| Social Media has ballooned. It's more than a game or | | | | applicants. One recent report says they go there 20 % |
| purely social. Leading professionals and executives use | | | | of the time. An increasing percentage use these sites |
| it effectively and job seekers are big users. | | | | to actually identify, to find, candidates. So you need to |
| Companies looking for employees are now using it to | | | | be there even if it was just for this one reason. But |
| locate and screen candidates. You can't overlook this | | | | there are more. |
| valuable means in a search effort....and it is a tool for all | | | | 2. You can find important information about people you |
| my job seeking clients. | | | | are meeting or about companies where you are |
| On the other hand it can waste a great deal of time, | | | | interested in exploring job opportunities. For example |
| and it could put your next job opportunity at risk! It can | | | | you do a search of companies you would like to work |
| hurt you if your presence on line is inconsistent with | | | | for, and then people within your network who can give |
| what you have done or want to do. Clearly you want | | | | you information and introductions into those companies. |
| a positive online presence so it is consistent with | | | | 3. You can ask questions or find more information |
| whom you are and the possibilities you may offer. | | | | depending on the site. A question might be: "Does |
| Let's make sense of what has become a | | | | anyone know a company looking for a research |
| phenomenon, understanding how it can be a valuable | | | | analyst in Atlanta? Answers come back for one |
| means to your next job opportunity. | | | | simple reason; people do want to help if you have a |
| Starting Your Online Presence: | | | | connection with them. You need to find, and then use |
| Zoominfo, Plaxo and LinkedIn are places for | | | | those connections. |
| networking, getting information or reputation | | | | 4. Job Listings. Linkedin is now listing jobs and it is |
| management tools. These "core" sites allow you to | | | | projected that sites in these categories will carry a |
| create a profile, link to other sites, build a network, | | | | bigger percentage of total job listings. |
| make requests, and get endorsements and information. | | | | Creating Positive Value: |
| You want to carefully craft your information so it is | | | | It will help to build out your information on these core |
| professional and consistent. Being carefully crafted | | | | sites with accomplishments that might be of value to |
| may mean flexible so it is appropriate to a range of | | | | people and companies hiring. Building out means |
| job opportunities. These sites get high Google rankings. | | | | mentioning or including an article, a guest appearance |
| Facebook is being used more and if you have quality | | | | or add special projects or assignments you have |
| content or plan to do consulting, a You Tube video | | | | completed. Word and name searches are going on by |
| may be appropriate. Always keep you common name | | | | the millions so if you are found the chances of being |
| consistent or use a purchased domain name so | | | | contacted are so much greater. |
| people can find you. | | | | A basic idea to all of this is to make it easy to be |
| Make Your Advantage: | | | | found and also use the so called social networking |
| Here are four ways to get an edge when creating an | | | | sites to find others as well as access information. This |
| online presence: | | | | means you want to control your presence and avoid |
| 1. Get exposure if others are looking for you. This goes | | | | being hurt by misinformation that you do not control. It |
| beyond finding a person from the past with a job lead | | | | is very simple you make it possible for others to get |
| for you, although those lost contacts have proved to | | | | positive information about you, and you will get the |
| be immensely valuable to many people. Today HR and | | | | inside information you want on people and companies. |
| hiring managers go to these sites to check on | | | | |