Business Graduates And The Social Media Job SearchCreated By:Stephanie Rukavina

EAC394Professor Robin PotterDecember 3rd, 2015

Table Of Content

Introduction To Social Media

+What Is Social Media Job Search+Why Is It Important?+First Impressions+Netiquette

Employers and Social Media

+Employers and Social Media+Advantages & Disadvantages of Social Media in Hiring Practices+Employment References+Do’s And Don'ts Of Social Media+Success Stories+Summary+Bibliography

+Personal Branding+Benefits Of Keeping A Well-Maintained Personal Brand+4 Steps To Building A Brand+Popular Job Search Sites

Personal BrandingSlides 3-6

Slides 7-13

Slides 14-22

1 2 3

What Is Social Media Job Search

Social media is at the intersection of technology and human interaction. We are gradually shifting to websites which offer the opportunity for greater human interaction. This interaction has expanded into the job search field.• Social Media and Social Networking have increased in

popularity in recent years, having effects on ones private life and business life alike.

• Social Media has become a fast and cheap “background check” that is often done before inviting an applicant in for an interview

• Employers use it to verify the facts on a resume, to observe how the candidate expresses themselves publicly, to review the candidates knowledge, and to evaluate their communication skillshttp://www.clker.com/clipart-

124172.html

Why Is It Important?• Hiring Managers are going Social; Online job recruitment is here

to stay• 93% of companies and organizations are actively using social media to

recruit potential talent• Todays Social Media allows us to connect more than ever before• Social Media allows candidates to focus their job search

• Social Networks give access to specific information on industries, companies, and hiring managers required for a targeted job search

• Hiring Managers are using Social Media to screen candidates• Your online brand has the potential to make or break your chances of

landing a job• 37% of employers use Social Media to research potential candidates

• Employers also use social media to find qualified applicants, often a faster and cheaper method of identifying good job candidates than posting a job.

Social networks have become critical to the job search, as the above graph illustrates, because it is increasingly being used by recruiters.

Pentasia. "Social Job Hunting." Pentasia News RSS. N.p., 9 Jan. 2015. Web. 03 Dec. 2015.

First ImpressionsYour online presence reveals a lot about you and often serves as a first impression when potential employers encounter your profiles through a search. According to Jobvite, employers are looking for evidence of:

Work History:• Do you already have professional experience in the field? If so, in what types of

positions and companies, and for how long?

Knowledge and Skills: • How well do you describe your current skills? Focus on technical skills important in your

field of interest, and include links to writing and project samples if available.

Connections: • Are you already connected via social media with someone who works in the company?

Employers are also interested in finding mutual connections that can provide helpful information or a referral.

Volunteer Activities: • While not all employers are looking for information about community involvement, 65%

of those surveyed noted that details about volunteering were positive when included in a social profile.

NetiquetteTo be perceived as a professional, one must behave in an appropriate manner while using Social Media. Anything that is done online can be seen by potential employers and either make or break ones chance of being employed.

1. Fill out your online profiles completely with information about you and your business.

2. Use a different profile or account for your personal connections

3. Create a section on your main profile detailing who you are seeking to befriend and ask that visitors abide by that information

4. Offer information of value5. Pick a screen name that represents

you well

1. Don't send out requests for birthdays, invitations to play games or other timewasters for those using the site

2. Don't put anything on the Internet that you don't want your future boss, current client or potential clients to read

3. Check out the people who want to follow you or be your friend

4. Never post when you're overly-tired, jet lagged, intoxicated, angry or upset

5. Make sure your posts, updates or tweets have correct grammar and spelling before you send them

Personal BrandingPersonal branding is the process of managing and optimizing the way that you are presented to others• Social media and content creation form the backbone for ones personal

branding strategy• Social media is one of the keys (if not the biggest key) to managing

ones personal brand onlineTo demonstrate how vital it is, try a Google search on yourself. • Your name, first and last• Variations of your name• Your full name, nickname, middle name, etc.• Any misspellings of your name• If your name is common, add other elements that might help define you like

your occupation, your employer, your school, etc.http://www.mmarley.com/personal-branding-be-your-own-brand/

Benefits Of Keeping A Well-Maintained Personal Brand

4 Steps To Building A BrandStep 1: Choose 1 to 3 areas of expertise• Find one or more unique elements that sets you apart from others

• This will help you set up and target the rest of the steps for creating a personal branding strategy

• Ask questions and perform a bit of personal research on your favourite topics to help determine your expertise

• Questions you might consider:• What is the “one thing” that everyone says you excel at?• What are your passions and interests?• What do you read about most often online?• Will you still be interested in this particular area six months or a year

from now?

“If content is the fuel for your personal

brand, social media is the engine.”

-Jayson Demers

4 Steps To Building A BrandStep 2: Keep the Same Name, Profile, Imagery, and Look Across Social ProfilesThink; Do all of my social profiles look consistent?

1. Use A Consistent Name• First and Last name is standard, avoid nicknames if possible

2. Use The Same Profile Photo Across All Channels• Be consistent in every location, it will help you stay memorable

3. Come Up With A Catchy, Unique HeadlineKeyword Headline:

Innovative CMO, Extensive retail experience from start-ups to major global brands. Fluent English, French, Mandarin

Power Statement Headline:Helping Companies Find Breakout Ideas and Transforming Them Into Global Technology Brands

4. Have A Consistent Design Look

4 Steps To Building A BrandStep 3: Post every day to your most valued social profilesMaking yourself easy to find is the first step toward a great brand. The next step: Sharing your enthusiasm and expertise with others.• Taking an active role on your social channels is key to gaining influence

and making an image for oneself• An active profile allows employers to get a feel for your personality • Guidelines for getting started in choosing your sharing volume:

• Facebook – 2 times per day• Twitter – 5 times per day• LinkedIn – 1 time per day• Google+ – 2 times per day• Pinterest – 5 times per day• Instagram – 1.5 times per day

4 Steps To Building A BrandStep 4: Join A Chat, Group, or Community To Reach Out To Others • Sharing consistently to social media will help draw others to you

and your brand• Surround yourself with top-notch people

• Remove those who have a negative affect on your personal brand and replace them with individuals in the field you would like to be in and those who you can learn from

• Follow up with new connections you make promptly, stay in touch, and always follow-through on your promises

• Study the network of successful friends and leaders in your niche and follow their lead

• Find mentors. Do as they do• Ask for advice• Learn as much from them as you can

Popular Job Search Sites

LinkedIn• A worldwide professional social networking

site• Connects and expands a professional

network with a persons career information, skills, and academic background

• Most preferred site by employers• Has over 260 million members (Early

2014)• 92% of recruiters have hired through

LinkedIn• 98% of recent graduates have had 1-2

interviews• 71% of recent graduates have found work

Facebook• Largest social networking site• Over 1.2 billion members

worldwide (Early 2014)• 90% of employers conduct

“background checks” via Facebook• 70% of those checks have resulted

in rejection due to inappropriate photos, comments, and shares

• Smart job seekers can successfully leverage the visibility that Facebook gives them

Employers and Social MediaTop 3 things that employers want to see in your social media profiles

More than half of hiring managers (51%) say that they’re looking to see if the candidate will be a good fit with the corporate culture• Companies want to see if the

“real you” is a good fit with the company

• They want to see if the same values and vision are shared

• They want to see if how you portray yourself is the same as

ONE TWO THREE44% of hiring managers want to see if a candidate is creative• How you choose to use the

latest networking tools and technologies can say a lot about how social, savvy and skilled you are

• Employers will be looking to see how innovative and original you are in what you do online

45% are researching potential hires on social media to find out more about that candidate’s qualifications

• Employers want to see if the information listed about your education, experience, and previous jobs matches up with what is listed in your resume

• They keep an eye out to see if you are articulate, intelligent, and friendly, or argumentative, belligerent, and foul-mouthed

"5 Essential Skills to Grow Your Business." QuickBooks. Intuit, 7 Jan.

2014. Web. 2 Dec. 2015.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Social Media in Hiring PracticesAdvantages

• Potential to gather more information on a candidate

• Web searches using tools such as Google and popular social media sites can give an employer an overview on a candidate

• Job seekers can find jobs across hundreds of sites that meet their specific abilities

• Employers can target specific candidates on social networking sites. This saves a company having to advertise and receive hundreds of applications

• Employers who are looking for niche skills or have jobs in unpopular geographic locations can have more luck using social network sites

• If looking for a certain skill that is more relevant in the international job market an employer has more access to candidates overseas when using social media

Disadvantages• Employers need to be careful what

information they are accessing through a candidate's social media profile. Accessing the wrong types of information can lead to discrimination cases

• Social media profiles do not always give the best overview of a potential employee

• Screening through applicants on social media profiles can be time consuming

• For candidates, with future employers scanning through social media profiles things such as poor grammar, spelling and behavior can all be noted and have an impact on future job search success

• It can be hard for employers to make specific searches and get accurate results back due to all the information available

Employment ReferencesPrevious employment references are used to validate resume details and claims to be a superior performer and candidate.Create A Separate References Page• Add the names, and contact information of references to a separate page, and only give it to

employers who request it. • This will prevent previous employers from getting too many casual calls regarding your resumeChoose references with thought• List references who have direct knowledge of your job performance• Never use relatives or friends for personal references; they have no direct knowledge of your

performance on the jobDon’t Include Bad References• Try to avoid including references that ended in a negative termination. The previous employer

may not give positive feedback to your potential employer, which could result in having them dispose of your application

Do’s And Don'ts Of Social MediaDO’s

• DO use social networking tools to promote a professional “brand” for yourself. (LinkedIn)

• DO consider your brand carefully• DO highlight your unique skills &

interests• DO contribute to groups or forums

relevant to your field of interest• DO check out company Facebook sites for

insider information about company culture

• DO connect with company recruiters or internship coordinators

• DO use correct grammar

DON’Ts• Don’t expect your brand to take

care of itself• Don’t forget that others can see

your friends and their content• Don’t post any inappropriate

content – photos, videos, or language

• Don’t post any info that is privileged, confidential, or could reflect negatively on an employer

• Don’t have any social network content that casts an unprofessional shadow on you

Success Story Her story: Nicolette is a Villanova University freshman who recently proved her peers and all who doubted her ability to get an internship position as a freshman simply by posting a LinkedIn ad–for herself! The ad showed a picture, and the following 9 words: "Villanova Undergrad seeks summer internship. Driven, accomplished, dynamic, creative", as well as a link to a blog post outlining her skills and accomplishments. Nicolette paid $200 for the ad, and she has never come close to regretting it. The ad resulted in over 50 e-mails, a dozen interviews, a handful of new connections, and exactly what she wanted: a summer internship.

Social Platform: LinkedIn

Candidate: Nicolette Weinbaum

Field: Marketing/Sales

Odea, Christine. "9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories." 9 Social Media Job Search Success

Stories. CareerCloud, 11 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

Success Story Her Story:Similar to Nicolette Weinbaum,who posted an ad on LinkedIn to get an internship, Marian Schembariposted her ad on Facebook, and she directed it to a specific firm, HarperCollins. The ad cost only $150 and opened the doors Marian needed in order to get job she wanted. Networks are some of today’s most vital job search tools, and through the connections she made from her ad, accepted an offer. It’s incredible to know, thanks to Marian’s story, that there are people out there who are willing and able to help other people get their dream jobs.

Social Platform: Facebook

Candidate: Mariam Schembari

Field: Public

Relations/Social Media

Odea, Christine. "9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories." 9 Social Media Job Search Success

Stories. CareerCloud, 11 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

Success Story His story:  Ever heard of applying for a job via a single tweet? Well, Enterasys hired and recruited Bilal Jaffery as their new director of social and digital marketing when he responded to Vala Afshar’s tweet which read: “I am hiring a director of #marketing, focused on higher-ed; six figure salary, amazing team. Apply via Twitter. #jobs”.  How can you convince a company to hire you in under 140 characters?“I decided to participate and submit my intention to apply on Twitter with the #socialCV hashtag, highlighting one of my articles from SocialMediaToday on social strategy,” says Bilal.  He has now been happily employed at Enterasys, all thanks to one tweet.

Social Platform: Twitter

Candidate: Bilal Jaffery

Field:Social/Digital

Marketing

Odea, Christine. "9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories." 9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories. CareerCloud, 11 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.

Summary• Social media is at the intersection of technology and human interaction• 93% of companies and organizations are actively using social media to recruit

potential talent• Your online presence reveals a lot about you and often serves as a first

impression when potential employers encounter your profiles through a search• Social media and content creation form the backbone for ones personal

branding strategy• 4 Steps to building a brand: Choose 1 to 3 areas of expertise, Keep the Same

Name, Profile, Imagery, and Look Across Social Profiles, Post every day to your most valued social profiles, and Join A Chat, Group, or Community To Reach Out To Others

• Behave in an appropriate manner while using Social Media• Previous employment references are used to validate resume details and

claims to be a superior performer and candidate

Work CitedLee, Kevan. "5 Actionable Personal Branding Tips for Social Media." Buffer Social. Buffer, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.Jobvite. "Jobvite Infographic: The 2015 Job Seeker Nation Study." Jobvite. Jobvite Job Seeker National Study, 12 July 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.Joyce, Susan P. "Guide to Social Media & Job Search." Job-Hunt.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.Odea, Christine. "9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories." 9 Social Media Job Search Success Stories. CareerCloud, 11 July 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.Ramsey, Lydia. "Top 12 Rules of Social Media Etiquette." Business Know- How. Attard Communications, Inc, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.San Diego Metro Region Career Center. "Online Job Search Strategies."Online Job Search Strategies. SlideShare, 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2015."The Benefits of Online Recruitment." Bayt.com. Bayt, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.