As nearly all of us are probably overwhelmed with the future, in terms of where we are going to find jobs, while satisfying our likes, and also being happy with what we are doing with our lives, this random article on CNN Money, seemed to suggest yet another avenue for completing these difficult tasks. The author offers social networking tools, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as possible sources to extend our personal marketability to employers. Even though I tend to be a bit cynical toward social networking, which many already know, I found this article to be helpful because I am currently finding that even searching for internships can be a long and daunting task. I can’t imagine what it will be like when I actually have to start looking for a full-time job in less than a year.
The article lists a few ways to assist job-seekers en route to landing a steady job. They go as follows:
1. Follow businesses that you may be interested to work for on Facebook, by searching out business groups and keeping up to date on the group discussion boards that several businesses have now adopted. These boards give relevant information on the status of the company, list the recent conferences and meetings occurring in the company and network you with the professionals inside the company.
2. Instead of using Twitter as another tool like Facebook statuses, use your 140 characters to express a job interest, without sounding desperate. Brad and Debra Schepp, the couple who authored the book "How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Other Social Networks," suggested that your relevant followers on Twitter will then be aware of what you’re looking for and may be able to connect with you an opening that they know of. Brad Schepp also recommended that like Facebook, you should try to follow the companies you are interested in so that you can keep up with their activities and job openings, if any.
3. Lastly, LinkedIn, possibly the most underscored social networking tool between the three, can also give you a step forward with the job search. Schepp said that you should try to complete your profile with three recommendations from past or current employers, express your goals with pizzazz and personality and don’t try to amass as many contacts as you can; rather, network with people who you foresee having an impact on your future. Schepp also recommends that you treat LinkedIn, much like a business lunch, where you don’t loudly express your need for a job, but instead you say what you can politely and unobtrusively.
Many of us may already be utilizing these tools to make finding a job a simpler task. As much as I do not like to admit it, it is important to represent yourself well on social networking sites because employers are starting to use these more expansively when searching for competent and fitting employees.
If you visit this website, you can also check out what CNN labels the jobs that are the most stressful and pay the least. It also names the top-paying jobs as well as the markets that are growing the fastest- all good to know as we continue to get closer to college graduation. Are you ready?
1 comment:
As our job hunt grows closer (or closer to an end for some), we all have to be more creative to work our way into the organizations we want to become a part of. Social networking has opened many new doors of opportunity since the days when resumes and cover letters were sent through snail mail. However, as you said, we need to use it correctly. I've been a skeptic of the phenomenon as well, but when it comes down to it, finding a job is too important to avoid any avenue...no matter how new and strange it may seem.
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