plus 1, Can Ignoring Social Media Kill a Career? - FOXBusiness

Can Ignoring Social Media Kill a Career? - FOXBusiness

Posted: 13 May 2010 07:03 AM PDT

In today's competitive job market, social media has become the new jungle. Is a reluctance to sign up for a LinkedIn account keeping you from the job of your dreams?

Quite possibly, according to Dan Schawbel, personal branding expert and author of "Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success."

Increasingly, companies looking for workers are investing more resources into social ads on Facebook, Google AdWords, Craigslist, Twitter and blogs, Schawbel says.

"Social media is replacing classified ads," he says.

Having an online presence is essential for today's job seekers, "because if you aren't visible, you don't exist to the world," Schawbel says.

"If I search for your name, or someone with expertise like yours, and you don't come up, you will lose an opportunity each time that occurs. If two candidates have the same background, but one has a popular blog, the blogger will be hired," he says.

The new rules

Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing in Boston -- which helps job seekers with "social media and job search" -- agrees that companies are turning away from job boards and toward social media when hiring.

In some cases, companies post jobs exclusively on social networking websites, especially when targeting candidates who are "social media savvy," says Reynolds, who is also a sales and marketing consultant, blogger and author.

Schawbel says some job seekers, such as those in the service industry, still may have luck pounding the pavement and scrutinizing the Sunday classifieds.

However, others -- especially those who set their sights on executive level positions -- need to establish a strong online presence.

"You should disregard classified ads from your job search if you're a serious job seeker," Schawbel says. "The best jobs in the world aren't advertised, and if you make a phone call or submit your resume to a classified ad, you'll be one of hundreds, if not thousands, to do so."

Instead, job seekers should use social media to build relationships and help make themselves "one of one," he says.

"The only way to do that is to build a relationship with someone who works at the company that's advertising," he says, adding that social media allows job seekers to skip job boards and corporate websites and to "connect directly with hiring managers."

How to do it

So, how can job seekers put their best foot forward in cyberspace?

For starters, it's crucial to maintain a professional online presence that reflects the position you want and the skills companies are looking for, Schawbel says.

A growing number of companies rely on search engines like Google when scouting for potential candidates, he says. However, too many job seekers use keywords and job titles from previous positions when branding themselves, even if they hated their old jobs.

"Brand yourself for the career you want, not the job you have," Schawbel says.

Reynolds agrees that Googling candidates "has become a normal part of the employer research process." She says job seekers who do not have an online presence may hurt their career prospects.

"If you are in a marketing or technical profession and don't use the Internet, it may look like you are not up-to-date with trends and tools," she says. "Plus, you will miss out on job postings, learning opportunities and so much more."

Although it's never too late to establish a social media presence, the best time to do so is long before you receive a pink slip or decide to pursue new career opportunities, Schawbel says.

"All of the job seekers that are scoring interviews and jobs now have already built their online following when they were employed," he says. "The people that are just starting to network are perceived as desperate and are begging for jobs, instead of building genuine relationships."

Best places to start

Schawbel recommends Twitter as the best place to start actively networking because it's in the public domain and allows you to follow a stranger in an unobtrusive manner.

"After a few weeks networking on Twitter, you can turn your public conversations into private ones by sending a direct message or e-mailing the hiring manager," Schawbel says. "Then, you can set up an information interview and take it from there."

He also recommends LinkedIn because it "was built as a professional network, which means that it's much more valuable than Facebook or MySpace for finding a job."

A LinkedIn profile offers potential employers a thorough understanding of your work experience and educational background. In addition, employers can view recommendations from your previous managers, Schawbel says.

"You can search for jobs on LinkedIn too, and see who in your network can introduce you to hiring managers," he says.

Reynolds agrees that LinkedIn can be a powerful resource.

"LinkedIn is the most important job-search social media tool," she says.

Regardless of which type of social media you choose to explore, it's important to create a presence that lifts your brand above the rest of the job-seeking crowd, Schawbel says.

"You want to have a positive and professional online image, so that when employers are searching for you, you don't give them a reason to move to the next candidate," he says.

More From Bankrate:

How much should you tip?
10 doggone ways to make pet travel easy
6 ways to prep your car for summer driving

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Top job and the best career for 2010 - Salon

Posted: 12 May 2010 04:51 PM PDT

You may be one among the millions of graduates who will march the isles this year. And as you and the rest will experience eventually, the increase of jobs applicants would follow suit amidst the ongoing economic recession, It is crucial that you choose the best career for 2010.

What are the top jobs for 2010? Nowadays, work from home and jobs online are taking the place of traditional jobs wherein you report at least 8 hours a day. The concept that "when you are at home, you couldn't be working "is slowly being changed with, "I work at home."

A Top Job for 2010 is an online job where you can work at your own pace and stay in the comforts of your home. Here are the best careers for 2010:

» Freelance writing

Freelance writing is a fast-growing job online that offers various options, from eBook writing, to article writing, to blog writing. You can work at home with all of these types. What more you can have the luxury of selecting what time you would want to work. Several writing sites and outsourcing companies are in need of article writers. The opportunities are boundless.

» Data encoding

Just like freelance writing, this job online can bring you big money and great returns. The same advantages of freelance writing apply to data encoding.

» Web designing

This is a lucrative job online and is a top job for 2010. Web designers earn more than freelance writing because of the expertise needed to perform the job. Site owners usually hire web designers to oversee the site's operation. The payment is on a per hour basis, so it is more financially rewarding than freelance writing and data encoding.

» Blogging

Blogging was previously considered as a hobby and not a job. But as more and more people ventured into Internet marketing, they realized that it could be a job to blog. If you know the right formula, blogging could earn you more than what you get from an 8 to 5 job.

» Internet marketing

This is a best career for 2010 because it is fast becoming a major method of marketing your products. It is also convenient, less expensive, less tiresome, and wider in scope than advertising through non-virtual means.

» Computer Software Engineer

There are several jobs online for this category. Employers pay them by the hour. They could also freelance and work at their own pace. They can earn more when they work online, because while you are working, you can do some household chores too.

For offline jobs, here is the best career for 2010

» Air Traffic Controller

This job is one of the highest paying job for 2010. It is also the best-recommended job. This is a top job for 2010, but the stress stimuli and the toxic working hours can be stressful and be detrimental to health.

» Construction Manager

This job is ranked highly as a good career choice, because the good earnings from these careers. This job is hazardous so the salary must be higher than those who are not exposed to accidents and hazards.

» Personal Finance adviser

This career would provide an array of opportunities for you. Many are searching for their own personal finance advisers. Lots of flexibility and diligence is needed for a good job.

For you, a top job for 2010 and a best career for 2010 maybe waiting just around the corner. Jobs online are great money makers. Explore all possibilities before deciding on one.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.