Posts Tagged ‘Employment’

Networking is Vital to Your Job Search

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

This video from The Wall Street Journal‘s Market Watch talks about the importance of utilizing your network when it comes to looking for a new job. Get out something to take some notes on and click play:

Don’t see a video? Try this link.

What “take aways” did you get from Promise Phelon of UpMo?

  • Your network is essential to your job search.
  • Not all job opportunities are posted which is why word of mouth is key.
  • Don’t wait until you are desperate for a job to start connecting with your network.
  • Break down your network to determine who in it can be most helpful.
  • Take the time to learn what people in your network need first and try to help them.
  • Always be prepared for a job search by keeping your network up to date.

What did I miss? I hope you found this video helpful. Please feel free to leave comments if you have any experience or tips to share.

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Posted in Social Media Career Information | No Comments »

Employers Using Social Networks to Screen Applicants

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Background checks and drug screening of potential new hires has been the standard practice for employers for decades now. But as more and more people share their lives online via social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter, employers now have new sources of information on applicants. A study by Career Builder showed that at least 1 in 5 employers are now using these social sites to screen prospects. Here is a sampling of what they find that causes them to reject an application:

  • content posted about alcohol or drug use
  • “inappropriate or provocative” pictures
  • candidate appeared to have poor communications skills
  • candidate bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employees
  • candidate lied about qualifications
  • discriminatory comments related to race, gender, religion, etc.
  • candidate’s screen name was unprofessional
  • candidate was linked to criminal behavior
  • candidate shared confidential information from previous employers

That list gives you a good idea of what not to when you are adding information to your social networks. People often forget that information shared anywhere on the internet can be found by those who know where to look, even on so-called private networks.

So be careful and be wise when you’re online.

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Posted in Social Media Career Information | No Comments »