This post is courtesy of Chris Havrilla (@havrilla)
at Hitachi Consulting.
There are many reasons why I use social media – and why you should too. Networking has never been more important – and with tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter it has never been easier.
As a Recruiter for Hitachi Consulting, social networking tools have become an invaluable part of my “toolkit” on many levels. First and foremost, I make myself more accessible to our candidates and people looking to learn more about our Firm or our opportunities. Whether on our own website (see the “Just Ask” link on any page of our site) or a search of these social sites for Hitachi Consulting (or our alliances and solutions) -- I try hard to make sure I can be found. We also are actively searching all of the time to identify and establish relationships with the talented people that could be potential hires for our team – now or in the future.
It is important to note, that finding the right person (or job) may not always happen when there is a posted, open position. It is a safe bet that there are many potential jobs that go “unadvertised”. And that number likely grows during times like these as many companies are experiencing budget cuts and may not widely market their jobs. Or with a much larger talent pool to review, they may choose to control candidate flow by relying more on networking and referrals to find the candidates they seek. That means if you are a job seeker, it is critical to do a targeted job search.
Determine the companies where you want to work – that meet your needs. You can start your research on the Company’s site to see if they have openings and to learn more about the company. If they have a position for which you are sincerely interested and qualified, apply and then use these tools to network your way to an interview. If not, you can utilize to get an introduction to a Recruiter or Hiring Manager for future opportunities.
As a Recruiter doing a search for candidates or identifying talented people that we want to know for future roles, I also know the types of companies from which I typically recruit. Once you have your target list of companies, you can use some of these same tools I use, and in much the same way, to enhance your search.
LinkedIn
Like most Recruiters, I love this tool. We also encourage our candidates to utilize it by providing a link from our career site to see connections they may have at Hitachi Consulting. Scott Boren did an excellent post about LinkedIn, so I will just add that many use this tool to connect with anyone and everyone. My personal preference is to limit my connections to people I have met, known, or have made contact or worked with in the past. I have found the tool works best for me to facilitate more meaningful contacts with this broader network. While it may limit the people in my “network” that I can search or view within LinkedIn, I can always use Google to search the public version of LinkedIn profiles. This gives me access to almost anyone on LinkedIn at any time.
Facebook
I use this tool to establish closer, more meaningful connections with my inner most network. These are the people you most want to keep up to date with and on – personally and professionally. Many people are still cautious of using this professionally so, from a direct networking standpoint, it is best to use it for the people you know best. You can join Groups as a means for more open networking and engaging of others you may not know -- and they may be more open to receive. Lastly, search for target companies and become a “Fan”. Many companies have created Facebook pages to provide information for or engage with candidates, customers, etc.
Twitter
One of the most interactive of the tools I am highlighting, it may also be one you find tougher to see immediate results. Give it time – start following some people, watch, lurk, get a feel for it. Once you have a good group of people you follow that interest you – reply to a few questions or comments – start a dialogue. “Retweet” things you find interesting, appealing, or valuable. Then eventually you’ll feel comfortable “tweeting” your own ideas, links, content, etc. I have found Twitter to be a great way to establish and maintain dialogue with my network – on and off line. These tools are great facilitators of connections – but remember they are just tools, not meant to replace actual conversations.
Make sure you have an account with your name and a bio that reflects who you are (and how you might be found in a search). Utilize directories like Twellow and WeFollow to find people to follow. You can also use Twitter’s search functions to find people -- and companies, jobs, hashtags, or key words applicable to your profession. If you are on a job search, be sure to follow Susan Strayer’s @DailyCareerTips and monitor her list of companies recruiting on Twitter. You can also check out who @TheCareer100 follows – this is Ryon Harms’ interactive, “hand-picked collection of the 100 most influential personal branding gurus, power networkers, resume and interview experts, job boards and fellow executives on Twitter”. Lastly, using a tool like Tweetdeck or Seesmic can help you monitor your “Friends” (or set up groups of “Friends”) – as well as set up ongoing searches or hashtags to monitor.
While networking has never been easier, it doesn’t mean it is easy. If you are starting from scratch, it takes a little time to get started and you may not see immediate results. But don’t get frustrated – the good things in life rarely come free or easy. Remember it is more important to give to your network than receive. Use these tools to help, guide, promote and stay in touch with your contacts. Pay it forward and you will soon realize how valuable you are to your network. And whether you are Recruiter or an active or future job seeker, how valuable it can be to you!
