Tips For Using Social Media To Score A Sacramento Job
Many job seekers are drawn to the Sacramento region because of employment opportunities with companies such as Kaiser, Apple and Intel. The State of California alone currently has more than 214,000 employees. With so many qualified applicants vying for positions, social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can impact who gets hired. There are a few things to consider to ensure the sites are helping and not harming your job search.
Use the full range of tools available on LinkedIn.
Invest the time to fill in your profile completely and honestly, and take advantage of LinkedIn recommendations and suggestions. Join groups in your field of interest and search for contacts by name, job or company. If you are seeking a position in technology, for example, search for companies in the Sacramento area like Oracle. Seek out people employed locally by Oracle and connect with them. Join in on discussions about Oracle jobs and sign up for job alert emails for openings at Oracle. LinkedIn also allows you to receive news about specific businesses or industries, which could get you in on opportunities before they hit traditional online job search engines.
Be mindful of the difference between friends and connections.
In the beginning, Facebook was basically a way to chat with buddies, out-of-town relatives and old flames. Having a large list of friends became something of a status symbol, so many people accepted friends no matter who they were. Sites like LinkedIn allow job seekers to make connections with people who could help them land a position, and those connections may not come from your normal circle of pals. Build a continuously expanding network of connections in the field or company you are interested in. LinkedIn offers suggested recommendations that could be beneficial.
Filter, filter, filter.
Despite repeated horror stories, many people still forget to consider their career when posting to social media sites. An employee of one Sacramento company posted comments on her Facebook page such as "our customers are such dirtballs" and "I'm calling in sick tomorrow and going skiing." Her profile listed the name of her employer and she was Facebook friends with her boss, or former boss, as it turned out. Filter out such personal gripes and just vent to your friends offline. Doing otherwise could easily dash hopes for a new job or promotion.
Wear "boss goggles."
Look at other people's profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn from a new perspective. Imagine that you have to pay someone out of your own pocket to do a job, and consider if you would be willing to hire the people in these profiles. Along the same lines, create a professional email address for your LinkedIn profile.
Write it right.
"If your intrrested in learning more about my skills, 'Id' be happy to meet with you." While spelling and grammar are not the foremost consideration when posting, tweeting or texting, they can be a turn-off for potential employers. Reread and use spelling and grammar checks for everything you do, particularly if written communication is important in the career you are pursing. Even if you are the perfect person for the job, having errors in your online resumes and postings can make an unfavorable impression on potential employers.
Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
