Top Tips for Using Social Media in Your Job Search
by Angela Loëb
In a Business.com article, career experts, Dan Klamm & Alana Edmunds, provide “5 Rules for Professional Social Networking Success.” Their number one rule is that you should “know your platforms”:
Social media is messy. Across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social networks, we are connected to a mix of close friends, college buddies, high school classmates, co-workers, bosses, former bosses, I-met-you-at-a-party-once acquaintances, and people we’ve never even seen face-to-face. It’s important to understand the particular platform that you’re using, as well as the type of relationship you have with a person, before attempting to leverage that connection for professional gain.
They suggest that you respect the way people in your networks use these sites, too. Mixing the professional with the personal can be challenging. For example, “asking an old friend for a recommendation on LinkedIn might create awkwardness if the person has no experience with you in a professional capacity.”
Their advice to ask for something specific is right on. Avoid posting or send messages through social media sites that are vague, such as “I’m looking to go into marketing. Any advice or leads would be greatly appreciated!” or “Can you tell me more about this job?”
These types of messages are so broad that it’s difficult to provide a meaningful and relevant response. Working professionals are strapped for time. Make it easy for them to help you — specify what you’re looking for. Is it the person’s time? Connections to certain individuals? Advice on a particular topic? Knowledge about a company? Do you want them to act as a reference? Introduce you to a recruiter at their organization? Provide a critique of your resume? Be direct!
Klamm & Edmunds also suggest that you “take it offline whenever possible.” They point out that social media sites are “great for making introductions and warming up relationships, but ultimately you should take your networking conversations beyond the confines of Twitter and LinkedIn.” What if you’re not geographically able to meet in person? Then request a Skype call with the person, a technology medium which allows you to have visual contact with each other.
Ultimately, they advise that you should ask for and respect their preferred method of contact, pointing out that some people prefer email while others want to talk on the phone or meet for coffee.
Remembering to say “thank you” seems like an obvious tip, but Klamm & Edmunds remind us that it’s a simple step that many fail to do. They also suggest that you:
- Continuously look for ways to give back to the people in your online networks.
- Don’t approach them only when you need a favor.
- Reach out to say hello or to contribute something you think will be valuable to them.
Show appreciation when someone does something nice for you online. Whether it’s responding to a few questions, retweeting a link to your blog post, or even connecting you with one of their friends — it’s always appropriate to express your gratitude. It’s especially important to follow-up after someone has provided advice. People like to feel helpful, so let them know if their advice was useful for you.
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