Learn how to set up a LinkedIn account as well as tips on how to use social networking sites when you look for a job.

1. Using Social Media in Your Job Search

2. To receive the full benefit of this course, the staff
of the Montgomery County Public Library strongly
recommends attending in person. Individual
assistance with each exercise is provided in class as
well as a Question & Answer session with our
instructors.

3. Objectives
• Discuss how potential employers review your
information on social media sites such as
Facebook & MySpace.
• Exhibit how social networking sites can be
used to find information about a potential
employer.
• Demonstrate how to use LinkedIn for job
networking.

4. Your Online Reputation
• According to a survey of Human Resources managers, 70%
have rejected a candidate based on their “online
reputation”, meaning the kind of information that can be
found online about you.
• If you have a personal account on a social networking
site, such as MySpace or Facebook, make sure your privacy
settings are set up so that posts are not viewable by the
public. Suggestive pictures and negative comments to
someone’s wall are the types of things you want to avoid.
• Your online reputation also consists of comments you have
made on public forums. Joining a job specific forums is a
good way to learn about job openings or make new
connections. When making comments, make sure they are
logical and professional.

5. Your Online Reputation cont.
• Most HR managers will do a Google search of
your name.
• A quick way to determine your online reputation
is to Google your name and/or the email address
used in your contact information when applying
for a job. Take a few minutes to search for your
name and look over the results.

6. Your Online Reputation cont.
• Another site HR managers use is
www.spokeo.com. Only basic information can
be seen without paying the yearly fee but a
search on this site gives you an idea of what
kind of information HR managers are seeing
when they use this site.
• Based on these searches, you may determine
that you need to change the privacy settings on
social networking sites or contact the content
managers of sites that, you have commented to
or been mentioned on, to have posts removed.

7. Your Online Reputation cont.
• Since we have been talking about privacy
settings, here are the steps to change your
settings on some of the most popular sites:
– MySpace: Account Settings – Privacy Settings –
Who can view my full profile – choose “My
Friends Only”
– Facebook: as you post or to set your default, go to
Privacy Settings
– Twitter: twitter.com/account/settings – Tweet
Privacy – check Protect my updates

8. Your Online Reputation cont.
• Here are some websites that will help you
assess your online reputation:
– Google Grader (bit.ly/google-grader) is a free tool that
gives your name a grade for your online reputation. Not
having much information available online or having
negative information lowers your grade.
– Social Mention (www.socialmention.com) searches for
your name in blogs, Tweets, and other social posts.
– Google Alerts (www.google.com/alerts) allows you to set
up alerts to your email if your name is mentioned to help
you monitor your online reputation.

9. Online Networking Tips
• Make sure your comments fit the type of network you
are using. For example, LinkedIn is a professional
network, so don’t make personal comments.
• Don’t use ALL CAPS online, this is like shouting.
• When you make a friend/connection request, remind
them of how you met and why you want to connect.
• Don’t send out generic spam. If you want to connect
with someone you haven’t met, give the specific
reason you are sending them a message and mention
your mutual connections if you have any.

10. Job Searching via Social Media Sites
• Surveys indicate that the #1 mistake an applicant
can make is not knowing enough about the
company when applying and during an interview.
• Social media sites can help you:
– Find companies you want to contact.
– Find out what the company values are.
– Find connections at the company based on who is
posting to the company sites.
– Contact those connections to learn who makes the
hiring decisions at the company & what the job
outlook is for that company.

11. Job Searching via Social
Media Sites cont.
• To demonstrate how
widespread the use of
social networking sites
are, we will look at a few
local companies in the
following slides.
• Here is a local company’s
career site which provides
links for following the
company on
LinkedIn, Facebook &
Twitter. By following the
company, you will be the
first to know when an
opening becomes
available.

12. Job Searching via Social Media Sites cont.
There are several job feeds on Twitter. This is an example of one that
you can access without being a member of Twitter. Just enter
http://twitter.com/kentuckyjobspay in your web browser’s address bar.

13. Job Searching via Social Media Sites cont.
This is an example of how Facebook can help you learn about job
openings. As this company is hiring immediately, the position was most
likely filled without ever being posted in the newspaper.

14. Job Searching via Social Media Sites cont.
This is an example of a job posted in the LinkedIn website. LinkedIn
allows you to make connections based on your work history and your
email contacts. The rest of the class will cover how to set up a LinkedIn
account. I will point out some of the features of LinkedIn, then anyone
who wants to set up an account can stay after the presentation.

15. Creating a LinkedIn Account
To set up an account, go to www.LinkedIn.com. When you sign
up, be sure to use the email address you will be using on your
resume.

16. Creating a LinkedIn Account cont.
After you create your account, you will be asked to confirm your email and have
the chance to import your contacts into LinkedIn to make a connection with
contacts who are already members. A connection is similar to a friend request in
Facebook.

17. Creating a LinkedIn Account cont.
By going to Contacts, then Add Connections, you can add contacts from
other email accounts. Just type another email in the “Your email” section
and the password that goes with that email. If any of your contacts are
already LinkedIn members they will appear in the next screen.

18. Creating a LinkedIn Account cont.
The “Home” section of your LinkedIn account offers suggestions of groups you can
join or job openings in your field. Joining a group is a good way to meet people in
your career field or, if changing careers, to learn the technical jargon of that field.

19. Creating a LinkedIn Account cont.
On the profile page, you can fill out information about your
work history or import a resume to have the program fill in
your work history.

20. Creating a LinkedIn Account cont.
An important part of LinkedIn is that you can search for companies and follow
them to get updates on company news and a list of employees of the company
on LinkedIn. Once you are following a company, you have the ability to send
messages to those employees in the company with LinkedIn accounts.

21. If you would like to create a LinkedIn
account, please stay after the Q&A
session