December 2nd, 2011
Can Linkedin, Facebook or Twitter Get You a Job?

Written by Catherine Adenle

I read this post which originally appeared on EconMatters and the Business Insider, then I thought I should share part of it with you, our readers.

It goes without saying that Social Media and the hiring process now go hand in hand. In today’s modern world, as a professional or a jobseeker, you either embrace the new wave, or get left behind.

According to EconMatters, these days, a college degree and years of experience do not necessary mean a good job like they used to, and competition is fierce for the few available openings. Coping with this New Normal, job seekers are reaching into unconventional and creative avenues to gain a competitive edge in the job jungle. And social media are increasingly becoming the new job fair for people to network, get new job leads or to promote and showcase resumes.
See the slides below on Social Media: Making it work for you

Indeed, Linkedin is the new hangout for corporate as well as agency headhunters, and many corporations have Twitter accounts and Facebook pages. The infographic below, based on a recent survey by Jobvite finds some interesting statistics regarding using social media for job search. For example,

• 1 in 6 workers use social media to get hired
• Almost 90% of job seekers have a profile on a social media site
• 54% of all job hunters use Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin to find jobs
• 50% of job seekers used Facebook, 25% used Twitter, and 36% used Linkedin to look for a job in the last 12 months
• 18.4 million Americans say Facebook got them their current jobs. The numbers for Twitter and Linked in are 10.2 million and 8 million respectively

Of course, this does not mean social media will completely replace the good old want-ad (virtual pr paper) searching and applying, but rather as something to add to the job searching tool bag. Even for the gainfully employed, social media provides an open and easy way to network, being sociably cool and keep you updated on the new technology and social trend.

So it is beneficial for anybody, regardless if you are looking for a job, to be on at least one of the major social media site (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin).

When looking for a new job, remember to utilize LinkedIn. According to Jump Start Social Media, 75% of hiring managers use LinkedIn on a regular basis to research candidates before making an offer, compared to 48% using Facebook, and 26% using Twitter.

As a job seeker or a professional, your online social presence is important and should be kept clean. To ensure that your personal brand is professional, it is important that you watch what you post on social sites. Whether or not you are job hunting, you should always be aware that your public profile is easily accessible. So, be sure to maintain a professional personal brand.

Social media sites can enhance a candidate’s position or be detrimental.

The apt infographic directly below created by mbaonline.com will further explain how 1 in 6 workers use social media to get hired:

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