Using Social Media to Help Your Bay Area Job Search
Posted May 4th, 2010
The advent of social media truly has turned what can be a tedious process — the job hunt — into something…less tedious.
But seriously, used correctly social media can help you connect with potential hiring managers more quickly and more easily. It also allows you to market your skills in a very targeted manner, helping you show those hiring managers how well you fit a position. Social media also can help you network so that you can learn of positions before they even become posted on a job board or company’s website, helping you get a leg up on any competition.
Yet, while social media is an incredible job search tool, don’t hide behind your computer screen just sending Tweets, Facebook and LinkedIn updates. You’ll need to make some actual phone calls and meet with actual people to really see your search shift into high gear.
So look at social media as just one of several tools in your job search toolkit. You also should contact Bay Area staffing agencies about positions, approach directly those companies in which you’re interested, and work to get in-person meetings with people in your field for leads.
Here are some tips on how to use social media in your San Francisco job search:
- Google yourself. What comes up? Is it pretty much positive, or is that pic of you chugalugging on spring break in Cancun still up there? Be sure to clean up your own pages. If you find negative or “touchy” information/pictures when you search your name, ask friends to remove that information from their Facebook, MySpace sites, etc. If that’s not possible, you may be able to mitigate the damage by asking your friends and former colleagues to post positive comments on their pages (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Speaking of LinkedIn, if you don’t have a profile there yet, spend some time today crafting your professional summary. Place as professional a photo on your profile as possible. Check with former colleagues, teachers and supervisors to write recommendations. Check out their LinkedIn profiles to see to whom they are linked, and ask for what the site calls an “introduction” with people (hiring managers in your field, potential future colleagues) you feel may be helpful to your search.
- Approach companies in your field directly. LinkedIn is a great tool for this. Search for companies and then try to connect with people at those companies with a targeted message that explains a bit about you, your interests and background. Ask for advice — information about the future of the industry, etc. — do not ask for a job
- Start Tweeting. Join Twitter and start searching for people in your industry. Tweet helpful posts about your industry. Comment on others’ helpful posts. Remember, everything you tweet stays online forever; be careful what you post.
While you look for a job on your own, be sure to contact Bayside Solutions, one of the Bay Area’s premier staffing firms. We can help you land the perfect job. We also can keep you working on assignments while you job search. In fact, long-term assignments often turn into regular, full-time employment!
And last but not least, follow Bayside Solutions on both Twitter and Facebook to be the first to hear about new job opportunities available.
