The competition for jobs in this economy is fiercer then ever. College graduates, boomers and others are all vying for the same jobs. A good example of this was a story in my local paper about the upcoming opening of a new Sprouts Farmers Market. The store was looking to hire 75 people in full- and part-time positions and the announcement brought out a least a 1,000 applicants from all walks of life, most with no direct retail experience. Scores of job seekers vie for 75 positions.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that the chances of getting one of these jobs is small. The odds are stacked against you in this American Idol like mass job audition.
So what can you do to increase your odds of finding a job and to avoid competing directly with scores of other job seekers for just one position? You can turn to the power of social media and use Facebook and Twitter to showcase your skills and reach out to potential employers and others who can help you in your job search. People want to help you, but they need to know what you can do and what you're looking for before they can do that. Most jobs are found through referrals and using social networking sites can dramatically increase your circle of contacts and move you closer to your goal.
So here's some tips on how to get started:
If you don't already have a Facebook and Twitter account, set them up right away. Be sure you use a good professional photo in your profiles and then spend some time to craft a short bio statement for Twitter that showcases your skills and lets people know what kind of job or freelance work you're looking for. On Facebook you can use the extended profile information to build an online resume. You should also set up your own Fan Page on Facebook to extend your reach, since fan pages are viewable by everyone and also show up quickly in Google.
Then start to follow people you know and other people in your industry. Start networking with the community and engaging with your friends and followers in conversation. You just never know who might help you find a job.
Linda Locke
Social Media Coach
If you have questions or know of another good resource for using social media in the job hunt, please post them in the comments.
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Here's some more ideas on how to use social media in your job search:
Find a Job Using Twitter, Facebook and Social Media Sites
How to Use Facebook to Help You Get a Job
Using Twitter and Facebook to Find a Job
Boomers can find jobs using Facebook and Twitter
Twitter: What You Need to Know and How to Use Twitter to Find a Job
