What is Social Media, otherwise known as Web 2.0? It’s where the internet has evolved at this point – it has become a medium of social interaction. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn and lots of other sites do nothing other than connect people. And their popularity has changed the web forever.
Now, even business sites have blogs where you can post your questions, complaints, successes and others can see them – and interact, and be connected. The web has become more than e-mail, more than Amazon, more than eBay and it can be a great tool to find employement with your next employer.
I was speaking with an unemployed friend earlier today, and subsequently found a “how to find a job on the web” article on MSN.com. It seems finding employment in this economy has become a hot topic. While the MSN article talks about using your blog as a resume of sorts. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Let’s say you want to work for Microsoft up in Seattle. And before I continue, if you don’t know where you want to work – that’s probably something to work on first. In an environment where no one is hiring, don’t wait for the want ads – they’re probably not coming.
Instead what companies have people that do what you do? Which ones sound fun?When you figure that out, head to LinkedIn and search for that company (like Microsoft)- then write down the names of the people you find who are working there. Go to their website and use Google to find more names. In LinkedIn, what public information can you learn about them? What do they do? How do they describe themselves, their jobs? Then head to search.twitter.com and search for these people, or enter www.twitter.com/thatperson’sname. When you find them, “follow” them.
Now go to www.twollo.com and tell Twollo to alert you whenever someone is talking about your company, and conversations revolving around terms that you use in your job. Follow the people who are talking about those things. Head to twittergroups.com, Facebook and MySpace and find out if there are groups for your company’s fans, programmers, whatever you do. Go to buzzaround.us and search for the company you want to work for (they search blogs and mirco-blogs) And finally, does the company have a blog? The CEO of GoDaddy has a blog right on GoDaddy.com – do the companies you want to work for? Now, start reading what people are saying.
Use these outlets to learn what these companies are doing? What aren’t they doing that you’re finding others in your industry are? Use your knowledge of the industry to write blog articles, and post links to these articles on your different pages and sites. For instance on Twitter write “Check out this article about how (my industry) is changing in 2009”. Better than that, turn your blog post into an article and post it on ezine.com – and send your followers there. Put links to the articles or your blog on your Facebook page, your LinkedIn page and your other sites.
Then when you get an interview or are engaged in an employment discussion – you’ll know what’s going on in the company. You’ll know what people are saying about it, what the CEO intends for the future and what how you can fit into the company. They’ll already know that you’re qualified, eager and up-to-date with current technologies. That kind of drive is hard to pass up.
I know this sounds like work – but this is not an easy employment economy. But the work will pay-off . Think about it – if someone spent that much time learning about your company – would you want to hire them?