socialbizandtech

So far on this blog I have focussed on technology, social media in general and smartphone technology

However one of the things I wanted to write about on this new blog is the usage of social media in the wider area of recruitment and more recently headhunting (executive search). After all I have worked in the areas of executive search, formerly called headhunting for the past 7 years along with high level executive recruitment

In addition to being on the phone I still spend a lot of my day glued to the Internet trawling through vast amounts of data including social media sites and advanced Boolean searching on Google

So I figured it would be helpful for people who are seeking work in these tough economic times…to get a bit of an insight into a headhunter or recruiter’s mind

So..how could you as a job seeker increase you chances of being found on LinkedIn?

The following hot list briefly covers some key ways to get yourself noticed on LinkedIn:

* In your Summary section of your LinkedIn profile write: ” Seeking new career opportunities”  – this makes it clear you are in the job market. In these uncertain times there is nothing wrong with stating this. Sure headhunters and recruiters like people to be gainfully employed but in 2013 many people throughout the world, even in buoyant economies find themselves downsized, sidesized, outsized, you name it!

* Join Groups where people or companies that have jobs you might be interested in. That way you can get yourself known, have conversations with them and work out which companies might be hiring. When I worked in a more recruitment orientated (versus pure headhunting) firm we posted jobs on the Groups Discussions and Jobs forums

* Ensure your profile is comprehensive and indicates where you have been and just as importantly where you want to go, what skills you want to employ.Use key terms or buzz words so that your Profile can be readily picked up by Researchers and Recruiters or software agents replacing us humans!

* Do spend time on a weekly or even daily basis in intense job search mode. Look at who is in your first and second degree contacts within your network. Do Advanced searches within this

* If you find that some people from your Advanced Search results are not in your first two levels of contact ask to be introduced. Someone who is in your network may know them

* Alternatively if you are really keen to ramp up your job seeking efforts link in with your Twitter page, post tweets on the industries you are wanting to work in. You never know who might see your link on LInkedIn and end up following you on Twitter and even offering you a job due to your industry insights!

* Buy a premium LinkedIn account. You can either buy the Executive version which gives you some more direct contact (You can send InMail to a certain number of people who are not in your network). Alternatively and more obviously you can label yourself a Job Seeker by buying this specific account. This will enable you to be labelled as a Job Seeker with a badge, contact more recruiters via InMail directly (use Advanced Search to locate recruiters & hiring managers within specific companies & industries) and be featured at the top of the list when you apply for a job that is advertised by premium recruiters who list their jobs and opportunities on their LinkedIn job page

* Last but not least whilst you are seeking a new job try and manage your social media image more tightly. 70-80% of hiring managers look at your social media pages at some point in the hiring life cycle. It would be a real shame if you had all the right personality traits, jobs specs, skills, experience and lost out simply because of a series of drunken pics posted on a public view (change your settings to private and minimise postings) Facebook page!

Lastly good luck, it is a totally changed world out there when it comes to job seeking. It is no longer who you know…but who you know who knows who as well as letting them (the employer) know you are the right one for the opportunity:-)