Using Social Media in your Job Search

Back to the Future! I said I will post notes on this event that took place back in August. I’ve been so busy too busy to do what I say I would do. Who else has the same problem? PROCRASTINATION or PRIORITIZATION!!! Shame on me! Anywho…I found my notes the other day and thought I should take the time to post this but most important actually take the time to follow through my notes and DO IT!

Peter Leshaw, an Internet Marketing consultant was among the speakers on “Using Social Media in your Job Search” on August 25 @ PinkSlip Networking. He discussed many things you, (me), we should be doing using social media in your job search. I thought to myself…”Well I have a full time job, a small business, and do freelance -I’m not sure this topic is really for me”. I found his enthusiasm and message interesting, so I sticked around for more and I’m so glad I did. He said something that opened up my eyes..sort of like a neck breaker moment. Say that again!?! Intrigued yet?

Alright here are my notes from my epiphany…
Keep Your Resume CURRENT and online. Simple as that. Employers and agencies that are looking for candidates search online, why isn’t your resume online when you have free tools at your disposition? Now it gets better…Business owners, consultants, full time freelancers, self-employed people…DO YOU HAVE A RESUME POSTED ONLINE? What’s the point of that if you are the boss of you? Well my friend, if someone runs into your name or your skills, specialty, experience and offers you a position, obviously your not looking for a job but you are looking for business. Some companies may prefer the idea of doing business with you as; B2B, independent contractor or as a consultant. This is just another way to expand your opportunities, market your name and be the “word of mouth” on search engines.

Here are the steps to find your next job or business lead:

1) Write a well written Sales Letter/Cover Letter about you.
- Be sure you proofread and optimize it, in other words “don’t make it a recipe”. It’s an introduction like a movie trailer of you.

2) Keep your resume current and up to date.
- This is a must for online profiles and also WORD or PDF attached files.

3) Setup a profile on the following accounts…
- Google.com/profile or gmail account also allows you to do this
- LinkedIn: Gather professional titles/descriptions for your ideal job title as well as all past job titles. You can use Google’s free keyword tool to do some research. Basically, be specific in your title on what you specialize…e.g “Software Specialist”, this can be too broad specially if you don’t master all. Try using something like “Adobe Photoshop Specialist, Web Designer & Flash Expert”. It’s short, to the point and the reader can automatically identify what you’re all about.
- Facebook: If using for business, keep the dialog for business ONLY. No personal conversations, drunken pictures/videos, or political/religious opinion that can jeopardize you as a trusted individual for your business.
- Twitter: Tweet brilliant thoughts, quotes, educational or worth sharing news with the world!
- Delicious: Create this account and bookmark your Emurse profile here)
- Digg: (link your Google profile here)

4) Create an account on Emurse.com (This site allows you to create, store, and share your resume online. You can have more than 1 resume. Also a great way to track your resume and how are people finding you)

5) Blog: Start a blog about you, your services, products. Free blogs; WordPress, Blogger, plenty of free ones out there

6) Buy your domain name: www.YourNameYourLastName.com

Do all this and you will find yourself on the top searches @ zero cost. If you think I’m kidding, type the speaker’s name in google right now…Peter Leshaw…go on do it!  This guy is listed on the first 2 search pages of search engines. No problem finding him

Try it out! Let me know what results you got from these collaborative social media tools.

Yours truly,

Vanessa Montes

I SHALL RETURN…

Oh my! It’s been a while since I blogged. I have abandomed my poor little wordpress. No worries, it’s been a very exciting summer. I will update you on all my events and great connection of resources I’ve gathered. I shall return strong

Stay tune my fans, lol

Vanessa

Can You Make Money with Social Media? Here are some helpful links…

Do you ever stop to wonder how much time does the average person spends on social networking? 

I know I have a hard time updating it on a daily basis but if I add my time on a weekly basis, it’s a whole lot! Cheez, I should of spend that time freelancing, eh! Anyhow, I have my battles if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that we spend so much time following people online, looking at pictures, joining more networks, posting comments rather than doing something more productive with our times. Then, again look at me sitting here posting my thoughts and links @ midnight to take some of your productive time. LOL, I’m a wreck! 

Well that was just my intro…a little confusing but I’m sure there is at least someone here who have thought about it too!

I attended a discussion by Sheryl Cattell about Making Money with Social Media. She gave out a list of helpful sites and tips to stay on top of social networks and using them to promote your business and your name. If we are spending so much online, why not spend it making money while you are at it. Best practices, use your social accounts to post brilliant things about you, your services, products and company. Get your name/company out to the world! Word of mouth is powerful..So is social networking. Ask your friends and family to add your web site links to their sites, facebook, myspace pages. Little things like that can get you an opportunity, job, clients, Etc…Just flinging some ideas @ you. Check out these sites and links! Information, courtesy of Sheryl Cattell, twitter: @allmaya

Follow the Conversation
- Google Alerts – your name, your hashtag
- www.tweetdeck.com
- www.seesmic.com
- http://search.twitter…
- http://twemes.com…
- http://hashtags.org…
- www.tweetscan.com

Start a Conversation
- Twhirl (used for virtual intranets, desktop client)
- Twitpic (post pics from your phone)
- Ping.fm (post once distributes many – blog, twitter facebook)
- Tweetlater – schedules posts while you are away, autoresponds to followers
- Twitterlocal – get local info from locals (great for traveling)
- Tweetseeker – search and rank tweet keywords

Mobile Twitter
- Twitterberry
- Twitter Mobile
- PocketTwit – Windows Mobile
- iTweet
- Tweetie for iPhone
- Hahlo – iPhone/iPod

Getting the Word Out
- Twellow
- We Follow

Other Twists of Interest
- Tweetmyjobs – subscribe by city and discipline
- Microtweet
- #socialmedia
- #sfima
- Twitter Karma (who is following who)
- Twitter Sheep (analyze bio words and presents a tag cloud)
- TinyURL (bit.ly or is.gd)

Check Out these sites to get ideas how others are using social media to create fan base:
- Facebook Fan Pages: cocacola, nutella, pizza, mrbean, pringles
- Facebook Groups: Contiki Holidays, Socialmobile
- LinkedIn Companies: Dell, Home Depot
- LinkedIn Groups: eMarketing Association Network (100K), SFIMA (1K)
- Twitter: @ Delloutlet

After Freelance Camp Miami…

This is exactly how I felt driving back home on I-95, drunk of pure sleep. I was nodding by head just like that. I’m such a baby!

VM: I pulled in my driveway and passed out for 20 minutes, then walked in and passed out on my bed for 15 hrs. Real story.

Water Report (Did You Know?)

• More than 1/2 of all water use inside a house takes place in the bathroom.
• Up to 75% of a home’s total water use during the growing season is for outdoor purposes.
• Nearly 14% of the water a typical homeowner pays for is never even used. It leaks down the drain!
• Running a full load of dishes in a dishwasher saves water over washing the same dishes by hand.
• Fixing a toilet that silently leaks 200 gallons of water per day might save nearly $1,000 per year. (WOW)

Special Report for the Leaky Toilet: 
To detect leaks in toilet, add food coloring to the tank water. If the colored water appears in the bowl, the toilet is leaking. Now go get it fix.

VM: What does this have to do with design? Absolutely nothing! Just trying to save you some bucks people!!