The Real Way to Get a Job Using Social Media Revealed (summary)

In this article, Dan Schawbel shares his secrets to using social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to network and find jobs. Read the full article. Here’s a quick summary:

1. Conduct a people search
   “The first thing you need to know is that you get jobs through people and not random submissions or “hail marry’s.” The second thing you need to know is that most companies have people who can be contacted online.”
2. Put up your billboard advertisements
   “I would recommend stationing your personal brand on the leading social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook), joining social networks that are related to your field, establishing a blog, website…”
3. Sleeping is not an option
   “Sleep is unnecessary if you’re in a job search because every hour you don’t have a job, that’s money you can’t use to support your life.”
4. Find “head hunters” the web 2.0 way
   “There are a lot of headhunters around and they are easier to find than ever.”

Schawbel offers some practical, realistic steps to use social media/networking sites to advance your job search, but you have to be willing to make the effort. If it sounds like job searching is a full time job in and of itself, you’re right. And given the current job market, it’s like adding a few extra hours of overtime, too! Try not to lose heart, though. Using these, and similar strategies, combined with your hard work and determination, (not to mention the experience and knowledge you’ll need to do the job), will eventually pay off.
(This article is co-posted on the LU Career Center to Go site.)