Brand You: Social networking with a purpose
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Published February 7, 2010 Jobs are tough to find. Make sure you’re not. Increasingly, employers are recruiting on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. To boost your visibility and build your professional reputation, learn to use these networking sites in conjunction with a more formal, résumé-style profile at the LinkedIn Web site.“Design a core message, and communicate it consistently across all three platforms,” says Chandlee Bryan, president of the New York-based job-search services firm Best Fit Forward. A job candidate’s message will take a different form from one platform to another. After all, Twitter only gives users just 160 characters to craft a bio. But the basic content should be the same. Present skills and expertise in a conversational tone and cater to your target audience. “Do your homework, and know what employers in your industry are looking for,” she says. “Your message should make an employer say, OK, I can see how that person will fit in.” More tips from Bryan: •Take special care to craft a strong LinkedIn profile. “There’s a strong chance that your LinkedIn profile will be the first thing employers see when they Google your name,” she says. • Use Twitter to link to companies, groups and people who share your professional interests. • Don’t get so involved with online networking that you ratchet back on phone calls and face-to-face meetings. “There’s no substitute for a real voice connection or face time,” Bryan notes. - Written By Dawn Klingensmith |