times this also gives you a direct line to the person doing the hiring for contact, followup, etc.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:36 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 9:36 PM on September 23, 2011
Response by poster: That depends: What job do you want?
posted by sninctown at 3:26 PM on September 24
I would preferably like something in an office in a managerial type roll. Am currently not in a manager role but the work I've done for the last five years has given me the experience to do it and I'm ready to step up.
Failing that, I'd like something artistic. I figure in this sense I could just post my work but I'm not sure how people who might hire me and aren't my friends/followers would see it.
posted by Effigy2000 at 9:40 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by sninctown at 3:26 PM on September 24
I would preferably like something in an office in a managerial type roll. Am currently not in a manager role but the work I've done for the last five years has given me the experience to do it and I'm ready to step up.
Failing that, I'd like something artistic. I figure in this sense I could just post my work but I'm not sure how people who might hire me and aren't my friends/followers would see it.
posted by Effigy2000 at 9:40 PM on September 23, 2011
Linkedin is a great resource, especially if you can find a group that discusses your field of expertise. I belong to a number of knowledge management discussion groups, and have made great contacts in the field who have pointed me towards opportunities.
posted by xingcat at 9:47 PM on September 23, 2011
posted by xingcat at 9:47 PM on September 23, 2011
I picked up a job via Facebook this week and have previously been employed by a member of a forum I dicked around on. Neither of these were intentional job hunts on my part, but this is how the first one happened:
Engage in dialogue on pages of interest so people know who you are. I like to call it strategic time wasting. When someone 'liked' my comments on a third-party org or institution page I checked out who they were. When I saw they were working in a field I wanted to be in, I added them as a friend. From there it was some more not-so-small talk 'Hey, I see you do xxx, are you aware of any opportunities at the moment?' and the next morning I was in their office having coffee and picking a desk.
It obviously isn't always that easy, but it is amazing what happens when you spend a bit of time playing silly-buggers on the net. If you fancy working in some kind of arts field, friend/like every theatre, gallery, artists co-op, festival and anything else you can think of and engage in conversation. Do not spam or be a bore. Show people you have flair, you know the community and you are enthusiastic about it.
If you are comfortable leaning on your friends to get the word out, make an event. "Effigy2000 for your next manager!' Use it to list all the stone cold reasons you'd be a great manager. Put a grouse picture on it. Invite all your friends, let it appear in feeds far and wide, and perhaps someone who is looking will see it. Someone knows someone who knows someone....
I've been using LinkedIn a bit, but it just doesn't seem to have the presence in Aus as it does in the US. Good luck with it!
posted by Trivia Newton John at 9:55 PM on September 23, 2011 [6 favorites]
Engage in dialogue on pages of interest so people know who you are. I like to call it strategic time wasting. When someone 'liked' my comments on a third-party org or institution page I checked out who they were. When I saw they were working in a field I wanted to be in, I added them as a friend. From there it was some more not-so-small talk 'Hey, I see you do xxx, are you aware of any opportunities at the moment?' and the next morning I was in their office having coffee and picking a desk.
It obviously isn't always that easy, but it is amazing what happens when you spend a bit of time playing silly-buggers on the net. If you fancy working in some kind of arts field, friend/like every theatre, gallery, artists co-op, festival and anything else you can think of and engage in conversation. Do not spam or be a bore. Show people you have flair, you know the community and you are enthusiastic about it.
If you are comfortable leaning on your friends to get the word out, make an event. "Effigy2000 for your next manager!' Use it to list all the stone cold reasons you'd be a great manager. Put a grouse picture on it. Invite all your friends, let it appear in feeds far and wide, and perhaps someone who is looking will see it. Someone knows someone who knows someone....
I've been using LinkedIn a bit, but it just doesn't seem to have the presence in Aus as it does in the US. Good luck with it!
posted by Trivia Newton John at 9:55 PM on September 23, 2011 [6 favorites]
"Work the room" with a long view.
Research to get an idea of who you'd like to work for, or even what industry. Follow what they do, talk shop with them.
If you become known for the right reasons, people might seek you out. Post information or comments that potential employers would be interested in.
Contribute one way or another to your industry. Use whatever online forums and such focus on your industry.
Nick Corcodilos, at the Ask the Headhunter blog, talks about this general idea, among other things.
posted by maurreen at 2:05 AM on September 24, 2011
Research to get an idea of who you'd like to work for, or even what industry. Follow what they do, talk shop with them.
If you become known for the right reasons, people might seek you out. Post information or comments that potential employers would be interested in.
Contribute one way or another to your industry. Use whatever online forums and such focus on your industry.
Nick Corcodilos, at the Ask the Headhunter blog, talks about this general idea, among other things.
posted by maurreen at 2:05 AM on September 24, 2011
I've probably made about 50-100 contacts in my field through Twitter (not so much Facebook). I found out about an industry conference in my area through Twitter and hopefully I'll meet some of my contacts in person. I don't have a job in my field yet, but networking online is a good start.
Basically,follow some people in your industry and just start talking. "I liked your blog post on X, are you going to write more like that?" "Here is a great site I found about Y" "I am planning to attend Z conference, anyone else going?"
Hashtags are your friend; find out which ones your industry uses and use them in a non-spammy way. For example, if I post "This map is awesome! #geo #gis #maps" it's likely to be seen by people interested in that, and retweets often gain me new followers.
But be sincere! Most of my tweets are NOT about my career field, because I'm a real person who does other things. I don't want to be always focusing on one thing. I also don't want to be a sycophant, so when I tell someone their blog is cool, I mean it. Someone on my feed is constantly talking about how much she hates her job, how she needs another one etc and it's really tiring. Don't be that person.
posted by desjardins at 7:37 AM on September 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
Basically,follow some people in your industry and just start talking. "I liked your blog post on X, are you going to write more like that?" "Here is a great site I found about Y" "I am planning to attend Z conference, anyone else going?"
Hashtags are your friend; find out which ones your industry uses and use them in a non-spammy way. For example, if I post "This map is awesome! #geo #gis #maps" it's likely to be seen by people interested in that, and retweets often gain me new followers.
But be sincere! Most of my tweets are NOT about my career field, because I'm a real person who does other things. I don't want to be always focusing on one thing. I also don't want to be a sycophant, so when I tell someone their blog is cool, I mean it. Someone on my feed is constantly talking about how much she hates her job, how she needs another one etc and it's really tiring. Don't be that person.
posted by desjardins at 7:37 AM on September 24, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't know about Facebook, but Twitter is all about engaging community. I guess the rule of thumb is, join in the conversation - don't send out a continued stream of broadcasts about yourself, but try to discuss topics that are of interest to you, and recognize the knowledge of other people by re-Tweeting, or Tweeting links to their sites.
After a while you will have cemented yourself as part of the community, and this will provide you with more knowledge of jobs that are out there.
With LinkedIn, as others have said, participate in Groups, and add value to discussions. Making a bunch of connections on LinkedIn is fine, but it won't really help you find a job.
I'm not sure how Facebook can help you. I myself have made "friends" with a number of translators around the world (just 5 years ago it would have been difficult to do), but Facebook for me is just a way to blow off steam as I write marketing copy every day, chained to my desk, and the same goes for Google+.
However, it's important to cultivate Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ profiles, as these are the first things that show up in a Google search for your name.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2011
After a while you will have cemented yourself as part of the community, and this will provide you with more knowledge of jobs that are out there.
With LinkedIn, as others have said, participate in Groups, and add value to discussions. Making a bunch of connections on LinkedIn is fine, but it won't really help you find a job.
I'm not sure how Facebook can help you. I myself have made "friends" with a number of translators around the world (just 5 years ago it would have been difficult to do), but Facebook for me is just a way to blow off steam as I write marketing copy every day, chained to my desk, and the same goes for Google+.
However, it's important to cultivate Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ profiles, as these are the first things that show up in a Google search for your name.
posted by KokuRyu at 9:17 AM on September 24, 2011
As well as what's been mentioned above, make sure you're giving value as well as keeping your eyes peeled for job opportunities. Answer people's questions if you can, or recommend services that you know are genuinely good. It builds your reputation as someone who knows what he's talking about, and helps you stick out in their memory. If they hear of a job opening or have one themselves, they're more likely to tell someone who's done them a little favour in the past than the guy who's always begging for attention.
posted by harriet vane at 5:01 AM on September 26, 2011
posted by harriet vane at 5:01 AM on September 26, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by sweetkid at 9:21 PM on September 23, 2011