Finding Your Dream Job Using Social Networking

Finding Your Dream JobUsing Social NetworkingBy Wade Kwon

How bad are the odds?• Unemployment rate?

– 10.1% - Alabama– 10.6% - Jefferson County– Worst in 25 years

1 in 10 are out of work.

It's not enough to bea skilled worker

with good experience.

Why use social networkingfor your job hunt?• You have to be faster than your competition.

• … better connected than your competition.

• … be smarter than your competition.

Networking goes both ways.

Be willing to shareand help others.

What is your career search goal?• Expand your network.• Communicate your needs and status.

• Get information.• Get in the door.

1. Clean up your Facebook page.• Would you hire you?• Option A: Hide Profile to Friends Only

• Option B: Leave Profile, but Hide …– Wall Posts– Tagged Photos– Tagged Videos

2. Beef up your LinkedIn profile.• Welcome to your new resume.• Easy to send link.• Easy to update.• Easy to link to companies, colleagues.

2. Beef up your LinkedIn profile• Easy to turn into printed copy / PDF.

• No space constraints.• Show off your testimonials.

3. Add critical information to your LinkedIn resume.• Details on your work experience.

• Details on successes.– How did you bring in revenue?– How did you lead a team?– How did you save money?

3. Add critical information to your LinkedIn resume.• Testimonials!• Write with the focus on where you want to go next.– Not on who you were, or what you did.

4. Follow relevant people / companies on Twitter.• You want to see what they're talking about.

• You want them to follow you.• You want to engage them in conversation.

4. Follow relevant people / companies on Twitter.• How do you find them?

– search.twitter.com– wefollow.com– twibes.com

• Keep searches in RSS reader.

(Take 5 minutes.)

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5. Tell a story with your blog.• Start a Posterous.com blog.

5. Tell a story with your blog.• Talk about ...

– The most challenging project you worked on

– Why you became an engineer– The best boss you ever had

• Show that you are ...– Successful– Engaging– Human

5. Tell a story with your blog.• Why do this?

– Need to showcase your experience.

– Connect with others in your industry.

– Become a "thought leader."

6. Interact!• Engage in conversation on Twitter.

• Ask and answer questions on LinkedIn.

• E-mail three people in your "Rolodex" every day.

7. Put it all together.• Find people to be your advocates, informants.

• Ask for informational interviews.• Do your homework on ...

– Companies, positions and hiring managers.– Who do you know who works there or used to?– Check LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook.

• Use your blog to discuss industry challenges.

8. Don't forget "little things."• Write thank you notes. (Or at least, e-mails.)

• Have coffee with someone new.• Go to mixers, networking, parties, talks.

• Send monthly followup e-mails to hiring managers.

• Remember: People are more likely to help someone they "know."

You're going to beat the odds.

Be interactive.Be helpful

Be yourself.