This document provides tips and strategies for using social media effectively for job searching. It begins by outlining the bleak traditional job market and recommending using social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs and Twitter to find opportunities. Each platform is then discussed in more detail, providing an overview of its uses and tips for job seekers. LinkedIn is positioned as an online resume while Facebook requires tight privacy controls. Blogging and video resumes on YouTube allow job seekers to establish their personal brand. The document also includes a case study of a marketing agency's rebranding efforts using social media. Overall, the key message is that social media can be a powerful tool for networking, sharing expertise and connecting with potential employers when

1. SOCIAL MEDIA, BACON & YOU
Richard Sharp & Pete Wiltjer

2. WE’RE NOT GOING TO LIE:
THE EMPLOYMENT PICTURE IS PRETTY BLEAK

3. What Can You Do?
Rely on Pat Quinn for your
next paycheck
Mass email resumes, rely
on online job boards,
depend on your existing
contacts
Hope
Pray
And/Or...

4. Do the Hustle
“The landscape of today’s
job market is shifting, and
the shift favors
individuals who are savvy
in social media.”
Alyse Knorr,
Atlanta Journal Constitution

5. Do the Hustle
Job seeker Matt Bivons does the hustle at www.bsfshouldhireme.com. Pic from BusinessWeek.

6. What is Social Media?
A great way to find out which Steel
Magnolias Character your resemble?
A tool for sharing LOLcats pictures?
The home of disgusting Dominos
videos?
A sweet place for a high school
reunion?
A twisted plot to make you sound
ridiculous (aka “Yesterday I tweeted
on Twitter”)

7. What is Social Media?
Powerful tool for sharing your
thoughts, research and professional
goals and objectives
An easy way to stay in touch with
important contacts without having to
go press the flesh
A great way to connect with important
people in your field you may have
never met before
A gateway to the right kind of job
opportunity

8. Source: Brian Solis of PR 2.0 and JESS 3

9. Social Media: Why Bother?
Over 50% of respondents envision
social applications “playing a key role
in shaping nearly all aspects of
research workflow” in the next 5 years
Over 25% currently use social
applications
Nearly 25% (23%) believe social
applications will have a major
influence on grant application and Conducted a survey of 1,894 randomly selected
funding within 5 years academic faculty and government contacts derived
from their Science Direct user database.
More than 25% believe social
applications will have a major influence on
finding jobs

10. The Kevin Bacon Effect
Six Degrees of Kevin
Bacon
Why does the game work?
Kevin Bacon works. A lot.
Seriously.
Why is Kevin Bacon so
popular? He gets and gives
good work.
SixDegrees.org - $2.8 M in
donations

11. Bacon Bits
“The business that people
do in LA on the social
level is amazing. You go
to a restaurant, bump into
this guy or that guy. The
next day you get a call,
and they want you in their
movie.”

12. Being the Bacon:
6 Major Social Media Platforms
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com
Facebook- www.facebook.com
MySpace- www.myspace.com
YouTube - www.youtube.com
Blogs - www.wordpress.com,
www.movabletype.com,
www.blogger.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com

13. LinkedIn: The New Resume

14. LinkedIn: Who’s In Your Six Degrees?
What it is
Technically, “LinkedIn is an interconnected network of
experienced professionals from around the world,
representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You
can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified
professionals that you need to work with to accomplish
your goals. LinkedIn has over 48 million members in
over 200 countries and territories around the world. A
new member joins LinkedIn approximately every
second, and about half of our members are outside the
U.S. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are
LinkedIn members.” Source: LinkedIn Website
How it’s helpful for job searching
“I found my new job through participating in an
industry group on the professional networking site
LinkedIn. The CEO saw my resume and sent me a
note...saying he had heads up about the layoffs at
my former employer and wondered if I was
interested in the open position at his firm.”
Amanda Sundt, Testimonial on LinkedIn site

15. LinkedIn: Who’s In Your Six Degrees?
Tips: Dos, Don’ts, Suggestions
1. Do create a complete and professional profile,
including a quality headshot.
2. Develop a bio that’s more concise than a typical
resume, but just as compelling.
3. Don’t get too cute or casual. That’s Facebook
territory.
4. Do research and join groups. This is where much of
the best networking is done.
5. Do update your status and take advantage of apps like
Slideshare. Let people know what you’re working on
and what you’ve been reading.
6. Recruiters dig complete, updated profiles.
7. Ask your colleagues and friends for professional
recommendations. Muy importante.
8. LinkedIn Jobs are the bomb. Much easier to get in the
door with an intro.
9. Add connections, see results.
10. You’ve got to keep ‘em separated - LinkedIn is
strictly pro.

16. Bacon Bits
“I was walking up the beach in
Willowbridge, the British West Indies on
Christmas Eve and saw this guy who I
know peripherally. He`s not in the film
industry, but in Philadelphia real estate or
something like that. He said, `They sent
me this script and asked me to invest in
it` and told me there was another actor
involved. That`s all he said. He told me
to take a look at it and let him know if it
was a good investment…I got home on
January 2nd or 3rd and it was sitting
there. I picked it up and read it and a
barrage of feelings washed over me --
anger, disgust, confusion, and
compassion, feeling angry with myself
for feeling compassionate. I put it down
and knew that it was probably going to
be my next movie. (On The Woodsman)”

17. Facebook and MySpace:
More than a Class Reunion
Good News Bad News
“A recent survey by job site “But 35 percent of employers said that
CareerBuilder found that 45 percent of content they found on social networking
employers reported using social sites led them to reject a job candidate.
networking sites to research job The top seven no-nos employers gave:
candidates. That’s up from 22 percent 1. Provocative or inappropriate
last year. The most popular sites for photographs or information – 53 percent
searching or checking the background of 2. Content about drinking or using drugs
job-seekers were: – 44 percent
3. Bad-mouthing previous employers, co-
Facebook, 29 percent workers or clients – 35 percent
LinkedIn, 26 percent 4. Poor communication skills – 29
MySpace, 21 percent percent
blogs, 11 percent 5. Discriminatory comments – 26
Twitter, 7 percent” percent”

18. Facebook and MySpace:
More than a Class Reunion
Tips: Dos, Don’ts, Suggestions
1. Learn how to properly use your privacy settings.
If you don’t want to put your career on the line,
either keep things entirely professional (hard) or
tightly control access to your profile.
2. Don’t accept friend requests lightly. Learn to use
the “hide feed” function.
3. Do use FB and MySpace to reconnect with old
friends, let people know you’re looking for gigs,
and to join groups for networking.
4. Do let your FB and MySpace friends know you 7. Grow your network by participating and being
talk about business at LinkedIn. interesting.
5. Do incorporate your Twitter feeds into your FB 8. “Always be closing” does not apply here. At all. If you
and MySpace accounts. need a biz cliche, try “dig your well before you’re thirsty.”
6. Even with a more professional FB or MS 9. Play nice. Instant karma is for real in the social media
presence, the tone is far more conversational. A world.
sense of humor is required. 10. No dumb quizzes, no Gang Wars when $ is on the
line.

19. Twitter: Dumb Brand Name, Big Impact
What the hell is Twitter?
It’s an abbreviated social messaging
application, allowing people to send each
other short 140 character messages, and
share those message across their social
network. While it sounds like the type of
application limited only to use by teenage “Establish yourself as an expert in your field
on Twitter. It’s important to note that you
girls and tech freaks with too much time on should not misrepresent yourself. If you’re
their hands, it can be very useful for the right not a medical doctor, don’t play one on
user. Keeping things short and sweet also Twitter. As those on Twitter become
allows busy people to stay in touch without interested in your content, when employers
are looking at you, you’ll have more than just
needing to pen an opus.
your resume to back up your knowledge and
experience.”
Why bother?
- Key researchers, writers, media, Sarah Evans, Mashable
professionals, recruiters and more are on
Twitter, and the format invites easy
interaction and low barriers to entry.
- @microjobs, etc.

20. Twitter: Dumb Brand Name, Big Impact
Tips: Dos, Don’ts, Suggestions
1. If it’s available, get your own name. If it’s 6. It’s 140 characters, but if you want people
not, think of what your brand really is - to pass it along, try 120.
@NeuroBill? @NeuroNancy? 7. Keep it professional. Spelling, grammar
2. Twitter only sucks if you follow lame still count.
people. Pick your Twitter friends wisely. Do 8. Own a space. Is there anyone out there
a little research. who Tweets about your favorite niche in
3. Don’t spam and don’t post every five neuroscience?
minutes. No one is that interesting. 9. Recruiters use Twitter to find candidates
4. Upload a real, professional looking photo. and post gigs. Find them using Twitter
This one’s not really negotiable. Search.
5. Tweet, follow, comment. You grow your 10. Yeah, the name is annoying. Nothing to
network by participating. be done.

21. Bacon Bits
“I think of myself
more as a workhorse
actor. It will be hot and
cold and up and down,
but no one will kick
me out of the
business.”

22. Blogging: Building Your Personal Brand
Major Platforms
Why bother blogging
-Establish your own brand
- Share your experience and expertise to
let people know who you are
- Differentiate yourself from throngs of
other job seekers
-Build a community of like-minded
professionals
- Grow your network to include people
you’ve never met before
Blogging provides fuel for all of the social
media platforms

23. Blogging: Building Your Personal Brand
Tips: Dos, Don’ts, Suggestions
1. The only rule that really matters: Be
interesting. To readers and to yourself.
2. Rely on tried and true blogging platforms
with built in tools for sharing and
optimization.
3. Don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of
writing tons of content. Plan ahead for
multiple postings, but short, concise posts on
relevant news can be just as compelling.
4. Blogging can be free, even beautiful,
professional looking blogs.
5. Social media is all about karma. Comment
and you will be commented upon. Be
courteous and professional and it will pat
dividends. If it feels sketchy, don’t do it.

24. YouTube: Video Resumes
Succinct, professional, to the point, and
compelling. Not too long, more of a
highlight reel.
Pay attention to lighting, keep motion to a
minimum
Test your audio levels, invest in a
reasonable microphone
Dress as you would in any interview
Do several takes, choose the best one
Post files on YouTube, send link to
employers. Keep it customized.

25. REAL WORLD CASE STUDY: PWMG INC.
- Marketing agency followed for 6 weeks by Entrepreneur.com as it re-launches and re-brands

26. Agency Kicks Off 2009
With Relaunch
Situation Overview
12/08: Economy in a tailspin
Companies scaling back
marketing plans for 2009
Idea: why not buy out business
partner and rebrand the
company?
- Brilliant!
- Scary!
- Insane!

27. Telling the Story
Identify key messages for
business
Get people to care
-Or at least get people to watch
Develop new logo
Develop online strategy
-Build website
-Launch blog
-Get on Twitter

28. Key Messages
For customers
-Remove fear factor
For prospects
-Reinforce experience
-Explain approach to
integrated, multi-channel
marketing and communications
-Incorporate social media into
mix

29. Why Do I Care?
Will it be a Gaper’s Delay or
an interesting story?
- Entrepreneur.com commits to
monitoring rebrand with
weekly updates
- Online complement to
Entrepreneur magazine
- 7,000 daily visitors seeking
advice on how to effectively
start, grow and manage their
small businesses

30. Logo Development
Crowd sourcing test
- Experience shows that
graphic design process is
still the same, except
different
- Guaranteed to get at least
25 responses
- Designers learn about
promotional efforts with
Entrepreneur.com, flock to
project

31. Online Strategy
Re-use as much content from old website as possible
Anchor social connections to home page and bio
- Pros and cons of transparency
- Rethinking social media strategy for business promotion
- Figuring out how to use Twitter

32. Online Strategy
Keeping the blog fresh
‘Old school’ email
- To push readers back to website and blog
Analytics help you understand whether people care
- Blog reader stats
URL shrinkers
- Bit.ly
- Bud.url
- Tr.im

33. About the Presenters
Richard Sharp, Founder, The Sharp Agency
rsharp@sharpchicago.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sharpmarketing
Twitter: @rbsharp
Richard Sharp is the founder of The Sharp Agency www.sharpchicago.com, where he consults with media companies, universities, law firms and
consulting firms on social media, online marketing, and public relations. His most recent experience was as Global Marketing Director at
employee research firm Towers Perrin-ISR, where he managed the global marketing function for 13 offices around the world. Before that he co-
founded Media-Noche Communications, where he served clients like Hyatt Resorts, William Blair, Harvard Business School Club of Chicago,
ARC Worldwide and more. Prior to that, he founded and was chief editor for ChicagoFilm.com and worked in marketing and communications at a
number of technology and professional services firms. He has also contributed as a freelance entertainment journalist for Village Voice Media, and
currently writes Iphone application reviews for Appolicious.com.
Pete Wiltjer, Founder, the Pete Wiltjer Marketing Group
petew@pwmginc.com
LinkedIn:http://www.linkedin.com/companies/pete-wiltjer-marketing-group-pwmg-
Twitter: @pwiltjer
For more than 15 years, Pete Wiltjer has served as a trusted marketing and public relations consultant to a variety of professional services and
technology industry organizations, ranging from start-ups to billion-dollar conglomerates. Lately, he has seen many traditional companies seek
help in leveraging social media as part of their sales, marketing and communications strategies. Before forming the Pete Wiltjer Marketing Group,
he was as a key member of the B2B practice at the Ruder-Finn Group, one of the world’s largest independent public relations agencies. He has
also managed marketing and communications for PLATINUM technology and a variety of not-for-profit technology industry associations on
behalf of the association management firm SmithBucklin. He began his career as a daily newspaper reporter in Indiana. Wiltjer earned a BA in
Communications and Political Science from Valparaiso University. Wiltjer lives in Aurora with his wife, two children and a dog.

34. APPENDIX
Additional Resources

35. Top 11 Science
Networking Sites
Elsevier’s survey went a little further than the earlier survey, asking respondents to
name sites. This generated a Top 11 list of social media sites in the sciences:
1.
Nature Network (36%)
2.
BioMed Experts (35%)
3.
Facebook (35%)
4.
MySpace (34%)
5.
LinkedIn (33%)
6.
ResearcherID (19%)
7.
CiteULike (18%)
8.
2collab (18%)
9.
del.icio.us (15%)
10. Connotea (14%)
11. Digg (14%)

36. Some Quality Social Media Links
(in no particular order)
5 Ways You Can use Social Media to Find a Job: http://blog.modis.com/job-seekers/5-ways-you-can-use-social-media-to-find-a-job/
Mashable: a Social Media Guide http://www.mashable.com
Twitter Tips for Job Seekers: http://www.mbajobs.net/blog/2009/50-terrific-twitter-tips-for-job-seekers/
Social Media Tools for the Post-Academic Job Hunter: http://www.leavingacademia.com/2009/09/social-media-tools-for-the-post-academic-job-hunter/
10 LinkedIn Dos and Donts: http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Ten-Linked-In-Dos-and-Donts&id=184051
Dos and Donts of Business Blogging: http://www.invesp.com/blog/blogging/152-dos-donts-of-business-blogging.html
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com
Facebook- www.facebook.com
MySpace- www.myspace.com
YouTube - www.youtube.com