Social Media, Employment, and Brain Injury

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Paul F. SmithSanta Clara Valley Brain Injury Conference
Hayes Mansion Hotel
San Jose, CA
February 26th, 2011

Social Media, Employment, and Brain Injury


Video: Social Media Revolution

What is Social Media?Online tools for social interaction

Can be used by anyone with access to a:Computer or Mobile Device

Internet connection, and

Web browser

Free or low cost

NOT a substitute for other forms of interaction and networking



The power of Social MediaConnects people from around the world or across the street

Enormous potential audience

Vast array of tools for different purposes:Social Entertainment

Social Networking

Professional Networking

Information distribution

One to One Marketing


Worldwide Growth in Social Media: 2007-2009


More frequent check-ins: 2008-2009


Social Media The Big ThreeFacebook over 500 million usersover 142 million active users every month

LinkedIn over 67 million usersadded 200 million users in one 9 month period

establish recruiting tool for employers

Twitter over 105 million usersover 50 million tweets per day;

30,000 people a day are signing up


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


1. Networking2. Using social networking sites3. Targeting management recruiting firms4. Using online job boards5. Applying to jobs via an employer's website6. Cold-calling employers7. Sending unsolicited rsums to employers8. Responding to paper classified ads and 9. Attending job fairs


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


Social Media and EmploymentThe Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey 2010 - over 600 human resource and recruiting professionals participated in the survey. The survey was completed by individuals responding to an online invitation or to an email invitation sent to a registered list of human resources and recruiting professionals.Here are some of the data summaries:


Social Media and Employment






Social Media and EmploymentAn increasing number of job-seekers are using Social Media in their professional lives to connect with existing contacts, expand their professional network, for professional development, or as part of their jobs.


Social Media and EmploymentThe 2010 Social Networking Report (Simmons Marketing, an Experian company) provides data behind the growth in use of Social Media, including the fact that fully 66% of online Americans use social networking sites today, up from just 20% in 2007. (based on 2009 data)These findings were based on the online habits of 10 million people.




Social Media and Brain InjurySocial Media provides a venue that levels the playing field for some

Removes some of the pressures of time, distraction, social anxiety, and physical/verbal presentationMemory and Attention

Communication

Employment gaps

A place to demonstrate capability, credibility, and specific skills


Using the Big Three: Facebook, LinkedIn, and TwitterFacebook: incorporates many entertainment and business uses

LinkedIn: employment/career focused, business-credible

Twitter: immediate, breaking informationVideo: Three Social Media Sites that can Help You Land Your Next Job


Practical ways Social Media can help you get your next jobBuild your network

Demonstrate your skills

Research employers

Find jobs


Building Your NetworkAdd friends, family, coworkers, employers

Add new contacts, acquaintances

Search for individuals and groups in your profession


Building Your Network - adding the people you already knowImport contact lists


Building Your Network - adding the people you already knowImport contact lists


Building Your Network - adding the people you already knowAdvanced People Search


Building Your Network - adding new contactsSend a personalized invitation; remind them of your connection

Offer help/information/resources

Tell them about a group relating to their profession

Ask them about the professional organizations they belong to


Building Your Network - adding new contacts


Building Your Network - adding new contacts


Adding new contacts - face to faceAre you on LinkedIn?

May I add you to my network?

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

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

Hand them a card with a link to your profile

Offer resources, be helpful


Demonstrating your skillsPost updates related to your professionThe 2010 Acme Corporation Conference is coming to the Bay Area this year I'm looking forward to the keynote by Wile E. Coyote!

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

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


Demonstrating your skillsJoin groups related to your profession


Demonstrating your skillsJoin groups related to your profession Answer/ask questions, offer resources


Researching employersAs you grow your LinkedIn network, you'll see more connections with potential employersRead profiles of connections employed in your profession look for:groups they belong to

past employers

descriptions of their skills

where they get professional news/information?

hiring managers and HR personnel

a contact in the job role you want


Researching employers (continued)Google for background informationterminology/jargon you don't understand

past employers

organizations

employee names

search Twitter for recent information, current employees, company announcements

Follow Company on LinkedIn


Finding jobsLeads from connections

LinkedIn job postings

Job postings within groups

Contacting a company hiring professional

Contacting a recruiter


Presenting yourself to the world - Internet Etiquette is a lot like real world etiquette

Don't SPAM

Don't Flame

Give at least as much as you take

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

Read and adhere to the posting guidelines


Presenting yourself to the world Social Media Profile TipsAccording to a survey of more than 31,000 employers released by CareerBuilder.com in 2008, of the hiring managers who use social networks, one-third said they found information on such sites that caused them to toss the candidate out of consideration for a job, the survey said.The top areas of concern found on social networking sites include:


Top Areas of Concern:Inappropriate photos or information posted on a candidate's page (40%)

Poor communication skills (29%)

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

Inaccurate qualifications (27%)

Unprofessional screen names (22%)

Notes showing links to criminal behavior (21%)

Confidential information about past employers (19%)


Presenting yourself to the world consider the Employer's PerspectiveDoes this make me appear responsible?

Does this make me appear knowledgeable?

Does this make me sound like someone Id want to work with?

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


Final TipsBalance your priorities: remember that other forms of networking are important

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

Have a strategy for your online networking

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

Go online with a goal in mind; accomplish that goal, then disconnect


Additional ResourcesView these slides, a list of the resources used to build this presentation, and more at:www.workdev.org


Contact mePaul F. SmithEmail: [email protected]

twitter: paul_f_smith

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paulfsmith

Phone: 831-234-0613

www.workdev.org