Every day, an increasing number of job applicants get hired through social media rather than the traditional apply-blind-with-a-resume route. Over 83% of employers go online to get more information about potential applicants, so it’s essential to have a strong web presence and social networking skills. It was no surprise when I found out that Doug Haslam in my Personal Branding Group on BrazeenCareerist was hired via twitter. I took the opportunity to interview him to give you the inside scoop on how he used Twitter to get a job.
1. How did you get started with social media?
Back in 2003/4 I was starting to see the rise of blogs, and contemplating from the outside how they might affect my work (as a marketing manager at a small research company at the time). I ended up leaving and getting back into PR agency life before I could act on it, other than a tentative start at my own blog in early 2005.
2. What were your first impressions of Twitter, and why did you start to use it?
Very first impressions? I don’t need to know what my friends are doing at every given moment– this was October 2006. In Late February 2007, I started to see some of these friends get some real utility out of twitter (see this post for a very brief description)
I finally gave in on on March 1, and still was skeptical of the noise, and wrote this post but followed only a week later with this one.
3. How did you create a job opportunity through Twitter?
What I did to create opportunity was to network with other PR people. One of those was SHIFT Communications principal Todd Defren. We were actually direct-messaging back and forth about some industry questions we had for each other (I would often come and comment on his blog, even though we were technically competitors), and at one point he flat out asked me if I would consider putting myself up for a position that was opening.
4. What is your current job, and do you use Twitter for it?
I am an Account Director at SHIFT Communications, overseeing an account team and working with clients at the program strategy level. I do use twitter– I’ll promote news for clients and the agency on my own account (with disclosure), but more importantly advise clients on their own use of twitter (among other tools).
5. Now that you’re a Twitter success story, what would you recommend our readers do to follow in your footsteps?
Find people to network with – people who are in your industry as well as people in your clients’ industries. The conversations you start and take part in will enhance your standing as an engaged careerist, and a plugged in worker.
Conclusion
Doug notes, “If people you need or want to reach on Twitter aren’t on Twitter, go where they are – that’s most important.” That could be LinkedIn, blogs, Facebook, or anywhere else they’re active online.
Doug’s story is an inspiration to job seekers everywhere, demonstrating that you can get a job through social media if you use it properly. There is a lot of clutter and noise on the web, so make sure you connect with the right people and turn that connection into something real.
If you know anyone else who has had success via social media to get a job, let us know so that we can feature them!
Brand-Yourself.com is a platform to diagnose, manage and monitor your online reputation for career success. Did you know that 83% of employers use the web to research job applicants? If you’re ready to proactively control your Google results and get hired, rather than cut from the applicant pool, try us for free and start controlling how you’re perceived online. Go ahead. Take our tools for a spin.
