Getting a job through social media

Social media is becoming more and more important in hunting for that dream job. At Big Choice we understand that, so for our Careers Guide 2013 we decided to talk to someone who really knows his stuff about getting a job through social media.

That person was Joshua Waldman, author of Job Searching with Social Media For Dummies.

Here are a few things he had to say:

What are the best social media platforms for job hunting?
If you ask recruiters, the answer would be LinkedIn. Recruiters love large databases with resumes, especially if they are virtually free. They will plug away with keyword searches all day to fill open jobs. So if you are in the job market, you can drastically increase your chances of getting that random, unexpected phone call from a recruiter.

If you ask job seekers, they're more likely to tell you that Facebook is more useful. Referrals in to companies has always been the key way people find work, yes, even before social media. Because Facebook networks usually consist of trusted friends and close family, this is a network more likely to refer you into jobs.

Do you have any good examples of how social media has been used to get a job?
There are so many to choose from, but my favourite was a guest writer called Kathy. She knew the company she wanted to work for. So she networked within the organization. Using LinkedIn, she set up info interviews with other employees. Used Twitter to stay in touch with them. And the ones she got close to after a few months were added to her Facebook network. Then, when a job opened up, she applied using the traditional means. But then she called her network and told them she had applied. They went to HR and flagged Kathy's CV, bringing her to the top of the list. In 10 days, she was hired!

And he had so much more advice on the subject which you can find in our Careers Guide 2012 which is coming at the start of October.