A downturn in the economy has put a lot of tech-savvy people out of work, but they haven’t turned off their Blackberries and smartphones. As a recent news article shows, the unemployed and those looking for a change have people on Twitter that they can follow for everything from job openings to career advice. This kind of social media networking is good for idled workers seeking employment, but it can be even better for companies that are hiring or planning to increase their headcount.
Why do companies prefer to use social networking? The easy answer is that it is more efficient than traditional headhunting methods. In the past, employment agencies were limited by their own databases of job seekers, and didn’t have access to information that is ubiquitous today. Even though a lot of social media has nothing to do with work, job experience, or useful knowledge, proper data mining and communication can uncover a sizable number of qualified candidates who are either looking for a new opportunity, or wouldn’t mind an career move. Executives and managers who may have better access to “the handwriting on the wall” may also be thinking about finding employment elsewhere before the choice is forced upon them.
By becoming a presence on social networks like Twitter and Facebook, companies have the opportunity to find “plugged in” workers who are up to date with the latest trends (of “fads” for that matter”) in technology and social networking. The business-friendly network known better as LinkedIn.com is already being mined by job-seekers and employers alike, who have a ready made network of leads among the happily employed and people who are looking for work. In fact, a well written LinkedIn profile can be an invitation to unsolicited job offers, some of which can be quite enticing.
How can the average person, or the out-of-work professional, join in? Obviously, the first step is to get into social networking. By joining professional sites like LinkedIn, you can effectively put your resume online, but you can also do keyword searches for companies which are similar to ones for which you have previously worked. In some cases you can directly contact hiring managers and other people in those companies to find out if there are any openings. Additionally, you can network with former associates and friends, which builds up your profile and gets you recommendations (endorsements) from people who have worked with you in the past. Aside from having profiles where people can see them, following certain people and companies in Twitter and Facebook may give you an edge over people who are getting their employment news through third parties like newspapers and job search sites.
The rise of social media, along with greater use of the BlackBerry, Google Phone, and smartphones in general, has created a connected world that has moved beyond the desktop and into mobile devices. As a result, employers and potential employees alike can take advantage of the mutual usefulness of the social media revolution. Lots of companies want to know that new workers will be experienced in the latest technologies, and people using these channels to find a job have already passed an important employment requirement. For people looking for jobs, any advantage over other candidates offers an important edge, and the right social media connections can offer instant responses and a well-crafted profile that will get you positive attention before the interview even takes place.
