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It’s the digital age; cell phones, computers, social media and email are ruling the world. Everything is going online; including the traditional way of finding a job.
Picture looking for a job 20 - even 10 - years ago. You go around to businesses in town and drop off your PAPER resume. But is that the way of the past now?
Today, “modern” job seekers are using the advantages of social networking to find kick-ass jobs. And it seems to be working for them.
I found this post on Ms. Career Girl really interesting. It’s about Yifei Shang, a college dropout who is using a website to try and land a career at HubSpot; HeyHubSpot is a marketing blog where Shang attempts to get HubSpot’s attention and - ultimately - land a job there.
Obviously, not everyone is that extreme in their job search; especially if they don’t have a particular company that they want to work for nailed down. But, people are using other means more often now. Twitter, LinkedIn, Brazen Careerist (all those link to my profiles on those sites if you want to follow, connect or friend me) are all becoming popular sites to find jobs on. You can follow job boards on twitter, you can connect with potential employers on Brazen Careerist and LinkedIn. They are great networking tools.
Then there’s the infamous Jamie Varon’s website; Twitter should hire me, which she ended in April 2009 after landing a lunch meeting at Twitter and being featured in CNN. Talk about getting a lot of exposure, right?
For example, I’ve recently created a professional website for myself (which isn’t nearly as fancy as either of the other two that I just linked you to) and I’m experimenting with it. So far, when applying for freelance contracts, it’s way easier to just point people to the portfolio page of the website rather than attach all my clippings to the email. It seems to be working well so far for my needs. But it’s certainly not as “modern” or as “ballsy” as creating a website directed at the specific company that I want to hire me.
So, for those of you who are interested in using modern ways to find a job, but aren’t quite ready to go as far as the previous two examples. Here are some tips found in these two articles:
- If using LinkedIn, make sure you have an up-to-date and professional looking profile
- Use Tweetdeck to search specific topics and when someone tweets on that topic, you will get a notification
- Create a resume that can be sent by email, posted and searched online
So, what do you guys think of these “modern” ways of finding a job? Good or bad? And tell me, what’s the most ballsy thing you’ve ever done to land a job? Discuss.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s great that there are more ways to find jobs these days. I think it’s more popular in certain lines of work, though.
I think things like LinkedIn are great but I will be the first to say that I don’t really use it like it’s intended. But I am sure there are people out there who do!
I had a LinkedIn profile for MONTHS and never updated it. I finally got it up-to-date the other day!
Those are good ways, but honestly it’s definitely tough. Whether it’s easier or harder now, I’m not quite sure. Number one - I don’t even have the time to look for a new job, to network on career sites, it just seems like a lot of work especially for someone who has a full time job. I suppose I could use linked in but i view it as just another site similar to facebook except my resume is up there for all to see. I don’t know how crazy I am about that!
That’s my 2 cents.
@Erin:
I think that it’s important to always be looking for what’s next. Social networks, blogging, etc. are all ways to do this, even when you have a full time job. I know that it’s a lot of work, but that’s how people get ahead. They put in extra hours for networking.
There’s ALWAYS time. You just need to make it a priority. My advice (if you’re interested) is to allot 30-45 min each to building your online network. Start with something simple, like getting on Twitter and following a few people in positions you could see yourself in a year from now.
Regarding your resume, I recommend being a little more lax about that. What’s wrong with people seeing your resume on LinkedIn? The people connecting with you there are all professional-minded people and looking to network.
Give it a shot!
I have a professional website too, but I really never ended up using it. Mostly because my focus for my career is how my personal experience as a blogger and diabetes patient meshes well with my professional experience, so it usually ends up making more sense just to send them to my blog. That’s why I try to keep it fairly neutral. My blog and diabetes connections got me both my jobs, so I feel like that’s the best place to keep my focus on. I have a clips section on my blog, so I could just send the link to that section, rather than a different site.
I’ve got lots of freelance jobs by showing them my blog. It helps people see what I’m really like, I think. And it’s also a great example of UN-edited writing!
I teach a class on how to market yourself with a resume, cover letter, and in interviews, and you’re right - everything is changing in how to apply for and FIND jobs. My dad got laid off in December and it’s been an interesting procedure because everything these days is so different from how things were just a few years ago.
What a good idea, though - I’d never even thought of a professional website!
You should for sure make yourself a professional website, lady! Especially since you’re a kick-ass designer
Amber — first off I love your professional site. I think it looks awesome and you did a great job designing it.
Second, I agree with you that using social media is an awesome way to network and look for potential jobs. But then again I work in social media, so I think it’s great for a lot of things and I can see where people who are in other fields might think it’s the best way to get a job.
I love it! I can’t imagine job searching any other way. Social media gives me so many different opportunities to prove to an employer that I’m worth a second look.
Another interesting topic!
Honestly, I find the whole job searching/social networking thing to be a total minefield. I know I’m Gen Y and all that, and yeah, I’m fine on Facebook and whatever, but I just don’t seem to be able to really connect to people online. It’s something that I am trying to work on, though, because I feel that it’s really important for the world that we live in. I like the idea of a website, though… I feel like I *could* do that.
Really? That’s interesting because I feel MORE connected to some people online then I do to people in real life. To each their own I suppose!
The website was pretty easy to make. I used Dreamweaver!
I’ve never even heard of using social media to find a job ~ maybe that’s because of my small town upbringing. When I was in university most jobs I applied for wouldn’t even accept resumes that were e-mailed ~ everything had to be snail mailed or better yet, handed to the prospective employer in person. I love your professional site too
The web site is a great idea. It’s certainly better than attaching portfolio items to an email. I did the same thing with my http://www.flynntechnology.com site. used it to close sales for me whenever anyone wanted to know about the company or see samples of the work. that site has degraded over the years though.
When I got this job it came through a placement agency through a listing they had on careerbuilder.com. I think I applied for something different, and they said “hey, let’s put you in front of these people too”. I’ve found that the job boards are more effective in that regard.
I definitely feel like it’s easy to connect with people online- I just think the issue is that it can be harder to stand out with potential jobs because SO many people are connecting online and it tends to take a little less time than previous ways of networking did. I still think you can make yourself stand out by using some of the old fashioned ways of job searching. Like Lisa said it depends on the industry you are looking in
That’s a really good point. While connecting online can be a great first step or a great way to network, I think that meeting people face-to-face is when you have the chance to really make an impression and land the job or not!
I find these different ways of showing your professional resume online are great for networking-which really is one of the keys to finding employment (up to 80 per cent of employers hire through word of mouth, especially with the cost of advertsing during recession). The flip side is that while there are a lot more avenues to get your name out there/your porfolio, it is still going to be the contents of the resume/portfolio as well as the interview that gets you hired. It opens more doors and allows for more coverage but I hope people don’t expect technology to do the work for them.
One plus side of personal websites is that rather than telling someone about your computer/Internet savvy you are able to actually able to showcase it, along with your other work making the process easier for any HR department (a big plus for that side) but then it opens the door if there are personal photgraphs/images to discriminate for a position based on looks (which is illegal but still happens. and people can say that it will happen during the interview anyways, but you’re more likely to get hired if able to go through the interview process) . Interesting topic.
And I know I said it before, but I love your professional website.
YES! That’s one of the reasons that I will use my blog professionally even though it’s obviously not a professional blog. It’s because it is a great example of my creative, un-edited, freestyle writing. And it’s worked for me!
Definitely agree with you that there are personal problems when it comes to discrimination though. On one hand, having an online presence can allow a potential employer to see WHO you really are. On the other hand, it can also lead to discrimination.
I wonder if there’s anyway to avoid that…?
I don’t really think there is a way to avoid it. If someone is going to discriminate they’ll do it eventually, even if it means getting as far as an interview and then getting cut.
You know…I really need to look into this Linked In thing! I don’t think it existed yet when I graduated from college (or if it did, it wasn’t very big) and seeing as I’d like to move back home in the next year, it would be a good idea! I’d say it definitely depends on the industry though. My current company doesn’t even have it’s own website so it would be of no use. I got my job the old-fashioned way: replying to an ad in the newspaper! A lot of hiring is done word-of-mouth too, which is why we have a lot of people in the same families here. Personally I’m more outgoing online, so I think I like the new way better!
Considering I’ve been working for five years already (!?) it was pre-twitter, right around the time of LinkedIn so I still used the newspaper to look and apply for jobs, sending everything via snail mail. After the two jobs I really wanted turned me down, I accepted my dad’s offer to work for his company and within three months I had created my own position. The family business was a start-up at the time with a lot of holes and gaps so I went to my dad and the other boss with a list of things I wanted to do and how I would do it and so that’s how I started. Five years later my job, tasks and roles have all morphed but had I not sat down and asked them for my job (I was hired as an assistant only), I wouldn’t be where I am today. Not to say I want to stay here forever but it works for now
I confess I tend to be a bit old fashioned when it comes to applying for jobs; I still like to manually sign my cover letter and resume before sending it in but I realize that it’s not as hip to do that
Awesome point about creating your own position/creating your own opportunities. I’ve done the same thing with a few freelance clients which has extended my contract with them way past what was originally discussed. I think that goes back to going after what we want!
Haha, I also enjoy the act of SIGNING my cover letter
I can’t even imagine what searching for jobs was like before the Internet. And now with so many ways to network, I feel like there are more opportunities for professional growth than ever before. Just another reason the Internet is pretty awesome
I like your new professional site - having a website is such a great way to showcase your portfolio.
My boss just added me on LinkedIn and I so don’t know what to think!
LOL. Well LinkedIn is a professional site so I wouldn’t worry about it? It gives you a chance to get “recommended” by him. Now, if he added you to Facebook…. That’s be another story!
The most ballsy thing I did to land a job is apply for a job I was not qualified for (in terms of experience, education), and then convince them I was good enough for the job.
Glad Yifei’s story brought so much discussion!
I have lots of thoughts about using online tools to help you find a job. I wrote more about my sassy opinions on Samantha Ogborn’s blog. Check it out: http://samanthaogborn.com/?p=44
I think the new approaches depend entirely on what the companies are familiar with.
For example, Chapters won’t accept paper resumes anymore–you have to apply online and pass their personality quiz. Yet, countless other jobs don’t even have an HR email account.
I’d scout out how technologically competent a company is before I decide my plan of attack for getting a job there.
Looking for jobs is difficult, I imagine it was much more difficult back in the day of paper resumes and actually sending it via snail mail. I still havent joined Linked In. I fail to see how its properly used. Am I only supposed to be friends with people in my industry? Do I link to people I know like yourself? I do think the idea of a professional website is a great idea.
i’ve had the same job for two years. it fell into my lap so i havent really had to ‘find one’ lately. i think the new search engines for locating jobs are pretty cool though.