You Can Hunt For Jobs Using Facebook?

Found an article on Silicon Republic that's entitled "Job Hunting Goes Social." Here are some of the highlights from that article where multiple netizens have agreed that online channels have become a valid alternative medium for talent search and job searching. Traditional networking tools are no longer enough. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are now extended personal message boards that express social and professional persona.


Meeting in person still counts

And while social media will never replace your face-to-face meeting, she says it has enhanced that.

Declan Fitzgerald, international recruitment manager, LinkedIn, which itself is now recruiting heavily in Ireland, also argues that social media is swiftly changing the way people are looking for and applying for jobs.

“A lot of people have very quickly realised they can create their own online brand for themselves by creating a LinkedIn profile, having a Twitter feed, or a blog. Then there are those who are more traditionally orientated towards the paper CV. In many ways, the recruitment industry is rebooting and we are beginning to see a whole new variety of innovative recruitment channels.”

LinkedIn now counts more than 400,000 users in Ireland. “It’s growing incredibly quickly in Ireland,” says Fitzgerald. “It’s predominantly IT, sales and marketing-based professionals, which are the quicker adopters, but we’re beginning to see all types of professionals put their profile up there now.”

He says people are actually beginning to apply for jobs now using their LinkedIn profile.

“People are starting to spend time building their network on LinkedIn. From an employer point of view, it’s becoming increasingly important to see who are these people connected to, whether they are truly passionate about this area to the extent they are tweeting about it or if they have a blog.

“If you have a situation where two candidates are very similar, the one with the deeper social footprint is the one employers will go for, because they can see their connections.”

Campbell also agrees that LinkedIn is top dog for job seekers and recruiters. “As a platform, it is built around recruiters finding people. It is a massive CV database.”
Irish social media recruitment

The statistics speak for themselves. Irish Recruiters, a LinkedIn group formed in 2007 by Fitzgerald, carried out a survey last year on social media recruitment in Ireland, and 91pc of recruiters said they use social media to recruit, with 89pc indicating they have hired from LinkedIn.

So how can people who are looking for a job best use sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to their advantage?

Campbell says graduates, for the most part, don’t know if they could find a job through LinkedIn or Facebook.

“For people, Facebook is not about finding a job. It’s about switching off, but it can be used by recruiters and it can be used by jobseekers.”

For jobseekers, Campbell has launched a series of webinars, showcasing what people should be doing on social media.

Jobseekers should start by filling in data – specifically in the employer and education sections – as well as changing privacy settings to allow others to see your Facebook profile so you can be found, he says.

And, of course, as with all social media, you should be careful about what you post and the type of language you use on Facebook when looking for a job, Campbell points out.

“I’ve always followed a policy of whatever I put up on Facebook, or write on a blog, I am always thinking, ‘Am I comfortable that any of my relatives can see this and that any employer or any prospective client can see this data’.”



How to job search using social media

With Facebook, you can also create your own webpage, he says, as is the case with LinkedIn and Twitter.

With LinkedIn, Fitzgerald says jobseekers should create their CV in a paper format and then map that data out onto their LinkedIn profile.

“Put up a photograph and list out, in detail, the bullet points of your responsibilities. Go so far as creating a PowerPoint presentation, giving a portfolio around some aspect of your work. Start quickly connecting. I strongly suggest joining groups within your profession and to start debating in some of the discussions.”

Kennedy, whose recruitment remit is IT professionals for the mid-west, advises people to look at the LinkedIn profile of a company if they are going for an interview with them.

“I believe any IT professional looking for work should have a LinkedIn account, as more and more employers are using it to source top talent. Facebook and Twitter are used by employers as a form of reference, but also they are advertising their jobs on Twitter."

She also anticipates things changing down the line in terms of Skype and webinars. “We're finding that there's a lot more interviews being set up via Skype. It's making the process move quite quickly.”

Getting involved online

And Twitter can also be used to jobseekers’ advantage, says Campbell.

“If you are graduate wishing to get into a particular sector, follow that sector on Twitter and Facebook. On LinkedIn, start engaging with executives in key areas you want to work in, asking incisive questions.

“There’s an onus on people to respond on social media and help people. That’s the part of social media people forget. You have to interact on pages, ask questions and be seen.”

The key, explains Campbell, is to use social media to then take your job search offline.

“It’s when you use social media with a combination of more traditional activities that it really becomes powerful. You can find out that a conference is happening and meet people in your industry and make connections. For employers, it’s really difficult to differentiate graduates, so network. People hire people, not CVs.”

Kennedy’s advice to jobseekers is to continuously look on job boards, check out recruitment websites and make sure they are on LinkedIn. “Call the companies that are hiring and get your details through.”

LinkedIn’s Fitzgerald adds: “We’re in a transition phase where we are moving away from CVs for the first port of call. Savvy technologically-centred professionals are shifting to this new way of building an online profile.”

Of Weaknesses, Salaries, Your Previous Job, The Next 5 Years, and Why You Should Be Hired?

Nicole Williams of Monster.com talks about five of the most difficult interview questions and gives us an idea of how to answer them. Hope this helps everybody. Read the original article here

1. What is your biggest weakness?

Questions like these, says Denham, are asked so that interviewees admit a weakness that justifies their being shown the door. He recommends responding with: “I have a tendency to say yes and get overcommitted.” Then follow that with an example of how you are working on prioritizing and setting personal limits. Never draw negative attention to yourself by stating a weakness that would lead an employer to think you are not the best person for the job, Denham says. “The focus of your interview should be on your strengths,” he says.

2. What salary do you think you deserve?

“The person who states the salary is the loser,” says Denham, explaining that if you are the first to throw out a number, the number you give could be less than what the employer was planning to pay. Wait for the employer to give a range, and when it does ask you for a figure you expect to be making, choose a salary that is higher than the median they provide. Use online tools and resources to find out what you can realistically expect. Also, don’t talk salary on the first interview.

3. Why should I hire you?

For this one, Denham says it’s important to prepare before the interview. “Go back to your resume and look through it for the three to five things that make you outstanding,” he says. These qualities should accent your work ability, like “I’m a hard worker” or “I get things done.” You have to demonstrate a track record of results. “The notion is that past performance is always the best predictor of future performance,” Denham says.

4. What didn’t you like about your last job?

The employer who asks this question could be looking for you to answer with something that would indicate a weakness of yours, once again in an attempt to eliminate you. So while it may be tempting to trash your boss or complain about the hours (they expected me to be in at 8 a.m.!), try answering with something like this: “I did not feel my responsibilities were challenging enough.” Then the employer will feel confident that you are ready for whatever they may throw at you.

5. Where do you see yourself in three to five years?

The worst answer you can provide to this one, Denham says, is “I have no idea,” even though that might be the truth. “It’s basically like saying, ‘I have no idea what I’m doing with my life and I have no idea how long I’ll stay with this job,’” Denham says. Try a response like “I’ve done a lot of self-assessment, and what I’ve learned about myself is that I want to make a commitment to this career and I want to build my career here.”

Interview Tips from Jobstreet

Here are some tips on how to leave a great impression on your potential employer (by Jobstreet)




Confidence

Nervousness or being jittery are common feelings experienced by a candidate during interview. Avoid feeling inadequate for the position you are applying to. The fact that you were requested for an interview means that you were pre-qualified by the recruiter based on your resume alone. It also means you have bested some of the other candidates for the position.

Another way to gain confidence is to research information about the company before your interview. Gaining knowledge about the company would give you the confidence when you are asked what you know about the company.

Learning opportunity and Improvement

Treat every interview as a learning experience and a way to improve. If you have not been successful from your previous interviews, do not let it frustrate you. Try to remember what questions you had difficulty answering, and learn how to come up with a better answer. When similar questions are again asked, you will be prepared to come up with a better answer.

Interviews can also be a way an opportunity to learn something about the company, other people and even your self. If you are given the chance to ask, do not be afraid to ask about the company or the position you are applying for. This will give the interviewer the impression that you are interested to learn more about their company.

Showing up for a confirmed interview

Being late for an appointment or failure to show up for an interview on an agreed time will create a negative impression against you. As a candidate, it is your responsibility to show up to an agreed schedule. If for some unforeseen reason, you will not be able to attend the interview, you must inform your interviewer 24 hours before the appointment. But make sure that you have a valid reason in resetting the appointment.

*The article is from Jobstreet
*The cartoon is not, but it's funny

Letting The Job Find You

Sometimes it just gets tiring trying to look for a job. It feels like you will never find the right one and it's frustrating. To address that though is a strategy that will put your name out there. In my many readings about how to find the right career path. I've come across so many instances that say to the same effect - the right job will find you, if you let it.

So here's how a job applicant becomes a prey and NOT a hunter:

• Publish your work. If companies are looking for talent such as yourself then they will go to these places and maybe find you.
  
• Post your resume, or information about your work/ skills and expertise on job sites like Jobstreet where employers can search databases to find the right applicant.
  
• Network - Join communities. Make friends or acquaintances. This is difficult for me because I'm not the type. I often look aloof. I don't really like to talk to people I don't know too well. And then I get shy around people who look the least bit successful - sort of afraid to embarrass myself so I just shut up
• Improve yourself - learn more about your trade, become the best whether by taking classes or just be being self-taught it doesn't matter. The more you know the better.
• Take advantage of the internet - the internet has made the world so small that if you're at the right place or on the right website at the right time, you just might get an offer from the other side of the continent.
  

These days there are too many applicants lining up to get the job. I know it's difficult to play hard to get when you really need the job, and so go ahead and apply. But when you've got the word of mouth going in your favor then these opportunities will come to you.

Smart.com and Job-hunting

Here's an ad of a Smart.com contest for job hunters nonetheless.


Apparently it's job hunting through their web browsing technology and 3G phones. This is very expensive way to find a job I think