How Important Social Media Can Help You Find a Job

As someone who has worked as a recruiter I understand how important social media is in finding quality job search candidates.  I’ve used tools like chat rooms, online communities, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and even internet dating sites to source and place candidates.  As a blogger, I have used Blogging4Jobs, my blog, to develop an online personal and business brand that has provided me with a solid reputation in my industry as well as landing a handful of clients who found me and reached out after reading my posts and content.

The Human Resource industry has been slow to adapt and understand the new media world.  Since not all HR professionals are recruiters and vice-versa, job seekers are at an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time.

Think of recruiters are salespeople who are in the business of finding people for companies they either work for as employees or as third party agencies who search and find candidates (most often on behalf of companies they represent).  Human Resource professionals are more analytical personalities who are focused on policy, procedure, technologies like payroll and application systems, as well as legal concerns with protecting the company in mind.

Most HR professionals do not like recruiting or work in recruiting. If they do, they are often not passionate about the process.  To them it’s a means to an end. I like to think that I am the exception to the rule and have worked in and understand both.

The good news is that according to EMarketer, the tides when it comes to HR and social media are shifting.  A recent survey regarding HR executives found that HR professionals spend an average of 3.77 hours per week using social media for work purposes.  About one half of respondents reported that social media helped their brand and made them more valuable as a job candidate.

This change in thought from HR executives and business leaders makes personal branding even more important than it ever was before.  As you continue to grow and build relationships and your personal brand, companies are becoming more aware of its value and seeking out influencers and thought leaders, either internally or externally, and often using social media networks and communities.  This also makes managing your online and personal brands more strategically necessary.

Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is an author, new mother, and human resources professional with a passion for HR, recruiting and all things social media.  She has over 10 years of experience in human resources & recruiting.

Her company, Xceptional HR provides businesses with social media, recruitment, and human resources strategy and consulting.   Jessica’s book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business was released January 2010.  Follow Jessica on Twitter, LinkedIn, & FaceBook.