The HH Staffing Team Weighs In on Social Media for Job-seekers!
Over the last several years social media has reached new heights in
the hiring process for job-seekers. HH Staffing’s team of professional
Recruiters use social media to source candidates as well as check out
those that apply for our open job opportunities. In fact, we search
profiles daily looking for Florida’s top talent. So what does that mean
for you the job-seeker or passive candidate that utilize social media?
It means stay up to date with what hiring managers are looking for;
social media profiles are the new “IT”! It does not matter with age or
your industry, stay current be social.
As an owner of a staffing firm, I get dozens of people a week
applying for jobs to me directly through social media. A frequent
request is, “check out my LinkedIn profile for this position”. So we log
on and investigate this new found candidate, but often times we are
stopped in our tracks at first glimpse. Hint: many of your LinkedIn
profiles need some polish and for goodness sake update those pictures on
LinkedIn and Facebook…no sexy glamor shots; really keep your pictures
professional always!
Suggestions from HH Staffing Professional Recruiters
“The candidate initially gets about 30 seconds to 1 minute
of my time to entice me to keep reading on or on to the next interesting
candidate. What makes you different? What makes you interested in the
Job? What direct experience to you have for the job or did you just
throw it out there and really it’s what you want rather than what your
qualified for”. Read the job description – does it state industry
experience a must?
“Tell your entire story: Telling your work story is one of the most important factors for job-seeker. The
candidate’s/job-seekers profile should clearly present their experience
and how and when they have progressed throughout their career,
including titles and positions.”
“One of he most important things I look for is relevant and
direct experience compared to my open position. Providing valid
testimonials and endorsements that further support that experience also
helps me know that the candidate is serious about the information they
are trying to convey to the recruiters. I also review how many contacts
they have and the types of people that connect with, I like to see what
groups they are involved with, how social are they?”
“Because recruiters give candidates/job-seekers only a short
amount of time to catch their attention, your Background Summary section
is critical. Job seekers should post a thorough summary about their
professional experience and what they’re trying to sell or market about
themselves to prospective employers. Don’t oversell with social media
so much more can be found, keep it straight forward and truthful.”
“I look for clearly defined professionalism, starting with the
profile picture. Next ensure that their profile is complete and conveys a
clear path through their career history. I check for gaps and
longevity on the job. I like to see education laid out and
affiliations and hobbies as well. Tell me who you are and what you are
looking for. So many people leave out the most important information.”
Recruiters Don’t Want To See
A Mismatched Profiles or Unprofessional Profiles: Another
big issue is when the online profiles do not match the person’s resumes,
such as different dates, job titles, job descriptions or education –
this is a big no no, all your information out there should be the
same.
Incomplete Job History: We are turned off by candidates who
don’t have a complete job history, who didn’t give a brief description
of their responsibilities in each position or who indicated they aren’t
looking for new opportunities recommends that candidates keep
their profiles updated and indicate whether or not they want to hear
about new opportunities. At HH Staffing we understand it takes time to
provide information and apply for jobs, but it is the first impression
piece of the job-search that is important, we have nothing else to gauge
you on!
Bad Grammar/Major Typos: Other big negatives are poor grammar., bad
grammar and major typos or appearing to leave out details, this can
translate into the perception that the individual is lazy, doesn’t care
or is hiding something.
The HH Staffing Team recommends that candidates take time to fill in all key areas. The more descriptive their profile is, the more likely the candidate will be called about positions that are a fit for them. If a person is serious about a job search, it’s best to complete their LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook profiles.
By completing these profiles, you help your job search by fully
marketing your background to recruiters, friends, net-workers etc. Are
you using buzz words for your industry?
As 2014 pushes on don’t be left in the unemployment line or the
underemployed grind, get in the now of resumes and social media! Give
hiring managers what they want to see…..spend sometime inspecting and
comparing your profiles out on social media . Make sure it exhibits the
true professional that you are everyday, use those important keywords
and ask for past employers to give you testimonials. Nothing screams
professional more than a ex-boss, past co-workers singing your praises.
Be sure to follow HH Staffing Services on Twitter, LinkedIn and
Facebook today! We would love to hear your thoughts……what do you want
to see on a social media profile? Ask our experts about your profile.
http://hhstaffingservices.com/job-seekers-social-media/