Soci@lByte

The job market has changed dramatically in the last year, recruiters now have twice the number of people applying for a single job than in the past. That’s not too surprising since the unemployment rate is at more than 10 percent. We all know networking is an awesome way to get in the door and helps with ones job search but did you know 90 percent of new hires are made from referrals? So how can you grow your network? How can you help get into THE company you want to be in or even find a company you think you’d want to work for. ANSWER: Social Media.

I had the opportunity to speak with Andrew Hudson, the creator of Andrew Hudson’s Job List, which boosts more than 15,000 subscribers. Think of his list/website as a localized Monster.com but way better since it actually works. (I’ve gotten one full-time job and several freelance gigs from his list.)

I sat down with Andrew to get his perspective on how social media has changed the job landscape and how people can leverage social media tools to build their professional network and support their job search. This post is part one of two.

How has social media changed the job landscape?

According to Hudson, you are your own Chief Marketing Officer and you have to approach your job search like you would a marketing campaign. Where is your audience? How will they find you? What makes you more interesting than your competition? Like any marketing campaign, it can’t relay on one channel, you have to have multiple touch points. The Internet has changed these touch points making social media tools new resources for both employees and employers. Social media can no longer be ignored. The tools that are out there haven’t necessarily made it easier to find a new job but they have given people new resources to research companies, employees, managers and a way to engage with these people to begin networking and create direct connections internally.  Social media has also given employers a new tool to research prospects (i.e. you), which can be both helpful and potentially harmful if your social media presence is unprofessional.

Andrew Hudson’s top social media mistakes job seekers make?

1. Not Using Social Media. This new channel is just too big to ignore. You have to be out there leveraging the tools recruiters are using to ensure you find them and they find you.

2. LinkedIn: Not using LinkedIn to its full potential. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you need to be. If you’re not engaging with your LinkedIn network, you need to be. LinkedIn used to be just an online resume but now recruiters are using it to find people who might fit specific job descriptions before they ever post a position. LinkedIn has also made it very easy to network with professionals in your industry through Groups. The research capabilities LinkedIn provides can help you find jobs, background information on people you’re interviewing with, etc.

3. Writing for Search: Every single job you apply for HAS to be personalized. This doesn’t just mean matching skill sets but matching keywords. For example, a group of recruiters Hudson recently spoke with told him they narrow down the resumes they receive through electronic application tracking systems that scan resumes for keywords tied to the position. People MUST read through every position and highlight keywords and make sure they’re included in their resumes. Hudson did say that the recruiters admitted that they may not identify the ideal candidate for the job using this process but they had to use something to narrow down the search when they received 700 resumes for one job. SECRET TIP: Type in the keywords at the bottom on your resume and make them invisible (using white text) so that they’re readable by machines but invisible to people. (Hudson didn’t necessarily recommend this but mentioned people have told him they do this.)

4. Unprofessional Appearance on Social Networks: We’ve heard the horror stories of people posting things to their Facebook page or to Twitter and then being fired. The same goes for being hired. Be mindful of what you post. TIP: If you haven’t already, mark your Facebook page as private if you’re concerned about potential employers viewing it. Although, Hudson did say this may not be too helpful since if you’re “out there, you’re out there”.

5. Video Resumes: This isn’t necessarily a mistake but Hudson felt the time for video resumes has not yet arrived. Like including photos on your resume (unless you’re applying to be a model), you may be judged on your appearance and the quality of your video BEFORE your skill set. He has only seen one video resume that knocked his socks off. Check it out.

Part two will post tomorrow…If you have more tips please do share.