How Social Media Affects Your Job Search

Great advice, Gini.  I think the social media connection strategy you recommend is incredibly important, especially since candidates may get "screened out" of the online employment application systems most companies now use.  What a great boost if the hiring manager sees your name and thinks, "hey, I know this person." This is a great way to validate all the experience candidates highlight in their resume.  

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Hi, Gini. I've read your posts before, but I'm a first-time commenter today! Just had to tell you how much I love this post and how true it is. I started as a high school English teacher and now I'm working [virtually] as a freelance writer, as well as the managing editor for Business2Community. My entire livelihood is based off of contacts and connections that I made online. People think you just have to be lucky. I say you just have to be motivated. :)

I need to share this post with all of my friends who don't think social plays an important role in a job search!

Having worked remotely for over 15 years -- back when it was called telecommuting and only about 0.5% (made up statistic) were doing it, I can relate!  It definitely takes a strong-willed and self-motivated person. I've often been accused of being harder on myself than anyone else is, which in this scenario is a good thing. :)

Still thinking about this. Can I flip the question and ask how community interaction influence the roles that you choose to create? Are you now more likely to shape a role around a person's unique skill set? 

Yes, yes, yes! I wrote a guest post for you guys last year about this very topic. Every time a student or person in the industry is looking for a job, I always point to that post because it outlines the very things you mentioned. You have to be a good writer first, but you also MUST be active and connected online. If you're not, you're just not going to cut it today.

The challenge I'm finding is that it is VERY difficult to find these folks. Someone who writes well, understands strategic communication/marketing AND knows how to connect online is worth their weight in gold! I know I'm still looking for that!

Great post, Gini. And this also fits not just to job applicants but to freelancers and independent consultants. 

I find it really interesting that connecting online is non-optional for you and a lot of other companies when you're hiring. I got into my job in communications by helping out on a project basis and got hired on full-time later on, but I've been actively trying to connect with the communications scene in my city through my professional organization and through Twitter. While I aim to go into freelance work, it's great to hear that I'm on the right track!

@smstucky, I think you should check this out.

Is leaving a snarky comment once a week enough? :)

Amazing how the world has changed. What I think is really interesting about your approach is that you don't have to filter applicants, they filter themselves for you over time. Very efficient -- and effective.

This is a great post, and near to my heart. I really came into my own in social media when I was laid off a couple of years ago, and in fact found my current job via a combination of in-person networking and Twitter. I tell people that Twitter changed my life, and finding this job was only one of those ways. It's the broader relationships I've built.Now I use those experiences to offer free social media tutoring to people from my church or other social circles who lose their jobs. As several people have pointed out here - it's about relationships. And I'd add the word genuine (@ginidietrich was right - you can spot the fakers): genuine relationships.I will certainly be sharing this post with some folks who could really use the help right now! 

So, basically we're internet dating?

Seriously though, I love scoping out potential opportunities via the WWW. Personalities shine (or thud) through online interaction and, in my opinion, they can be very telling as to what people are like in-person. I've been absolutely delighted by the friends I've made here at Spin Sucks and my brain is brimming with new ideas due to content and resources connected to this blog. 

Just like in-person interviews, you can learn a boat-load about people and their character online. 

Gee, whatever happened to the days when someone would "give" you a job?  Work is so much... work! 

Back in the day, people thought the idea behind technology was to make things easier. It really hasn't worked out that way. It's raised the bar, which is difficult, but a good thing in the long run. It has also widened the playing field. I'm amazed at the talented people I discover online every day, who are making opportunities for themselves every day. And I'm kinda baffled that some of the traditional organizations out there, who need good people, aren't snapping them up. 

I couldn't agree more. I'd also like to say that building relationships online with people you've never met offline could later lead to a job opportunity at a company you never thought about, hence my current employment situation.

The relationships I made with @debce & @jackmonson lead to my current job at Engage121. I have many friends still today that think the dream job just lands in your lap, take my word for it, it DOESN'T. I worked HARD before coming to Engage121, building relationships, networking, guest blogging, and not sticking to 9-5. 

If you want something you can have it, you just gotta work for it. : )

I spoke to a class of Seniors yesterday, and the final question was: how will Social Media effect us upon graduation... I told them that if they used it properly it will help them find a job :)  Great minds.

Great post. Anyone looking for a job should read Nick Corcodilos' Ask The Headhunter column ---> http://www.pbs.org/newshour/businessdesk/2012/12/ask-the-headhunter-qa---set-10-1.html

He addresses a lot of what you're talking about around finding and interacting with companies you want to be a part of.

I have a question as well, would be curious to hear from anyone: I got a job the old fashioned way, entry level customer service and worked my way up. Because I'm in a fairly back end position (Operations, project management) my online and work lives don't meet very often. My presence on social media (mostly Twitter & blogging) skews towards the personal. I'm a decent writer and try to be thoughtful, so while some of it is not stuff I would talk about at work I don't think (or at least hope) it wouldn't be a negative to any potential future employers.

So here's the question part - Should I have a separate "social media self" for my professional interests? I've thought of having another blog, that makes sense to me, but does it make sense to have another Twitter handle? Should I connect the two?

WAIT! Is @belllindsay here in Chicago?!?! I wish I wouldve known.  I wouldve come down to meet here! 

Well, now that you are hiring Canadians, I will begin "Operation Worming." ;)

Spot on! Happy holidays to all of you! xo

What a great post. I believe that following companies and potential employees is soon going to be pre-requisite for everyone. Following the company will help identify its strengths (and weaknesses) and following a future employee can do the same. Great post!

Gini, this post brightened up my morning. And here is why...

I was talking to a buddy over the weekend who is a Com/PR major and is getting ready to graduate next semester. He asked me, what do you suggest I do to get my name out there for jobs. I mentioned to him that he has to establish a personal brand online.

Not just LinkedIn, which is important, but too many people put their eggs just in that basket. I told him to fire up a Wordpress blog, start writing, and start connecting with industry folks on Twitter.

So, I'm loving the timing of this post and what it stands for. And when he asks me again about this stuff -- I can show him Spin Sucks! Boom.