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Strategies to Improve Your Job Search in 2012

randstad [1]Searching for a new job in 2012 is nothing like it used to be even just five years ago. Today, most of us use some form of social media on a daily basis, but according to Randstad Canada [1], the country’s leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services, it’s important for jobseekers to job search with social media and to use the power of social media as a viable tool to advance their career.

Stacy Parker, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Randstad Canada says, “Social media is fun, but it’s also a powerful tool to have in your arsenal when it comes to finding a job, connecting with key people in your industry or for establishing yourself as a thought leader in your field,” she adds. “Having a social media presence can positively impact your face-to-face networking activities, and can also help you tap into the hidden job market of positions that are not advertised.”

Parker provides a few tips that will help job seekers incorporate social media effectively into the job search process.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is the largest professional social networking site in the world and over 5 million Canadians are a part of it. By making sure your profile is 100% complete, you will appear more often in search results. You can also target keywords people are searching for to increase your visibility.

Get some LinkedIn recommendations. LinkedIn wants you to have at least three. The best way to get them? Write one for someone else, people more often than not, obey the law of reciprocity, give them something and they’ll want to give you something in return (LinkedIn even helps you out by asking them if they would like to return the favour).

Setup your privacy settings correctly on Facebook. With the new timeline option, it’s easy to become confused regarding who is seeing what. Can friends tag you in photos before you approve them? Maybe you’ve thought of that but can they check you into places without your approval? Make sure a prospective employer doesn’t see anything they shouldn’t!

Have an online presence. Are you a ghost online? The other extreme of sharing too much information, is nothing at all. If a potential employer Googles you and absolutely nothing comes up… you won’t appear to be relevant and you may be passed over for more savvy applicants that have online visibility.

Refine your brand. You might have a great reputation at work, but what does your online reputation look like? In fact, when was the last time your Googled yourself? Your brand reputation can make or break your chance at getting that job. Yes, maybe your fellow bloggers enjoyed that rant about your old boss, but a new boss might not like the idea. If you are using any inappropriate language or are commenting on controversial issues or blog posts, you may want to consider a blog pseudonym.

For more tips on how to incorporate social media with your job search, follow @RandstadCanada [2].