That Reena Girl

• Um, who is this again?

10-13-09

What’s in the Red Plastic Cup?

Originally posted on Digithoughts:

Social Media is everywhere. It is on the tip of everyone’s tongue in one way or another. People tweeting this and Facebooking that. There are very few people who don’t have at least one account these days. But what was once used for fun and for connecting with friends can be used for business. And for those who are just finishing college, Social Media could be a good way to not only get a job, but to get the job you really want. This is your chance to market yourself. But, in a world where information is instant and we broadcast our lives to the world, we need to be conscious of what we’re putting out there.

Below are a few do’s and don’t to keep in mind as you move forward:

DO: Have a plan. What is the best way to get your thoughts and ideas out there? How many different forms of social will you use? Who do you want to target? Having a detailed strategy is the best way to go. It doesn’t have to be formal. Here is an example.

Identify My Top 10 Companies I want to work for: Creating a list is the best way to tailor you efforts and go after where you really want to work.

Set up a professional Twitter account and a LinkedIn account: These are just 2 examples. Use social networking sites that you are familiar with first, and then move on to more industry-related sites.

Follow my Top 10 and @reply to tweets and links I find interesting, read any company blogs. The more you know about the places you want to work, the better.

Add my LinkedIn and Twitter to my e-mail signature: The easier it is for potential employers to view your work, your thoughts, and your experience, the better.

Update my Facebook: Include career goals, links to LinkedIn and Twitter, review all pictures and change privacy settings on any that are not professional. Even if it is primarily for personal use, make sure all your bases are covered.

Make sure all my information is correct, up to date, and consistent across all sites: Nothing worse than having the wrong phone number listed on a resume or having different information on different profiles. Keep your story the same whenever possible. Add details where you need to, but overall, follow the same timeline. If you include job x on Facebook, make sure it is on LinkedIn as well.

DON’T: Give us the intimate details of your life. Or at the very least, keep those tweets and those entries private for friends only. When everyone can see what you post, you don’t want future employers knowing how drunk you were last weekend, the things you’d like to do to Megan Fox, how your boyfriend is a jerk, or…most importantly, how much you hate your current job. Same thing goes for pictures. There are privacy settings for a reason. We all know what’s in the red plastic cup. You’re not fooling anyone. This is also something to keep in mind once you are employed as well.

DO: Show your stuff. Whether you’re an avid blogger or maybe Twitter works better for you, let the world know what your interests are and what you are most knowledgeable about. Are you a total techie? Write about the latest iPhone apps or link to an article you think is cool. Are you looking for a job in the Interactive world? Lets see what you think about the latest industry trends and what websites you think are cool and why. Tailor it to what industry you would like to work in. You are marketing yourself; make sure you know your target audience.

Be creative! With so many potential candidates out there, find a way to stand out. Maybe instead of your tradition PDF resume, a video discussing your experience. Don’t go too crazy, keep it in the professional realm, but any way to differentiate yourself from the crowd and show your qualifications is a smart move.

DON’T: Be a stalker. Following companies on Twitter and an @reply here and a retweet there is great, but don’t go overboard. Same with blog comments. Comment on what you are the most interested in and keep it short and to the point. You want to give them enough to say, “Who is this person? They have some great ideas”, but as the saying goes, always leave them wanting more.

Here is a good example of having a balance: Our intern Adam really wanted to work here. He sent in his resume and was forward off to me. What really made him stand out was this- “P.S. Yesterday I stumbled upon your blog. Very interesting! You have a very fun taste in music. I voted for Olive on CuteAsHell.com. Good luck with the next tournament.” Just enough to show he paid attention and read my blog, but not too much where I felt concerned. It showed interest and because of that, I recommended he come in for an interview. Which brings me to my next tip…

DO: Your research. Know the company you want to work for inside and out. Read their press releases, tweets, and blog entries. Get a feel for what they are about. Make sure you know what their core mission is. This is not being an overachiever; it is showing you are serious about the position. Nothing looks worse than coming to an interview unprepared and not knowing about the company you are applying at. If they have their thoughts, their information, and their mission statement online, they expect you to know what they are about.