Social Networking to access the Hidden Job Market
Its tough out there on the open job market, so accessing the unpublishedor hidden job market is all the more important!
Social networking using Linked In and Twitter can be apivotal strategy for tapping into the unpublished market.
According to UK Recruiter , recruiters and potential employers are using both Linked In and Twitter as a vital and free resource to source candidates.
Because of the recent massive influx of users Linked In provides a potentially extensive network for recruitment purposes. It has an estimated 35 million registered users worldwide of which more than 2 million are based in the UK. This figure is growing at around 5% per month as more candidates find themselves on the market.
Twitter is fast becoming one of the most talked about social networks available on the net. It has huge potential for recruiters; and is without doubt an essential resource for all types of recruiter in all sectors of the industry. Those using it astutely realise that it is quickly becoming a major addition to the likes of Linked In as a must-have in the modern day successful recruiter's armoury.
So how can you make the most of social networking?
So how can you make the most of social networking?
Networking can be defined as the process of meeting with appropriate people in a specific industry or career focus area to find out about what they do and what their current needs are - thereby developing strategic relationships. Social networking is doing this virtually.
It is not telling everyone that you are out of work and need a new job, which is how many uninformed job seekers approach networking - and then bemoan the fact that it does not work for them.
To maximize the value of your social networking, make sure you adhere to the following key principles:
§ Remember the objective of "social networking". The goal of networking is to gain information, connections and referrals, not jobs - at least initially. Your profile on LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook should attract prospective employers or recruitment consultants by stating the problem you help with. This acts as a mirror so that the prospective employers or recruitment consultants feel confident they have come to the right place.
Example profiles on Linked In: Digital Content Professional, Human Resources Professional, Management Consultant Operations Six Sigma
Example profiles on Twitter: Disciple of Southwell, wordsmith, writer & creative creator - available for hire, Helping Women who are fed up of wasting their lives and yearning to make a real difference.
Apply the "1:50 Principle". Everybody knows at least fifty other people from various parts of their life. School, work, church, volunteer activities, sports groups, trade associations, neighbours, friends, family -all of these can become relevant when considering social networking. List asmany people as you can from these and any other categories. Expand your list by using Linked In and Twitter. Then realize that each of these people knows atleast 50 other people. The likelihood that several of these individuals will know someone who works in one of your target industries is very high.
With Twitter, follow people who inspire and energise you as possible collaborators, groups you want to keep up to date with and support, business mentors, friends, recruitment consultants and prospective employers.
With Linked In, build a network of everyone you know or who could be useful in a business sense :invite everyone you know, become an Open Networker and join TopLinked.com, join relevant industry groups and connect with members.
So think of todays' social networking sites as virtual villages, where networking is based on a foundation of interdependenceand win-win and where fun, discovery and connection are the keys to success.
Written by Fiona Biggins - Career Preparation Expert and Coach
