How To: LinkedIn Connection Requests

November 18, 2020

If you’ve been looking for a job, chances are you’ve heard the infamous statistic that something like 70-80% of all jobs are gained through networking. As a job seeker, that can be a scary number, especially for introverts. In a perfect world, you know someone who can connect you to someone at that dream company in what we’d call a “warm handshake.” However, what do you do when you don’t have a connection? That’s where LinkedIn can come in handy. LinkedIn connection requests are one of the best tools to help you network virtually. Here’s how to send connection requests that will be accepted.

LinkedIn Connection requests

Some days I get upwards of 20 LinkedIn connection requests, and I don’t accept all of them. 99% of the time, I will decline these requests if it appears that the person is trying to sell me something (I’m looking at you, Financial Planners). Connection requests are relatively low effort to send to people, and, unlike some, I’m not a fan of collecting connections on LinkedIn. Initially, I took the approach that I’d only connect with people I’d worked with or encountered in my daily life. I’ve backed off that perspective a bit, and I’ve made meaningful connections with people I haven’t met in person. So, when I receive a connection request, here’s what I look for:

Do I know this person? If so, this is an easy yes!
Is there something in common with this person? Maybe we’ve worked together in the past or been affiliated with the same organization.
Is this person in a similar industry/profession as I am? I see this as a potential networking opportunity and sharing best practices.
Can I help this person? The best way I can identify if I can help a connection is if there’s a personal message included in the connection request.

Who to connect with

When you are looking for a new connection on LinkedIn, be intentional about who you are connecting with. Like the list above, you’re more likely to get requests accepted by people you know or when you have something in common, like a group or previous organization. Additionally, look at connecting with hiring managers or recruiters in the organization. While it might be nice to connect with the CEO or other C-suite leaders, unless you’re targeting positions reporting to them directly, they’re less likely to have the time for informational interviews and the time to build a relationship. Regardless of who you choose to send a connection request to, you’re going to have much more success if you personalize it.

Writing a LinkedIn Connection Request

When you’re reaching out to connect with someone on Linkedin, the best approach is to be clear about your motives. A personalized message will go a long way in helping them decide if they want to accept the request, and it’s pretty easy to do. Here are a few templates that you can customize:

Informational interview: Company

Hi “name,” I have been following “Company,” and I’m interested in learning more about “what.” I had a few questions, and I am hoping to connect. Thank you.

Informational interview: Job

Hi “name,” I see you are a “title” at “Company.” I’m currently a “title,” and I’m curious about what you enjoy about your current role. Would you be willing to answer a few questions? Thank you.

Looking for a position: Recruiter or Hiring Manager

Hello “name,” I see that you work at “Company.” I am a “XYZ professional with x years of experience” and would like to discuss potentially working together. I’d love to see if my background would be a fit for “Company.” I look forward to connecting. Thank you.

Connection Accepted, Now What?

Congratulations! The connection request worked. Now what? The worst thing you can do once you’ve made a new contact is not do anything. Within a few days, follow up with a message. Thank them for connecting with you. Networking relationships should be mutually beneficial, so it is an opportunity to offer any services or help you could provide along with your ask. A script could sound like “Hi “Name,” Thanks for connecting! I hope you’re doing well. I was hoping you’d be willing to answer a few questions about “topic,” if so, would you prefer email or phone? Also, please let me know if there’s anything I can help with.” Thanks, “Your Name.”

Once you’ve started the conversation, work to keep that relationship going. Please make an effort to check in via direct message every so often or engaging with the content your new connection is posting. Remember to avoid any political or other controversial topics on LinkedIn, and don’t say anything you wouldn’t want your future boss to read.

If you need some help building your job search strategy, our career coaches can help. Check out our career coaching options or email me directly at amie@soundinterview.com to create a custom plan.

Should I Go Back to My Old Company?

September 12, 2019

One of my clients, frustrated with the job search process, recently asked me about the pros and cons of going back to their old company. Deciding to return to a former company is a pretty individualized question, and there are many factors to consider when making that decision. Here are a couple of questions to ask yourself and some tips on how to be a “Boomerang Employee.”

In the Baby-Boomer generation, people rarely switched jobs, and even fewer people ever returned to their previous companies. Now, as careers are becoming more fluid, people stepping in and out of the workforce, employers see considerable value in welcoming past employees back. Organizations are setting up alumni network groups and newsletters to keep in touch with potential boomerang talent. Most of the time, previous employees have priority status in applicant tracking systems, and in some cases, companies even abbreviate the hiring process.

Benefits of Going Back

There can be lots of benefits to returning to a previous company. For one, you will likely get paid more. Typical annual raises range between 2-5%, but when you take a new job, your salary can jump as much as 15% in a move. Second, you’re going to have an easier time onboarding. Since you are already familiar with the systems and procedures, there’s less of an adjustment period. Finally, if you still have a strong network, the chances are that you will have an established reputation there.

Why Did You Leave?

What was it that motivated you to change roles? If you left your last job because you had a great new opportunity that came up or a different challenge, going back might make sense. If you left because you felt frustrated with the company, people, or the work that you were doing, take a harder look to see if this is the right decision. Ask yourself what was it about the organization that you enjoyed, and what were the things that made you crazy. It can be helpful to write out the plusses and minuses of the company. Ultimately, if you left because something was not a good fit, ask yourself if that reason is still valid.

What’s Changed?

If it’s been a few years since you worked for the company, take some time to catch up and see what’s new. Check out news articles, company earnings calls, and talk to previous co-workers to get a feel for how things are going. You are going to be bringing some new experience to the company since you last worked there. Think about what roles you are targeting.

Getting Started

You’ve considered everything you’re ready to boomerang back to your previous company, now what? First, start with your network. Find out whom you know that still works there. LinkedIn is pretty useful here since you can search by the company and see who is in your network that works there. While you’re there, explore the group section for “Company” Alumni or former employees of “Company.” Often these groups are monitored by the organization and will have valuable information about returning to work.

Using your Network

Now that you know who’s who, it’s time to start reaching out. Find time to connect with your network, who are still at the company. Ideally, your first meeting should be someone with hiring influence at the company. Try to make this meeting can happen face-to-face and if you can afford it, pick up their tab. Ask these questions:

Are they happy there? What’s different since you left?
Are they aware of any openings coming soon that might be in line with your experience?
Is there an employee referral program, are past employees eligible, and would they be willing to refer you?

Ultimately, using your network to get back into a company is the ideal strategy. If it’s been a long time since you left and you no longer have contacts there, reach out to a recruiter and try to establish a connection. After that, start applying to the positions on the company website. You will want to include your previous job there, even if it has been more than 10-15 years since you’ve worked there. If you are looking getting started or building a job search strategy, we can help! Email info@soundinterview.com to learn more.

February 4, 2019

Job Search Tips: Networking 101

Searching for a new job can be intimidating, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve been in the market. I often hear about how overwhelming it can be, and it is hard to know where to even begin! One approach the job search like any other internet search – type some keywords into Indeed or LinkedIn and see what happens. From there, you can spend hours studying job descriptions until finding the perfect job or applying to everything that maybe, possibly, potentially could fit, and seeing what happens.

While applying online can work, we know networking leads to faster job placement, higher wages, and longer employment duration (Source). So, if networking is so great, why aren’t more people doing it? In a lot of cases, people don’t know how, or where to start. Anxiety and imposter syndrome can also sneak in and make it difficult for people to reach out. Sometimes, clients are afraid to ask for ‘favors’ from others.

Imposter Syndrome

As in, “I’ve been successful in my career, but most of that has been a result of being in the right place at the right time. Someday they’re going to find out I’m not as good as they think I am.” If you’ve ever thought something along these lines, you might be suffering from Imposter Syndrome. It can be tough to recognize the potential that others see in you and own it. The hard part about networking and job seeking, in general, is that if you aren’t confident that you can do the work, employers won’t be convinced either. Don’t let your fear get in the way of a new job. It might seem silly, but power poses and having a mantra to repeat can help build confidence. Check your body language: shoulders back, head up, take a deep breath and go! Remember, you’ve got this. You could be the perfect person to take on that stretch job.

Asking for Help

Repeat after me: “Asking for help is not a weakness.” Asking for help can build a stronger bond with you and another person. When you ask someone for help, that person feels useful, and that you trust them. Asking for help can be a powerful tool to strengthen all kinds of different relationships, so spread the love around. It’s always better to get a warm introduction to a possible employer than reaching out blindly. Here’s the catch. When you ask someone for help, be willing to return the favor. Try not to rely on the same person consistently, our you might burn them out. Also, be sure to thank them for the connection, even if nothing comes of it. A simple handwritten note or even freshly baked cookies can go a long way in building those relationships.

Getting Started

So now that we’ve overcome a couple of common obstacles to networking, where the heck do you start?! There are a few ways you can get started. First, find out who you know. You can use social media or look through your phonebook. One underutilized method of networking is to send out an email to your contacts just letting them know you’re in the job market. Be selective about who you’re sending this to, especially if your employer doesn’t know you’re looking for a new opportunity.

If that’s not quite your style, help recruiters find you on LinkedIn by setting up your job notifications. This tool will help recruiters find you more easily and match you to potential positions that fit within your expectations. You can set preferences about the types of work you’re interested in, company size, industry and more. Don’t forget to double-check that your profile is up to date and reflects your most recent positions.

Creating your Top 10 list

Need more help narrowing it down? When you build a targeted list of companies you want to work at, you can see progress as your search progresses. First, do your research – what is it about the company that makes you want to work there? Awesome culture? Cool products? Stability and benefits? Great! Check out this spreadsheet to start brainstorming (hint: download a copy so you can make edits). If you feel like you’re stuck in your job search, this is a great tool to help you get unstuck.

Each week pick 3-4 companies and do something to build a network there. It could be setting up job notifications on their website, engaging with their social media pages, setting up informational interviews or even contacting a recruiter. Then, write it down and give yourself credit for the work you’ve done. By tracking your progress, you can see what strategies work as your networking progresses.

If you’re overwhelmed with where to start and need some help building a networking strategy or getting your job search kicked off, let us know. We can help with your resume, LinkedIn profile, cover letter reviews, and overall job search strategy.

February 8, 2017February 8, 2017

Jump Start Your Job Search

Congratulations, you’re ready to start a job search! Change can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. If you aren’t quite sure where to start, you’re in the right place. Before you start applying for a new position, the first step is to update your resume. Then, it’s time to start checking out the job market to see what’s out there. To help you in your search, we sharing some of our favorite job search resources and how to best leverage them.

One of the best things about using LinkedIn for your job search on LinkedIn is that you can see who in your network at companies where you’d like to work. Personal referrals are still an excellent way to find out about new positions and get positive references for jobs. The other nice thing about LinkedIn is that allows you to signal to recruiters that you’re looking, without making it known on your profile. If you are planning on using LinkedIn as a tool, be sure that your profile is updated before you start reaching out.

It’s considered poor form to send out connections to people you don’t know, without some explanation. If you come across a profile of someone you don’t personally know and want to connect, be sure to personalize the request. Introduce yourself and be clear about your intentions. If they accept the connection, be sure to follow up with a thank you note and be patient while you wait for a response. Be sure to be respectful and proofread your message before sending it off.

Indeed is my favorite site to use for a job search. The site is a basic aggregator, which means that it pulls together job postings from all over the internet. If you are only going to use one website to search for jobs, this is the one I would recommend. Indeed is easy to use and doesn’t require you to sign into an account to see the postings. Of all the sites, this one offers the most inclusive list of positions which ends up saving lots of time.

Another helpful thing about Indeed is that they don’t charge companies to post on the site. If you’re primarily interested in working for smaller companies who don’t have a big corporate recruiting budget, this is one of the places you’re likely to find the jobs.

I have to admit, as a former HR professional, my feelings on Glassdoor are mixed. I think that it’s a useful tool for job seekers, because it includes salary data and a lot of information on companies. There does tend to be a lot of noise in the system. Generally speaking, most people don’t take the time to write reviews unless they’re really happy, or really not happy. I’ve seen some unfair reviews written by individuals who had obvious issues with the company. On the other hand, there is great information about the interview processes for businesses and their interface is pretty easy to use. Overall, I appreciate that it is a comprehensive tool, just be sure not to make your decisions based solely on a few negative reviews.

Your Network

When you’re ready to go public with your job search, one of the most powerful tools you have is your network. Consider who you can reach out to that might be able to help. Your network can be one of the strongest advocates for you. They might know about positions that haven’t hit the job boards quite yet, and they can put you in touch with the primary decision makers at organizations.

Sending emails and making phone calls are both decent ways to stay in touch and reconnect with your network. If you want to make the biggest impression, make time to meet with them face to face. In-person meetings tend to drive stronger connections that will leave longer lasting impressions, so they are always preferred. Finally, after you’ve applied for positions, be sure to brush up on your interview skills and stories too. You never know when a recruiter will call you and ask if you have a moment to chat!

November 30, 2016October 6, 2016

Incognito Mode: Let LinkedIn Recruiters Know You’re Looking

LinkedIn just announced a new feature called Open Candidates, helping active job seekers go incognito. This feature lets LinkedIn recruiters know that you’re looking, without your boss finding out. In the past, we told clients not to publicize they’re looking for a new position unless they’ve conversation with their leader first. There are a lot of reasons why you might not want your employer to know you’re looking for a job. You might be worried they’ll treat you differently once they know you are looking or believe it would affect your work assignments.

Now, it might not be perfect yet, but it’s a start. LinkedIn says they’ll do their best not to let recruiters who work at your company know that you’re looking. There might be a few situations you’re current employer could find out you’re looking. If your business recruiters haven’t updated their current employer in their profile, or if your company goes by multiple names, they still might be able to see you. They assign companies ID’s, and if your company’s ID matches the recruiters, you’re not visible to them. If your business uses agency recruiters to fill positions, there might be a chance the agency recruiter comes across your profile.

How to Update your Settings for LinkedIn Recruiters

If you’re ready to open the floodgates of InMails from recruiters, here’s how you can get started. First, make sure your profile is up to date and recruiter ready. If you’re set on your employer not finding out that you’re looking, turn off your update notifications in your profile. This way your connections don’t see your profile changes in their LinkedIn newsfeed.

Once your profile is ready to go, it’s pretty easy to turn on this new feature. From your LinkedIn home page, click on Jobs. Here you can search for jobs, explore suggested jobs and update preferences. The Open Candidates feature is located under the preferences menu. LinkedIn has set your preference to off as a standard, so you’ll need to turn the feature on. From there, you can narrow down your choices. Decide the types of jobs, start availability and set an introduction to recruiters. Then you choose your interests, including industries, experience level, company size, and locations. Hopefully, providing this information will help you get in front of the right people. Recruiters will be able to see the date you flagged yourself, your interests and the types of jobs you like.

I want to hear your thoughts on this new tool; do you think that it’s going to be helpful in your job search? If you’re not planning on using it, tell me why. If you found this article helpful, please share it! Sound Interview Professionals is on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and I’d love to connect with you.

November 30, 2016October 2, 2016

Social Media for Job Seekers Part 3: Lessons Learned

Every day people are finding new ways to use social media to get a job. As a job seeker, creativity will get you noticed. This is the last post in our Social Media series, and we wanted to share some of the successes and failures we’ve come across. I Take a moment to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our series if you haven’t already.

Socially Awesome

Facebook Ads & a Trending Hashtag

About ten years ago, my close friend Scott decided he wanted to work at ThoughtWorks Australia. He had a tendency to be a bit impatient back then, so instead of waiting for them to get back to his application he decided that he wanted to help expedite the process. He launched a campaign to get hired that included two Facebook ads that led to microsite complete with a slide show and the ability to prank call people.

The slideshow he created demonstrated how his values aligned with those of the organization and included his accomplishments. Scott’s campaign became so popular that the ThoughtWorks Australia employees started #DearScott, which trended on Twitter briefly in Australia. He made it through their interview process and signed on as an employee not long after.

Scott did a lot of things right. He was intentional about his word choices for the advertisement, focusing on being a part of the team instead of being an employee (with/for). When people clicked, the site didn’t just lead to a resume; it was interactive and engaging. He connected to the company values and focused on his accomplishments instead of his previous duties. The prank call aspect let his personality show through in a fun, harmless way.

Lego Girl Gets a Job!

About two years ago a recent college graduate used Legos to apply for internships at creative agencies. She created a mini-scale Lego model, complete with packaging that she used to apply for jobs at her top two companies. She customized the colors on the packages to match the agency branding and included an “instruction book” highlighting her skills. In addition to sending the kits, she posted the photos to Reddit, which got a lot of attention from the industry. Her initiatives worked, and a few weeks later she posted this follow-up.

Socially Awkward

It’s important to be careful because mistakes on social media can cost you a job, or worse, your professional reputation. The next story is about another job seeker using Facebook advertising to get noticed by an employer. This time, it didn’t work out quite so well. The second example is a good reminder to be cautious of everything you post online, not only on your professional social media accounts.

You, Your, You’re…OUT!

One of my marketing friends told me about a failed ad campaign that an applicant tried. The company name and job seekers name are hidden for privacy purposes. From what she tells me several employees spotted the ad, first appearing on their personal Facebook feeds. Then it also popped up in at least one article or blog post an employee was reading.

The ad might have worked if it weren’t for one mistake. The position was in marketing, and this candidate used the wrong version of you’re, not once, but twice in the same advertisement. In a job where attention to detail is so important, the candidate pretty much guaranteed they won’t be getting a callback.

OKCupid to Facebook to LinkedIn to NOPE

An interesting article came across my news feed from SHRM, a professional organization for HR people. The article headline was “Vulgar Comments on Dating App Cause Recruiter to Dismiss Candidate.” The short story is that a recruiter was cruising Facebook when she saw her friend shared a Not Safe For Work Screenshot of some vulgar and threatening messages she received from a man on her Facebook news feed.

The recruiter thought the guy looked familiar, so she did a reverse google image search of his OKCupid photos. It turned out that the picture search led her to the guy’s LinkedIn profile, with the same photo. She rejected him from the candidate pool and sent a note telling him to be nicer to women. Her actions in dismissing the applicant were completely legal. If she had decided to move forward with the candidate given what she had seen and some issue happened at work, the company could be held liable for negligent hiring.

What’s the key takeaway here? Don’t use your professional profile photos in places you don’t want your employer to see. Be careful what you post online in general. There is an increasing blend of people’s personal and professional lives. Anything you put out into the world can be captured and shared. Think about what you’re putting out in the world and who you’re sending these things to. And honestly, just be a nice person.

Attention to Details

The other day this came across my Facebook feed just in time for this article. A friend of mine works at Zulily, and he recently received a mysterious hand delivered letter. Before he opened it, he posted a photo on Facebook. His name and photo are blurred for privacy. The person sending the message put in a lot of work and thought into his efforts. He researched the company, and he included an original signed recommendation, and he followed up on LinkedIn after it was delivered.

Unfortunately, there were critical errors. Remember when we talked about proofreading? Here is another example of a spelling error. It comes across as a lack of attention to detail. The second error was that he had the wrong hiring manager. My friend did end up passing the information along to the right person in the end, but those two mistakes might be a deal breaker for the hiring manager.

Oh, and as far as my friend’s informal survey? Two people said creepy/unprofessional because of the spelling along with sending it to the wrong person, and one person voted for being a go-getter.

Thanks for sticking with us through the series. Have you ever tried any of these tricks? We’d love to hear if they worked out for you. Tell us about them in the comments.

November 30, 2016September 26, 2016

Social Media for Job Seekers Part 2: Using Social Media to Get a Job

In the first part of our Social Media series, we talked about platforms job seekers should use to build connections and find positions. In part two we’re giving you our best tips on how to use social media to get a job, networking and building an audience.

Introduce Yourself

If you want to use social media to get a job, you need a summary. Use this section to talk about your professional skills, experiences, and what interests you. This information should be public, so double-check your settings. If you haven’t told your boss you’re looking for a job, don’t mention it in your profile, unless you are ready for an awkward conversation later.

LinkedIn: Focus on your summary, work history, education, certifications and volunteer experience. LinkedIn allows plenty of space to create an engaging summary and walks you through setting up a complete profile.

Twitter: You only get 160 characters, so focus on your career, industry, and interests, but avoid buzzwords that aren’t meaningful (perfectionist, strong performer, etc.).

Facebook: You can make the “about me” section public, but keep personal details out of it. Recruiters don’t need to read about your home-brew hobbies or the heavy metal band you play in unless it’s related to the jobs you’re applying for.

It’s best to leave out personal information, especially in your summary. Marital status, children, sexual orientation, age, religion and political views are illegal to ask about in the hiring process. Yes, it might be easy to tell from your name or photo some of these things but providing extra personal details isn’t going to help you get a job.

Be Active

Get noticed by posting new content, starting meaningful conversations and asking thought-provoking questions. By engaging with others, you’ll increase your audience and your chances of getting noticed by a recruiter. Search for industry-specific groups to join and events in your city where you can network in person. These groups will help you stay on top of your industry and learn about jobs before they get posted.

Once you landed the job, stay engaged. You’ve spent a lot of effort building a network so don’t abandon it. Keep your network open and post to it at least weekly. You never know when you might need help, or be able to be a resource for someone in your network. Also, hiring managers love to engage passive job seekers, people who aren’t looking for a job because they’re already employed. The next fantastic opportunity could be around the corner

Be Professional

Anytime you are using social media to get a job; your profile should be professional. That includes user names, photos and ‘about me’ sections. Use your real name and a professional email address like first.last@email.com for all professional communications. Ensure that you are using professional usernames, vanity URL’s, and photos for these accounts. Anyone can still click-through your previous profile pictures on Facebook, even if your profile is private.

Ask yourself if you’d be okay with your supervisor seeing your content or comments before you post it. If not, don’t post it. Recruiters and hiring managers will judge you based on your posts. Proofreading is especially important when you are looking for a job. Double check spelling, grammar and content to make sure it’s work appropriate.

Be On Topic

You’ve started a Twitter account, LinkedIn profile, and joined some Facebook groups to begin networking, Fantastic! Now the next step is to make sure that the content you’re posting is on-topic and relevant. Use caution with controversial topics; they are tricky, and it might be better off to avoid them, at least at first. If you decide to go down that road, they should be related to the industry, promote thoughtful discussion, and a have balanced perspective. Watch the content carefully and shut it down if it becomes offensive.

It’s important to keep in mind that just because you have separate personal accounts doesn’t mean that recruiters won’t find them. Recruiters are getting excellent at researching candidates these days. When you post content on your personal accounts, there’s still a good chance it could be seen. Double check your privacy settings and beware, even if you do have strong privacy settings, someone could take a screenshot, and your post could end up all over the internet.

Be Positive

We all know the one person from work or school who is ALWAYS complaining. This person might be fantastic at what they do, but their attitude affects everyone around. Don’t be that person on social media. Consistently complaining or posting negatively will drive hiring managers away fast. Yes, we’re looking for individuals who can do the job, but we don’t want to kill the culture at the same time. So, don’t badmouth your bosses or companies, and don’t vent. It’s okay to disagree with someone as long as you’re respectful. Stay away from personal attacks and negative comments because they’ll just make you look bad.

Be Resourceful

Are you curious about what it’s like to work at a company? Most companies have social media accounts that you can follow. You’ll learn about their values and the initiatives they have in work. Search for people who list the company as their employer and see what they are saying. If you are using LinkedIn, personalize any connection requests that you send!

To connect, send a friendly note introducing yourself and ask a few questions. After you’ve had a successful exchange, consider asking if they’d be open to a short (15-20 minutes) informational interview on the phone. If they agree, prepare questions about the work, company, the challenges & why they like it. The intent is to learn about life at the organization, not to try to sell yourself.

If you have an upcoming interview, you can search for the interviewers to learn about them. Look for things you have in common so you can bring up topics to casually build a rapport. For example, If you learn that the hiring manager is a big baseball fan, you can ask if they saw the game last night (without mentioning you looked them up of course!). Be tactful in how you approach these conversations, though, you don’t want to come across as creepy.

We concluded our Social Media series in Part 3, with examples using social media to get a job (and some that didn’t work so well). Be sure to subscribe to our blog, so you don’t miss out!

November 18, 2020September 21, 2016

Social Media for Job Seekers Part 1: The Basics

More and more companies are using social media as a method of attracting qualified candidates to their positions. In our Social Media for Job Seekers, we explore the what, why, and how to maximize these sites to find your next job.

Why Social Media

A 2016 Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) survey, found that 84% of companies are using social media as a recruiting tool and an additional 9% of organizations are planning to. This number is up from 56% in 2011. The most common sites that are being used by recruiters, in order, are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Companies are using social media for three main reasons:

They’re seeking out passive job seekers.
They want to attract candidates by showing up as a top place to work.
They are looking for specific skills for some harder to fill jobs.

Social media is a great way for you to connect with an organization. When you apply for a job online, your resume gets thrown into a system that scans and ranks it. It can take weeks to hear anything back if you hear anything at all. The benefit of social media is that you can talk to a real person and build a relationship. However, as companies and recruiters are becoming more engaged on social media, you have to be much more careful about how you are perceived. Everything you post publicly and even sometimes privately can affect your potential employment. According to the same SHRM study, 36% of organizations have rejected candidates based on their public social media profiles.

The Big Three

The most well-known social media platforms are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. As an applicant, you can use one or all of them to engage with employers. If you decide to use these tools to help with your job search you have to proceed with a bit of caution. Getting noticed by an employer can be excellent for your career, but it’s also easy to make the wrong impression.

If you only choose one social media platform, it should be LinkedIn. It is the most popular recruiting site used by employers. When you set up a profile, include the URL in your resume heading. Since LinkedIn doesn’t follow the normal “resume rules,” you can add additional information that may not make the cut on your resume.

LinkedIn also allows for skill endorsements and recommendations. You have the ability to ask people you’ve worked with to provide a recommendation or to endorse you. Recommendations show up on your profile as a reference or testimonial. LinkedIn is much more professional and work-related. It isn’t the place to debate politics, catch up with your long-lost cousin, or to share cat videos (except for this one).

Facebook

While Facebook can be a successful tool to engage with organizations, it also can expose much more of your personal information than LinkedIn. From an HR perspective, Facebook has been a useful tool in avoiding potentially bad hiring decisions and catching cases of worker’s comp fraud.

If you have a Facebook account, you need to update your privacy settings before you begin applying for jobs. Given my HR experience, I strongly suggest limiting the audience to your Facebook profile. You can still connect in Facebook groups or engage on company pages; it just prevents employers and the public from viewing your wall and other private details. Unless you’re Facebook profile and posts are squeaky clean, do not to friend your employers or coworkers.

Twitter

Twitter can be a great place to interact with organizations and leaders. It’s limitation being that it’s all in 140 characters or less. It’s easy enough to set up more than one Twitter account to keep your personal and professional tweets separate. When setting up a professional Twitter account, create a short username. If you’re going to include a photo, make sure it’s professional. One plus about using Twitter is that companies tend to be pretty responsive. Some executives and business owners manage their accounts directly. A lot of businesses have accounts set up specifically for job seekers. Microsoft runs @MicrosoftJobs and Amtrak has an account specifically for Veterans @AmtrakVets.

Other Social Media

Companies are trying to entice applicants on other social media platforms as well. GE’s recruiting campaign featuring a guy named Owen accepting a developer job has moved into Snapchat. Marriott has the @MariottCareers Instagram account featuring happy employees both at work and enjoying life. To get a good idea of what life is really like at a company you can search for hashtags used by both the company’s page and employees, like #facebooklife, #Lifeatkohls.

Be sure to check out part two and part three of the Social Media for Job Seekers series. We’re focusing on the top ways you can use social media to attract employers and creative examples of job seeker campaigns.