social media, employment, and disability

Social Media, Employment, and DisabilitySocial Media, Employment, and Disability

Paul F. SmithPaul F. Smith

Job Developer ConsortiumJob Developer ConsortiumMission Trails ROPMission Trails ROPSalinas, CASalinas, CA

February 15th, 2011February 15th, 2011


Video: Social Media RevolutionVideo: Social Media Revolution


What is “Social Media?”What is “Social Media?”

Online tools for social interactionOnline tools for social interaction

Can be used by anyone with access to a:Can be used by anyone with access to a:

Computer or Mobile DeviceComputer or Mobile Device

Internet connection, andInternet connection, and

Web browserWeb browser

Free or low costFree or low cost

NOT a substitute for other forms of NOT a substitute for other forms of interaction and networkinginteraction and networking


The power of Social MediaThe power of Social Media

Connects people from around the world or Connects people from around the world or across the streetacross the street

Enormous potential audienceEnormous potential audience

Vast array of tools for different purposes:Vast array of tools for different purposes:

Social EntertainmentSocial Entertainment

Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Professional NetworkingProfessional Networking

Information distributionInformation distribution

One to One MarketingOne to One Marketing


Worldwide Growth in Social Media: 2007-2009Worldwide Growth in Social Media: 2007-2009


More frequent check-ins: 2008-2009More frequent check-ins: 2008-2009


Social Media – The Big ThreeSocial Media – The Big Three

FacebookFacebook – over 500 million users – over 500 million users

over 142 million active users every monthover 142 million active users every month

LinkedInLinkedIn – over 67 million users – over 67 million users

added 200 million users in one 9 month periodadded 200 million users in one 9 month period

establish recruiting tool for employersestablish recruiting tool for employers

TwitterTwitter – over 105 million users – over 105 million users

over 50 million tweets per day;over 50 million tweets per day;

30,000 people a day are signing up30,000 people a day are signing up


Social Media and EmploymentSocial Media and Employment

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


1. Networking1. Networking

2. 2. Using social networking sitesUsing social networking sites

3. Targeting management recruiting firms3. Targeting management recruiting firms

4. Using online job boards4. Using online job boards

5. Applying to jobs via an employer's website5. Applying to jobs via an employer's website

6. Cold-calling employers6. Cold-calling employers

7. Sending unsolicited résumés to employers7. Sending unsolicited résumés to employers

8. Responding to paper classified ads and 8. Responding to paper classified ads and

9. Attending job fairs 9. Attending job fairs



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



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



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



The 2010 Social Networking Report The 2010 Social Networking Report (Simmons Marketing, an Experian (Simmons Marketing, an Experian company) provides data behind the growth company) provides data behind the growth in use of Social Media, including the fact in use of Social Media, including the fact that fully that fully 66% of online Americans use 66% of online Americans use social networking sites today, up from just social networking sites today, up from just 20% in 200720% in 2007. . (based on 2009 data)(based on 2009 data)

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


Social Media and DisabilitySocial Media and Disability

Social Media provides a venue that Social Media provides a venue that levels the levels the playing fieldplaying field for some for some

RemovesRemoves some of the some of the pressures of time, pressures of time, distraction, social anxiety, and distraction, social anxiety, and physical/verbal presentationphysical/verbal presentation

Memory and AttentionMemory and Attention

CommunicationCommunication

Employment gapsEmployment gaps

A place to A place to demonstrate capability, credibility, demonstrate capability, credibility, and specific skillsand specific skills


UsingUsing the Big Three: the Big Three: Facebook, LinkedIn, and Facebook, LinkedIn, and TwitterTwitter

Facebook: incorporates many entertainment Facebook: incorporates many entertainment and business usesand business uses

LinkedIn: employment/career focused, LinkedIn: employment/career focused, business-crediblebusiness-credible

Twitter: immediate, breaking informationTwitter: immediate, breaking information

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


Uses of Social Media in RecruitingUses of Social Media in Recruiting


Brand Preference of Facebook, Twitter and Brand Preference of Facebook, Twitter and MySpace visitorsMySpace visitors


Practical ways Social Media can help you get Practical ways Social Media can help you get your next jobyour next job

Build your networkBuild your network

Demonstrate your skillsDemonstrate your skills

Research employersResearch employers

Find jobsFind jobs


Building Your NetworkBuilding Your Network

Add friends, family, coworkers, employersAdd friends, family, coworkers, employers

Add new contacts, acquaintances Add new contacts, acquaintances

Search for individuals and groups in your Search for individuals and groups in your profession profession


Building Your Network - adding the people you Building Your Network - adding the people you already knowalready know

Import contact listsImport contact lists


Building Your Network - adding the people you Building Your Network - adding the people you already knowalready know

Advanced People SearchAdvanced People Search


Building Your Network - adding new contactsBuilding Your Network - adding new contacts

Send a personalized invitation; remind them Send a personalized invitation; remind them of your connectionof your connection

Offer help/information/resourcesOffer help/information/resources

Tell them about a group relating to their Tell them about a group relating to their professionprofession

Ask them about the professional Ask them about the professional organizations they belong toorganizations they belong to


Building Your Network - adding new contactsBuilding Your Network - adding new contacts


Adding new contacts - face to faceAdding new contacts - face to face

““Are you on LinkedIn?”Are you on LinkedIn?”

““May I add you to my network?”May I add you to my network?”

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

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

Hand them a card with a link to your profileHand them a card with a link to your profile

Offer resources, be helpfulOffer resources, be helpful


Demonstrating your skillsDemonstrating your skills

Post updates related to your professionPost updates related to your profession

““The 2010 Acme Corporation Conference is The 2010 Acme Corporation Conference is coming to the Bay Area this year – I'm looking coming to the Bay Area this year – I'm looking forward to the keynote by Wile E. Coyote!”forward to the keynote by Wile E. Coyote!”

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

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



Join groups related to your profession Join groups related to your profession



Join groups related to your profession Join groups related to your profession

Answer/ask questions, offer resourcesAnswer/ask questions, offer resources


Researching employersResearching employers

As you grow your LinkedIn network, you'll see As you grow your LinkedIn network, you'll see more more connections with potential employersconnections with potential employers

Read profilesRead profiles of connections employed in of connections employed in your profession – your profession – look forlook for::

groupsgroups they belong to they belong to

past employerspast employers

descriptions of their descriptions of their skillsskills

where they get professional where they get professional news/informationnews/information??

hiring managershiring managers and HR personnel and HR personnel

a contact in a contact in the job role you wantthe job role you want


Researching employersResearching employers (continued)(continued)

Google for Google for background informationbackground information

terminologyterminology/jargon you don't understand/jargon you don't understand

past employerspast employers

organizationsorganizations

employee namesemployee names

search Twittersearch Twitter for recent information, current for recent information, current employees, company announcementsemployees, company announcements

““Follow CompanyFollow Company” on LinkedIn” on LinkedIn


Finding jobsFinding jobs

Leads from Leads from connectionsconnections

LinkedIn LinkedIn job postingsjob postings

Job Job postings within groupspostings within groups

Contacting a Contacting a company hiring professionalcompany hiring professional

Contacting a Contacting a recruiterrecruiter


Presenting yourself to the world - Internet Presenting yourself to the world - Internet EtiquetteEtiquette

… … is a lot like “real world” etiquetteis a lot like “real world” etiquette

Don't SPAMDon't SPAM

Don't FlameDon't Flame

GiveGive at least as much as you take at least as much as you take

Knowledge and competence are Knowledge and competence are demonstrated over timedemonstrated over time, not inferred from , not inferred from past titlespast titles

Read and adhere to the Read and adhere to the posting guidelinesposting guidelines


Presenting yourself to the world – Social Media Presenting yourself to the world – Social Media Profile TipsProfile Tips

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

The top areas of concernThe top areas of concern found on social found on social networking sites networking sites includeinclude::


Top Areas of Concern:Top Areas of Concern:

Inappropriate photosInappropriate photos or information posted on a or information posted on a candidate's page (40%)candidate's page (40%)

Poor communicationPoor communication skills (29%) skills (29%)

Bad-mouthing of former employersBad-mouthing of former employers or fellow or fellow employees (28%)employees (28%)

Inaccurate qualificationsInaccurate qualifications (27%) (27%)

Unprofessional screen namesUnprofessional screen names (22%) (22%)

Notes showing Notes showing links to criminal behaviorlinks to criminal behavior (21%) (21%)

Confidential informationConfidential information about past employers about past employers (19%)(19%)


Presenting yourself to the world – consider the Presenting yourself to the world – consider the Employer's PerspectiveEmployer's Perspective

Does this make me appear Does this make me appear responsibleresponsible? ?

Does this make me appear Does this make me appear knowledgeableknowledgeable? ?

Does this make me sound like Does this make me sound like someone I’d someone I’d want to work withwant to work with??

Until you feel confident about the tone and Until you feel confident about the tone and content of your posts, content of your posts, get someone else to get someone else to look at your writing firstlook at your writing first


Final TipsFinal Tips

Balance your prioritiesBalance your priorities: remember that other : remember that other forms of networking are importantforms of networking are important

Balance your timeBalance your time: you can spend many hours : you can spend many hours online; think about what you are trying to online; think about what you are trying to achieve achieve

Have a strategyHave a strategy for your online networking for your online networking

Think about the Think about the practical thingspractical things you can do you can do that that will yield the biggest resultswill yield the biggest results

Go online with a goalGo online with a goal in mind; in mind; accomplishaccomplish that that goal, then goal, then disconnectdisconnect


Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

See Resources handout, or view this See Resources handout, or view this information online at:information online at:

www.workdev.orgwww.workdev.org


Contact meContact me

Paul F. SmithPaul F. Smith

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

twitter: paul_f_smithtwitter: paul_f_smith

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulfsmithLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulfsmith

Phone: 831-234-0613Phone: 831-234-0613