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Top Tips for job seekers in the social media era

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Adam Richardson of Yellow Cat Recruitment offers some top tips for job seekers in the social media era...

Over the past decade the ways in which people find themselves a new job has changed. In the past many would rely on newspaper ads or speculatively posting their CVs to companies they like the look of. In recent years however online job hunting has taken over and with the rise of social media the process has evolved and become more complex.

The following tips are designed to advise candidates on ways to stay one step ahead of the competition.

1 Ensure your CV is fully up to date and easily searchable
Although it is fairly obvious that your CV should be up to date before you send it to anyone, it is important that full care and attention is taken to ensure that every part of your CV relates to the roles you are applying for. It is also important to double check sections such as your Qualifications and Personal Profile to ensure they are relevant and up to date.
Additionally, it is also important to include wording that is relevant to the roles you are interested in throughout your CV as recruiters will often use keywords to search for candidates on online job boards.

2 Upload your CV to an online job board
Many candidates overlook online job boards in favour of the traditional approach of finding and applying for jobs themselves. By uploading your CV to one of the many job websites and creating a personal profile you are then available to be found by prospective employers or agencies. This can leave you safe in the knowledge that you are still in the market for new roles even if you do not have much spare time to search for a job yourself. This is your chance to be headhunted!

3 Build an online presence
Once a tool for chatting with friends and letting people know what you had for lunch, social networking has exploded over the past year and can now play a big part in your job search. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account already, it is worth getting one as it enables you to connect and network with professionals in your industry. Other sites such as Twitter have also become great tools for job hunting as it is possible to connect with industry professionals, find links to relevant websites and hear about new vacancies.

4 Know your industry
Understanding the industry you are working in or trying to break into is just as important as knowing about the specific job role you are aiming for. Having a broad knowledge of industry trends, upcoming developments and market leaders in your field can help your confidence at interview stage and throughout your career. With so much information available through online feeds, expert blogs and trade magazines, it is easy to expand your knowledge.

5 Register with a recruitment agency
Recruitment agencies can be an extremely useful source for job vacancies and job hunting advice. Some employers carry out their main recruiting through agencies, so signing up can give you access to jobs that aren't advertised elsewhere.
Once you have an appointment, your agent will start by finding out what kind of jobs you're looking for and what experience you have. A good agency will not only go through your CV, help you improve your interview technique but also keep you updated with the latest vacancies and recruitment news through Facebook and Twitter. Many agencies handle both temporary and permanent work. Even if you are only looking for permanent work, consider putting yourself forward for both – if you perform well in a temp role, it can sometimes lead to a permanent position.

Have your say on this story using the comment section below

View Comments 2 comments

Posted By James on Wednesday 3rd February 2010 09:18:13
Thanks so much for all these tips - since following your guide I have already had an agency call me and I've a meeting there tomorrow. Brilliant. Thanks Adam!

Posted By O R on Wednesday 3rd February 2010 06:48:55
Great tips - Thanks Adam!

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