social media and employment

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain Injury

Paul F. Smith

Santa Clara Valley Brain Injury ConferenceHayes Mansion HotelSan Jose, CA

Revised March 13th, 2012Originally presented on February 26th, 2011; also revised for the Monterey County Committee for the

Employment of People with Disabilities and the Monterey County Job Developers Consortium in April and May, 2011.


Video: Social Media Revolution


What is “Social Media?” Online tools for social interaction Can be used by anyone with access to a:

Computer or Mobile Device Internet connection, and Web browser

Free or low cost NOT a substitute for other forms of

interaction and networking


The power of Social Media Connects people from around the world or

across the street Enormous potential audience Vast array of tools for different purposes:

Social Entertainment Social Networking Professional Networking Information distribution One to One Marketing


Worldwide Growth in Social Media: 2007-2009


More frequent check-ins: 2008-2009


Social Media – The Big Three Facebook – over 500 million users

over 142 million active users every month LinkedIn – over 67 million users

added 200 million users in one 9 month period establish recruiting tool for employers

Twitter – over 105 million users over 50 million tweets per day; 30,000 people a day are signing up


Social Media and Employment

Outsourcing firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas conducted a survey in August 2009 via e-mail. More than 200 HR executives responded. The outplacement firm asked HR executives to rate on a scale of one to five which of nine job search methods were most effective. Here's how they ranked:

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain Injury1. Networking

2. Using social networking sites

3. Targeting management recruiting firms

4. Using online job boards

5. Applying to jobs via an employer's website

6. Cold-calling employers

7. Sending unsolicited résumés to employers

8. Responding to paper classified ads and

9. Attending job fairs



An increasing number of companies are using social media in recruiting, both to verify the character of a candidate, and to identify potential employees.



The Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey 2010 - over 600 human resource and recruiting professionals participated in the survey. The survey was completed by individuals responding to an online invitation or to an email invitation sent to a registered list of human resources and recruiting professionals.

Here are some of the data summaries:



An increasing number of job-seekers are using Social Media in their professional lives to connect with existing contacts, expand their professional network, for professional development, or as part of their jobs.



The 2010 Social Networking Report (Simmons Marketing, an Experian company) provides data behind the growth in use of Social Media, including the fact that fully 66% of online Americans use social networking sites today, up from just 20% in 2007. (based on 2009 data)

These findings were based on the online habits of 10 million people.


Social Media and Brain Injury Social Media provides a venue that levels the

playing field for some Removes some of the pressures of time,

distraction, social anxiety, and physical/verbal presentation Memory and Attention Communication Employment gaps

A place to demonstrate capability, credibility, and specific skills


Using the Big Three: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter Facebook: incorporates many

entertainment and business uses LinkedIn: employment/career focused,

business-credible Twitter: immediate, breaking information

Video: Three Social Media Sites that can Help You Land Your Next Job


Practical ways Social Media can help you get your next job Build your network Demonstrate your skills Research employers Find jobs


Building Your Network Add friends, family, coworkers, employers Add new contacts, acquaintances Search for individuals and groups in your

profession


Building Your Network - adding the people you already know Import contact lists


Building Your Network - adding the people you already know Advanced People Search


Building Your Network - adding new contacts Send a personalized invitation; remind

them of your connection Offer help/information/resources Tell them about a group relating to their

profession Ask them about the professional

organizations they belong to


Building Your Network - adding new contacts

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryBuilding Your Network - adding new contacts

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryAdding new contacts - face to face “Are you on LinkedIn?”

“May I add you to my network?”

“Join, and I can introduce you to people/groups/resources that you might find useful.”

“Do you use other Social Media sites for professional contacts? Which ones?”

Hand them a card with a link to your profile

Offer resources, be helpful

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryDemonstrating your skills

Post updates related to your profession “The 2010 Acme Corporation Conference is

coming to the Bay Area this year – I'm looking forward to the keynote by Wile E. Coyote!”

“I see that Acme has released the specification on their 2012 jet-powered roller skates. If they does everything described on the spec sheet, Road Runner better watch out!”

“I just read a report on the new testing program at Acme Corporation – analysts expect product reliability to skyrocket!”


Demonstrating your skills

Join groups related to your profession


Demonstrating your skills

Join groups related to your profession Answer/ask questions, offer resources

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryResearching employers

As you grow your LinkedIn network, you'll see more connections with potential employers Read profiles of connections employed in your

profession – look for: groups they belong to past employers descriptions of their skills where they get professional news/information? hiring managers and HR personnel a contact in the job role you want

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryResearching employers (continued)

Google for background information terminology/jargon you don't understand past employers organizations employee names search Twitter for recent information, current

employees, company announcements “Follow Company” on LinkedIn


Finding jobs Leads from connections LinkedIn job postings Job postings within groups Contacting a company hiring professional Contacting a recruiter


Presenting yourself to the world - Internet Etiquette … is a lot like “real world” etiquette Don't SPAM Don't Flame Give at least as much as you take Knowledge and competence are demonstrated

over time, not inferred from past titles Read and adhere to the posting guidelines


Presenting yourself to the world – Social Media Profile Tips

According to a survey of more than 31,000 employers released by CareerBuilder.com in 2008, of the hiring managers who use social networks, one-third said they found information on such sites that caused them to toss the candidate out of consideration for a job, the survey said.

The top areas of concern found on social networking sites include:


Top Areas of Concern: Inappropriate photos or information posted on a

candidate's page (40%) Poor communication skills (29%) Bad-mouthing of former employers or fellow

employees (28%) Inaccurate qualifications (27%) Unprofessional screen names (22%) Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%) Confidential information about past employers

(19%)


Presenting yourself to the world – consider the Employer's Perspective Does this make me appear responsible? Does this make me appear knowledgeable? Does this make me sound like someone I’d

want to work with? Until you feel confident about the tone and

content of your posts, get someone else to look at your writing first


Final Tips Balance your priorities: remember that other

forms of networking are important Balance your time: you can spend many hours

online; think about what you are trying to achieve

Have a strategy for your online networking Think about the practical things you can do that

will yield the biggest results Go online with a goal in mind; accomplish that

goal, then disconnect


Additional Resources

View these slides, a list of the resources used to build this presentation, and more at:

www.workdev.org


Thank you!


Contact me

Paul F. Smith Email: [email protected] twitter: paul_f_smith LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulfsmith Phone: 831-234-0613

www.workdev.org

Social Media, Employment, and Brain InjurySocial Media, Employment, and Brain InjuryMedia Sources (in order of appearance)

The Social Media Revolution 2012 (slide 2)

Streaming video: http://youtu.be/0eUeL3n7fDs

Nielsen Report on Social Media (slide 5)

Website: http://bit.ly/62Pl4X

Experian/Simmons 2010 Social Networking Report (slides 6, 17)

PDF: http://ex.pn/dq77N8

Jobvite 2012 Social Recruiting Survey (slides 12, 13, 14)

PDF: http://bit.ly/jgm59q

LinkedIn.com (slides 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31)

Website: http://www.linkedin.com

Paul F. Smith - Photograph, October 2009 (slide 41)

http://youtu.be/0eUeL3n7fDs

http://bit.ly/62Pl4X

http://www.experian.com/assets/marketing-services/reports/simmons-2010-social-networking-report.pdf

http://bit.ly/jgm59q

http://www.linkedin.com/