As a follow-up to my list of companies recruiting on Twitter, I am inviting each company to share a guest blog post. Use this as your inside track into each company recruiting on Twitter: learn more about the company, their brand and how social media has strengthened their recruiting strategy. This post is courtesy of Dan Black, Director of Americas Campus Recruiting
As an accounting student in the early 1990s, my technology prowess didn’t even factor into the job search process. Back then, you mailed a resume or went to a job fair, talked with a recruiter, interviewed and then hoped for an offer. Times certainly have changed, and thanks to technology, students today have greater options.
Social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and others, also allow students to network, which is often an underutilized way to learn about some exceptional job opportunities. Networking is possible online by linking up with professional organizations where students can find networking events as well as links to current job listings, trends, and interview tips. The value of having a direct communication channel cannot be underestimated. We visit campuses across the U.S., but naturally, we cannot be everywhere. That’s where students who introduce themselves through social networking sites can gain an edge.
As any savvy job seeker knows, first impressions are lasting ones. So it’s smart to know a little about a company before making that first contact. Interactive tools available on some company websites can help students see the types of opportunities available. For example, our EY 360˚ tool allows students who would like to know what it’s like to work in fraud investigation and dispute services or another specialized practice try that job on for size, so to speak. After they select a position, a real professional from that practice area walks them through their day via a video profile. For those students who want a little help determining which jobs might fit them best, we offer “Picture Yourself”, an interactive job-matching tool. This allows candidates to plug in interests and view an array of corresponding job options to investigate. The knowledge students can gain from these types of tools can also help them show that they’ve done their homework when interview day arrives.
Regardless of what types of technology students employ in their job search, there are a few simple guidelines to remember. First, always consider who will be on the receiving end of a communication. Whether it’s an email, a blog or an entry on your profile page in a social network, be sure to use appropriate language and content if a recruiter or company representative will have access to it. Second, try to determine the preferred method of communication for the person with whom you want to network. If a recruiter prefers email, sending a text message may make the wrong impression. Finally, remember not to rely on technology exclusively in a job search. Students need to go to job fairs, network and have conversations with people working in the industry, because there is no substitute for face-to-face communications. Accounting is a service business. And the more polish students put on their people skills, the smoother their job search – and career – will go.
