Today\u2019s job seeker would be wise to take a good hard look at using social media sites as part of their search process. Sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google + have become major players in all aspects of an effective job search. That\u2019s why over half of all job seekers use social media daily, and one third of companies actually screen potential candidates using social media sites.<\/p>\n
Colleges and universities are among the most connected organizations, always at the forefront of the adoption of new technologies and are naturally most likely to use social media. If you are seriously considering working for a Canadian university, you are strongly advised to start thinking about your social media persona.<\/p>\n
Companies want to know more about you than just what you\u2019ve written in your resume and cover letter so will go to the sites you\u2019re active on to get a broader picture of who you are. They\u2019ll do research on your skills, look to see if you present yourself professionally online, how you\u2019ll fit in to their business culture, and whether there are any reasons not to hire you.So developing a solid social media strategy as part of your search is becoming more and more important.<\/p>\n
Here is how a social media presence can help you if you use it properly.<\/b><\/p>\n Your presence on social media sites can also hurt you. So make sure you do the following:<\/b><\/p>\n A word about working the social media sites.<\/b><\/p>\n If you do go the social media route, it\u2019s not enough to make sure you don\u2019t have incriminating information about yourself on your site. You need to focus on building strong networks that demonstrate your skills, and experience, share in discussions, get great references up there, demonstrate your communication skills, and help others throughout your network. Employers want well balanced, strong communicators who know how to build, and maintain networks.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a social media presence yet, start with and perfect your profile on LinkedIn for your job search. It is currently the most used social media site by your potential employers.<\/p>\n Visit\u00a0EduJobsCanada.com<\/a>\u00a0to find a job in higher education or post a job!<\/p>\n\n
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