How to Use Social Media to Get Hired (Even When the Resume Fails)

The job markets are changing, and so are the methods that determine if we get hired. With freelancing sites, virtual jobs and small home businesses created daily, the way we work has continued to evolve.

Long gone are the days of cold calling, snail mailing resumes and sitting around waiting to hear back from the hiring manager.

This is the age of technology, and we must adjust accordingly. There are so many websites, blogs and types of social media available it can get overwhelming.

But you can use it to your advantage if you know how; and it can help you land your next job.

I recently became a personal finance blogger. I always loved to write but haven’t done much since I was in high school. My mother was an English Lit Professor and my dad is a very good editor and technical writer that has published many books. I guess writing and blogging is in my blood.

I am also an avid user of social media sites, like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and others. But now I understand how they can offer more than just regular updates from friends or family. Social media can bring many opportunities to further your career and knowledge in general.

Recently, I made contact with a web/blog editor for a financial and banking site that I wanted to contribute to, hoping to become a regular columnist. I received precise and professional feedback with encouragement that he would look over my story pitch and get back with me.

A week passed, and I was wondering if my resume or pitch might have been too vague, and not shown my skills or personality enough. I wanted to be professional with my work, but not stand offish. It’s important to strike a positive professional image to a potential boss, but not so much that you are void of all personality.

Since I knew his name, I decided to look around a few social media sites to see if I could find his personal pages. I found him on Twitter! And I got the idea to @message him a more personal article from this site. He almost immediately commented back, that he was “reading it now”. I was a little surprise but excited, since I seemed to have captured his attention.

After reading the article he emailed me within 24 hours stating how impressed he was with not only my post, but with my creativity and initiative to find and contact him through Twitter. He let me know that I made him feel a lot better about welcoming me to the team, and he wanted to hire me right then and there.

This is just an example of how social media sites, if used properly, can work to advance your career. All while creating unique and personal contacts with potential clients or bosses.

It also indicates that even if a company doesn’t want you to follow up with a phone call or email, something within 140 characters can still grab their attention without being too overbearing. With such a crowded job market, following up after an interview or sending in a resume is crucial.

Employers today are looking at your Facebook pages, your Twitter accounts and other social media. Anything you post or retweet can be reflective of the type of person (or employee) you might be. It can be one of the deciding factors to whether you get the job or not.

Used correctly, these sites can build your network, show how dedicated you are, or that you have amazing client and social skills. One way to get a leg up on the competition is to find other employees. Try reaching out for a quick contact (don’t be pushy) and maybe they can give you pointers or tips for a “way in”.

Your goal is to sound like you have done your research and that you're creative and enthusiastic about the job or company. You DO NOT want to sound desperate or be made out like you’re stalking the hiring manager or employees.

Failing to properly follow up on your interview or after submitting your resume is a guaranteed way to let yourself (and your career) become forgettable and get lost in the crowds.