IN today’s world, social media is becoming an increasingly useful tool when searching for a job.
Websites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook can be used in a number of ways when both researching careers and job-hunting.
There a few things to bear in mind if you are going to make social networking sites part of your job search.
In the first of two features, Anne Richardson from the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service explains exactly how you can do this, and advises on the do’s and do not’s of social networking in your job search.
Twitter
Twitter is a networking service that allows users to both read and post text-based messages of up to 140 characters, known as ‘tweets’.
The messages then can be grouped together by topic with the use of ‘hash-tags’ which are words or phrases prefixed with the ‘#’ sign. Users can also ‘follow’ others to keep up to date with their posts.
Twitter can be used in numerous ways when job-searching from following potential employers and companies to tweeting that you are looking for work.
Remember to use a professional looking avatar (a graphical representation of who you are) and to include a job pitch in your twitter bio. It might also be useful to include a link to your CV so potential employers can find out more about your skills and experience.
There are also now some employers who will tweet new opportunities before advertising them officially, so by using Twitter you are staying one step ahead of the game.
Also, recruitment sites such as nijobfinder and recruitni have started tweeting out their latest vacancies.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is now the largest professional networking service on the Internet and it allows registered members to create a CV-like profile online. Users can upload a profile picture, provide a summary of their background, and detail their education, experience and skills.
Users also maintain a list of contact details of people with whom they have some kind of relationship, known as ‘Connections.’
LinkedIn can be very useful for careers research; for example, you can follow a company online and keep up to date with their job updates.
Some recruitment agencies are also now ‘head-hunting’ for future employees using LinkedIn so it is important to keep your profile professional, free from spelling and grammar mistakes, and up to date.
It can be difficult to become established on LinkedIn if you have no previous work experience or industry contacts, but remember that you can always update your profile as you go along.
Advice on using Facebook in your jobsearch will follow in a later feature.
If you need further information, please go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers where you will find the contact details for your nearest Careers Office and careers adviser. This site carries extensive information on career planning. You can also contact the Careers Service by phone on 0300 200 7820. Don’t forget if you’re in Belfast on a Saturday, the Careers Resource Centre in Ann Street is open from 10am to 2pm.
In today’s world, social media is becoming an increasingly useful tool when searching for a job.
Websites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook can be used in a number of ways when both researching careers and job-hunting.
There a few things to bear in mind if you are going to make social networking sites part of your job search.
In the first of two features, Anne Richardson from the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service explains exactly how you can do this, and advises on the do’s and do not’s of social networking in your job search.
Twitter
Twitter is a networking service that allows users to both read and post text-based messages of up to 140 characters, known as ‘tweets’.
The messages then can be grouped together by topic with the use of ‘hash-tags’ which are words or phrases prefixed with the ‘#’ sign. Users can also ‘follow’ others to keep up to date with their posts.
Twitter can be used in numerous ways when job-searching from following potential employers and companies to tweeting that you are looking for work.
Remember to use a professional looking avatar (a graphical representation of who you are) and to include a job pitch in your twitter bio. It might also be useful to include a link to your CV so potential employers can find out more about your skills and experience.
There are also now some employers who will tweet new opportunities before advertising them officially, so by using Twitter you are staying one step ahead of the game.
Also, recruitment sites such as nijobfinder and recruitni have started tweeting out their latest vacancies.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is now the largest professional networking service on the Internet and it allows registered members to create a CV-like profile online. Users can upload a profile picture, provide a summary of their background, and detail their education, experience and skills.
Users also maintain a list of contact details of people with whom they have some kind of relationship, known as ‘Connections.’
LinkedIn can be very useful for careers research; for example, you can follow a company online and keep up to date with their job updates.
Some recruitment agencies are also now ‘head-hunting’ for future employees using LinkedIn so it is important to keep your profile professional, free from spelling and grammar mistakes, and up to date.
It can be difficult to become established on LinkedIn if you have no previous work experience or industry contacts, but remember that you can always update your profile as you go along.
Advice on using Facebook in your jobsearch will follow in a later feature.
If you need further information, please go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers where you will find the contact details for your nearest Careers Office and careers adviser. This site carries extensive information on career planning. You can also contact the Careers Service by phone on 0300 200 7820. Don’t forget if you’re in Belfast on a Saturday, the Careers Resource Centre in Ann Street is open from 10am to 2pm.
