What do Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook have in common with job search and cover letters on your resume? These three social networking sites can create initial contacts for job interviews. By using social media job search methods, you can learn about job openings before they are advertised or posted. Your resume cover letters are all about marketing and building connections with employers or people at companies. Social networks for job search are the same.
LinkedIn is one of the many social networking sites available online. Like Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn allows people to connect with those they may have lost touch with or with whom they share similar interests; Unlike other sites, however, the largest group is businesses, which use this resource for many reasons, including advertising and job recruitment. This site is one of the fastest growing networking sites on the web with estimates of over 80 million members, is available in six languages, and is accessible in almost every country imaginable; There is no charge to set up a basic account, but there are some upgrades you can purchase for your page.
Today’s job market, as well as the increasingly global nature of business, has led employers and job seekers alike to try new and different methods of recruiting employees or finding a job. Social networking sites are fast becoming the place where more and more people involved in the job market in one way or another can connect with people from all over the world and quickly exchange information. Although not quite ready to replace online job search sites or other job posting sites, social networking sites can be invaluable in both the hiring process and the job search process; By not knowing about these sites, you risk missing out on that “perfect” job simply because you didn’t know where to look.
Just like with any other social networking site, LinkedIn has some unwritten (and written) rules about how one should behave on the site. One of those unwritten rules is that you shouldn’t contact anyone you don’t know personally. As with any rule, of course, there are exceptions; For example, sending a connection request to a friend of a friend who is the hiring manager at your dream company is not considered “bad” etiquette, especially if that friend is one of the references listed on your profile. However, if you send connection requests to people you don’t know on a regular basis, the site may identify you as a “spammer” and block all future requests, if not close your account entirely. These types of connection requests are initial contacts much like job search cover letters.
There are two types of connections which are first degree and second degree connections. A first degree connection is someone you know who knows you, such as a friend, associate, former teacher or boss, etc. A second degree connection is friends of friends, referrals, or someone with whom you have a mutual friend or associate. Connections often have information about job openings or know someone who does.
View your initial professional contacts as resume cover letters. You want to explain why you’re contacting the person, briefly describe their skills and situation, and point them to more information, such as their profile and website or posts they’ve written or about you. Then decide what action you want them to take. Ask for a reference person within your company to whom you can send a resume or who knows someone looking for your particular skills.
Your profile
Since this networking site is geared toward the business sector rather than personal socializing, keep your profile professional. Profanity, spelling and grammar are a big turn off; keep your posts grammatically correct and free of punctuation errors.
You can also use the job search feature for employers with job openings. You can refine your search by location, country, or the world. In this case, you normally don’t send a connection request to the company. Look for a link to the company’s website or hiring page where you can complete an online application or submit your cover letters and resumes.
