Blogging4Jobs

My co-presenter Robert Capwell of EDI and I led two sessions at the NAHCR conference.  NAHCR is a recruiting and healthcare association, and both of us were fortunate enough to work together and discuss how social sourcing can be used for both social media good and evil.  It was a great session and I was lucky to have a two notable social media HR professionals and friends in the room during our session–China Gorman & Carrie Corbin.

Many of the attendees to our session asked for both the powerpoint presentation as well as the Facebook Fan Page Guide I mentioned during the session which I have linked to this post for those who made it to the conference or didn’t.  Either way, take a look at our presentation, enjoy the white paper, and be sure to check out the video of my half of the presentation.  And thanks again to NAHCR for allowing me the opportunity to present at an exciting conference.

And if you like the powerpoint, be sure to check out my the recorded video of my session.  Get ready, its over 30 minutes long, but it will be almost like you were at the conference tuning in.

Social Media Secrets–Tips,Ttricks and Pitfalls from Jessica Miller-Merrell on Vimeo.

Photo Credit Impact Lab.

Last week I had the honor of presenting at Ignite Dallas.  My talk was titled, “7.2 Ways to Get Fired with Social Media.”  My talk was very different than most in that I poked fun as the Human Resources industry and went into character during my 5 minute, 20 slide presentation.  In front of hundreds of strangers and live steaming internet, I hung my ass out on the line.

I had a great time and met some amazing people.  The bottom line is that networking and building relationships takes time.  People have to get to know people no matter what the medium whether it’s social media, employees at your place of business, or face to face interaction in a new town or city like Dallas.  That’s really what my talk was all about.  Along the way I talked about social media tools from the point of view of an corporate Human Resource professional like Tweeter, Facebook, Blooging, SSR, and Google.

Take a look at my talk below and sit back and grab some reading materials including your company’s employee handbook and enjoy the ride.

Photo Credit Media Bistro.

Earlier today, I hosted a free teleseminar discussing 5 Ways to Optimize your Facebook Fan Page.  Facebook is approaching 500 million users. A recent study tells us that 7% of American households have a Twitter account while 41% have a Facebook account. Facebook is the most accepted form of social media more so than LinkedIn.

As a reminder, you can always call in and listen to the hour playback at (712) 432-1085 where I cover these points in more details.  Here are the highlights. . .

• Know Your Audience. From Quantcast estimates, we can tell that Facebook skews towards female youths. Interestingly, 53% of users have kids and a majority make over $60k a year salary. Obviously, over 50% are college kids but the demographics are changing.  The largest growing demographic on Facebook is females over the age of 45. Consider how to capture their attention and interest level. Also consider their experience level. The idea of Facebook for many is still very new.  Plan conversations, comments, and posts based with planned topics and conversations.

• Customize Your Page.  Adding pictures, video, podcasts are all a great way to make your page different from the rest.  Visit your competitors fan pages and create a differentiation strategy based on what those are not doing.  Allow your page to be seen as a resource for customers or potential clients. Provide them with information on services and insights into their business or categories of interest.

• Engagement.  A fan page sometimes becomes a one way conversation.  Ask questions, be real, and be fun.  Aside from the Fan Page, creating a Group is another option allowing you to engage your audience, posing questions, send private email messages, while also allowing your group to post pictures and videos about their own experiences.   As a recruiter, I would create a Information Technology Group similar to a LinkedIn Group but with more interactive and personal features.  The group featured to the right is called “Petition to get a Whole Foods Market in Oklahoma City” and has over 9,200 group members.  Interestingly enough, this is not an official Whole Foods page.

• Increasing Your Fans.  Promote your Fan page everywhere you go–your office window, car, business cards, your website with a FB Fan Badge, and social sites like Twitter and LinkedIn.   Ask your friends to promote your page or develop strategy with other businesses to cross promote.  Ask people to fan your page at the bottom of your blog post or in your newsletter.  Suggest your personal FB friends to become Fans or consider a pay per  click model for little budget to add fans. Popular technology items like an ipad are a great way to build excitement while promoting your brand for your 500th or 1,000th fan.

• Fan ROI.   According to a study released in April from Ad Week, a page with 1 million fans is estimated to be worth $3.6 million or $3.60 per fan.  Numbers like these can be helpful when determining a monetary value and making the case for a Fan Page for your business or recruitment team.  Weekly Reporting from Facebook. In March of this year, Facebook also began providing a weekly report administrators of Fan Pages receive via email that lists information for the week including the number of posts, new fans, comments, and the number of visitors to your page.

In the coming weeks, I will be launching a series of How To Videos and resources for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms on the topics of branding, business, and the job search. Subscribe to my feed to learn more about the launch of this social media video series.

Photo Credit Golf Web Design.

Are you on Facebook?  Millions of people (over 300 million) use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

Your friends are here.  Your family is here (I’m connected with everyone from high school classmates to cousins to grandma).  And guess what?  Employers are here now, too.  Did that give you a sick feeling in your stomach?  What if your boss knew what was posted on Facebook?  Would it matter?  These are all questions that I hear everyday.  The one thing that everyone should know is: NOTHING is private on the web.  NOTHING.  It doesn’t matter if your status is set to “private” or if you’ve locked out certain people.  If a person is resourceful enough, they can find it.

So with that in mind, here are a few tips to help make Facebook your friend rather than your foe:

Keep it clean. We all have fun.  Some of us have even documented that fun (legal or not) with pictures.  You just don’t have to post it on Facebook.  Keep the pictures if you need to reminisce about the good ‘ol days.  But, would you want mom, grandma, church pastor, or your boss seeing your beer-bong contest pictures?  Probably not.

Be authentic. Your personal brand is something that can really shine through in social media.  Be consistent and authentic.  Your true personality will come out after a little time.  There’s no sense in hiding it.  Use it to your advantage.

Connect and reconnect. Facebook is a great place to learn more about the people you know or even people you want to know.  While LinkedIn is still utilized for more professional use, Facebook provides a personal side to the equation.  There are recruiters on Facebook – I would caution you to keep interactions professional.  They could care less about your Farmville, Mafia Wars, or Sorority Life gaming online.

Like it. What was recently known as “become a fan” has changed to provide a more open forum of interaction.  You can now “like” something on Facebook.  This goes for all sorts of things from a certain company (great way to learn about culture, even jobs) to trivial things such as Mexican food or sandwiches.  As Joey Tribbiani said on Friends, “who doesn’t like sandwiches?” 

Integrate with other platforms. If you’re a Twitter user (see earlier post: Tackling Twitter), you can now update your status there at the same time as your Facebook status.  If you’re a jobseeker, use this opportunity to update regularly with things that you’re working on, types of jobs you’re seeking, and snippets of the experience you bring to the table.  You never know who will be looking!

Facebook can be a great platform for personal branding, reconnecting with friends and family and prove to be a positive resource for jobseekers.  Just remember to be yourself, keep it clean, and have a little fun.  Make Facebook work for you, not against you.

Kirk Baumann is a blogger and contestant for the Job Search Blogger Contest.  Vote for Kirk by leaving a comment until May 11th.

I would like to begin by thanking my lucky stars that, in this economy, I have had the good fortune of being gainfully employed for the past two years since graduating college. But, as I start a new chapter in my life, one that I hope turns out to be about a fabulous new career in a wonderful new city, I can’t help but compare my job search today with that of two years ago. So much has changed in so little time, so I want to pass along the little bit of knowledge I’ve gained over the past few months of job searching. I hope this advice resonates with those of you who are looking for employment for the first time in years and may be feeling a little lost.

1. Social Media Isn’t Just For College Kids Anymore

If you hadn’t heard, social media is all the rage now. (By the way, if you really hadn’t heard, you may want to climb out from under that rock and join us all in 2010.) There are so many choices for social media, but the three most common sites for those looking to network during a job search are Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

If you don’t have a profile/account on these sites, I really recommend you check them out. Click on the respective logos below for some great tips from some folks with much more expertise (Mashable, Forbes, and ICT-Guru) on how to use these sites effectively to make professional contacts.

2. “To Whom It May Concern” is the Kiss of Death

Remember the good ol’ days when you mailed your resume and cover letter in, via snail mail? Ok, to be fair, I don’t even remember that, but I heard it happened. What I do remember is actually getting my current job two years ago by, *gasp*, faxing my cover letter and resume to a complete stranger. Unfortunately, gone are the days when just anyone has a shot. It seems that if you want to even be considered for a job, you must know someone. To get an interview with a company to which you have zero personal connections is nearly unheard of.

So what does this mean? You have to make personal connections with people.  Join a local networking group. Make meaningful contacts online via social media. Do whatever it is you need to do to build your personal and professional network because someday soon you will need them to help you get your foot in the door somewhere.

3. What’s So Special About You?

Ok, back to the economy. We all know it’s in shambles and that unemployment is higher than it’s been in years, but there are jobs out there! The competition is tougher, but they exist. So what are you going to do to stand out of the hundreds, or dare I say thousands, of applicants vying for your dream job? You are unique and offer your very own perspective to whatever position you apply for, so come up with a plan. Not a cheesy gimmick, but something that will make yourself known and illustrate your tremendous value to a future employer: whatever it takes to get noticed as the competent professional you are. Avoid becoming a wallflower in your job search!

I’m not an expert on finding a job, but I am a careful observer of all things job search related because I am in the throes of my very own job hunt. I hope some of these tips help for now, because in another two years, this advice will be moot and we will all be looking for some more sage advice!

Photo Credit

Ashley Campbell is an association professional whose organization supports women in business. She has a healthy obsession with social media for its unyielding ability to create amazing connections and opportunities for people and hopes to someday move from the Midwest to NYC to pursue a career in the non-profit arena. To learn more about Ashley and connect with her, visit her blog, Entry Level Observations, which highlights the unique experiences of Gen Y professionals.  Don’t forget her Twitter & LinkedIn.

Time management is something that most of us struggled with long before social media.  As we become more involved in the world of social media and the see the importance of building personal business relationships, managing your time both inside the social media space and outside as a business professional and human being becomes ever more important.

Once a month I host a free teleseminar where I discuss a topic related to social media.  This month, I discussed “How to Manage Your Social Media in 30 Min. a Day.”  A very important topic for those of us who have too much to do and not enough time to do it.  The session went extremely well.  If you are interested in listening to the playback of the entire session, you are free to call (712) 432-1085.

Please note that all these tools with the exception of a special feature within SocialOomph which I have noted, are all free of charge.  While there are millions of social media management tools out there and will continue to be, here are 6 social media time management tools that have my attention.

1. Tweetdeck. This is my favorite third party application.  I can now see Youtube videos, Flickr, in additon to viewing my FaceBook and Twitter accounts.   I spend a great deal of time categorizing those that I am following so that I do not miss a tweet from my closest friends while also staying up to date on local happenings.  My Tweetdeck is divided into columns including HR Peeps, Oklahoma, and hash tags that #HRHappyHour or #TRULondon.  I can stay up to date on events very quickly engaging others in real time.
2. Ping.fm. An old favorite.  This allows me to ping multiple social media accounts and transmit the same data or message.  I also have the ability to control which accounts I wish my message to be sent to.  Seesmic just recently purchased Ping and I’m eager with anticipation to see how this acquisition will improve both applications.
3. SocialOomph. SocialOomph was formerly TweetLater.  I am able to schedule messages on both Twitter and FaceBook Fan pages allowing me to target my message to a specific audience while saving time and stress.  This is especially handy when I am promoting an event or making an announcement.  The Twitter scheduling feature is free while the FaceBook scheduling costs $29.95 a month and might be a wise investment for someone who is time conscious.  Another fantastic new option is an Opt-Out Auto DM feature.  You can log on to SocialOomph and opt out of spammy auto DMs like a Do Not Call List for Twitter Spam.  (I like it!)
4. Gist. This is a new tool I’ve been playing with.  It’s currently in beta and seeks to intergrate and upload all your contacts to one location from Salesforce, Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn, and your email.  I’m excited to dive into this tool and give it a thorough test drive.
5. Tungle. My friend, Chris Hoyt turned me on to this new tool that allows my friends to view my calendar and schedule meetings.  I control the settings and who can view my calendar.  It uploads your Outlook contacts and auto updates from Outlook to Tungle as well. So, Tungle me and let’s connect!
6. NutshellMail. Once again another tool that I am just experimenting with.  This allows you to receive one email updating you on multiple social media accounts–FaceBook and Twitter saving you the time and stress of clogging up your email box.  I see this as a good tool for someone who wants to stay connected but isn’t a power user.

Photo Credit The Studio Blog.

Honestly, I’m not sure if I remember what my life was like before my iPhone or if I even want to.  I have access to maps, internet search engines, social networks, and a variety of applications to fulfill almost every want, need, and desire.  A recent study by Ball State and the Institute for Mobile Media Research found that college students are the fasting growing smart phone market segment.  Not surprisingly students are using these powerful mini-computers for both their personal and academic needs.  While I’m far from being a college student, these smart phones like the iPhone have made connecting, managing work and family, and networking even easier.

The ability of smartphones to link users to popular social networking sites may be another major reason college students are buying the devices in large numbers.   The survey found that about 65 percent of respondents use their smartphones to access social networking sites.  Oddly enough, the fastest growing age segment on FaceBook is not college students at all. InsideFaceBook.com reports that while FaceBook is still the fatest growing social media platform in the United States, almost half (50%) of US Facebook users are older than 35, and nearly one-fifth top 45.

So when and how are these experienced business professionals accessing these sites?  Well, it is certainly not from their work PC.  A recent survey commissioned by Robert Half found that over fifty percent of workplaces in the United States block these social networking websites while another 19% only permitted their employees to visit social networking sites like Twitter, FaceBook, Ning sites, and Myspace but only for business purposes.  And with more than 3 out of 4 people owning cell phones, chances are these experienced professionals are surfing their favorite social network and catching up but not from their work computer.  Your star professionals are accessing blocked websites from their smart phone computer without restriction or monitoring.

• Lost Productivity. Decision makers develop a social media and internet policy and disallow workers from viewing risky content and non-business related social media platforms.  Employees work hard to stay informed on the do’s and don’t around the office and use smart phones as a way to work around.  Nucleus Research reports that companies who ban FaceBook costs businesses 1.5% of lost productivity in the workplace.  Don’t even get me started on the number of hours wasted by decision makers and HR professionals who sit in committee meetings discussing what sites to include, not to include, and verbiage of their internet and social media policy.
• Proxies. These are sneaky little ways to get around blocked websites.  Google boasts almost 7 million websites that list the word proxy.  For as little as $9.95 a month (and sometimes even free), job seekers can purchase proxy access to access company restricted websites through a proxy website.  Don’t believe me, look at the Google search results for yourself.  Not sure if your IT guy is up to snuff?  Ask him his opinions about proxies.
• A Relevant Business Need. If more than half of the U.S. users on FaceBook are of the age 35 or older, chances are these professionals are using the site for legitimate business purposes.  I often use my FaceBook network as a way to give me a quick answer to a question almost like my online Phone-a-Friend option for everything from sales leads, to phone numbers, to the latest basketball scores because my morale is directly tied to my productivity in the office.
• Stay Current. With market trends, business news, and just information in general.  Several years ago I learned about a large layoff that was occurring later that morning via an email before the layoff was announced to the public.  This email was sent to my personal email account which I had access to on my smart phone.  My team and I were able to react quickly and before our competition.  Situations like these have happened more than once.  Do you want your team to miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity for your business?

With the nearly 95 million people on Facebook and 28 million on Twitter in the U.S. alone, social media is a force to be reckoned with.  And yet still businesses fail to effectively leverage social media which is a low cost way to build consumer relations, develop an employment brand, recruiting, and market their business.  Those of of us that are members of the New Media Evolution understand the importance of embracing the Web 2.0 world, but the question remains, how do we educate and persuade fellow  professionals, family members, and our own business leaders?

Early adapters have voluntarily chosen to be drafted in this Social Media battlefield.  Those of us that have embraced this new technology and use it as a tool either personally or for their business.  The social media landscape has forever changed my life and in a positive way.  I have met, learned from, and developed relationships from professionals across industries while being exposed to real-time news and information straight from the experts who are fighting fires everyday.

Although most of us have never intended to, we are fighting to educate the have nots into being present and active in this new way of thinking.  Chances are if you are an HR professional or recruiter like me, you have contemplated just how to get your company or business on board and knee deep into the world of social media.  If you are also like me chances are you have also had hundreds of conversations with other professionals, friends, and even family members with regard to social media.

Typically, my conversations with professionals go something like this:

Me:  “Social media is a great tool to engage candidates both active and passive.  I’ve made a number of hires because of Facebook alone. “

Have Not:  “Isn’t that discriminatory?  I just don’t get it.  My IT department says that sites like Tweeter and Facebook are unsecure.  Plus, I just don’t have the time.”

Me:  “There are more than twice as many cell phones as there are personal computers.  People are communicating through text and social media as a way to conduct business and build relationships.  Businesses use social media a variety of ways.  I know of a jewelry store who made a $8,000 sale because of Twitter and a local restaurant who sold out of their daily special in under 45 minutes from a tweet. ”

And when it comes to my family, particularly my mom, it goes something like this:

My Mom:  “Your sister said she knew you were at dinner because of Facebook.  Under no circumstances should be writing these things there.  People can break into your house.  What about your daughter?”

Me:  “Mom, come on.  I’m an adult.  I have a book coming out on how to use Twitter.  Shouldn’t I follow my own advice?”

But what about when it comes to the business or office in which we work?  How can we have success in convincing the decision makers who happen to be one of the Have Nots?  When working with clients or even past employers, I have had success when doing the following:

• Offer to assist. Although the HR or recruiting team at your company might not be using social media, chances are your marketing or PR department is.  Schedule to meet and understand their social media strategy and build from there.  Chances are if the marketing department or competitor has had a great success is using Web 2.0, it will be easier to convince your boss that this is an option to grow your business.
• Draft a social media policy. By creating and defining the rules surrounding how your business or department intends on using social media, everyone will rest easier.  It seems like the news these days is filled with social media misuse by celebrities, athletes, and businesses.
• Speak their language. Enough of the tech speak and baby talk.  Use words and phrases that are appropriate for your audience.  Words like TweetDeck, API, Mashable, and Twubs are confusing.  Qualify your audience and take time to provide some background and general information.  Most Director level folks don’t want to hear the tech talk.  They want answers.
• Plan thoroughly and carefully. When speaking with someone either within your organization or one you represent, it’s important to plan your key points, facts, and figures.  Remember that every person learns and understands things differently so plan visual and tactical aids into your presentation or conversation.
• Talk ROI. Use case studies and examples to support your strategy.  Use measureable results, numbers, and figures when describing your course of action and the way your strategy could lead to success.  Sites like Twitter Analyzer, Mashable and Quantcast provide a great start to educate yourself on the power of social media.
• Start Small. Although you and I are not new to the Web 2.0 world, these individuals are.  Start small and be prepared.  If trying to create a new employment branding strategy, start with a Facebook Fan page and in 3-6 months after you have measurable success move on to using Twitter or other platform.

***Please visit  to vote for my blog post in Tweet & Shout Blog Contest by leaving a comment on their site and help me win a $200 camera.

According to Wikipedia, a mullet is a unisex hair style that is short in the front and long in the back. The mullet began making appearances in the popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not catch on with the masses until the early 1980s.

Business professionals, entrepreneurs, and job seekers can learn from those that sport this fashionable cut when managing their online brand.   A popular saying when describing a mullet comes to mind-

“Business in the front. Party in the back.”

Wise words when considering your online brand as a business professional no matter what your industry, position, or responsibility level. Keep your business and professional profile in the forefront and in plain view of recruiters, prospective employers. and customers. Keep your personal life and party in the back. Users of social media need to be mindful doing your best to maintain a professional image while showing your creative and unique qualities at the same time.

Business in the Front.  Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs, and Twitter are great mediums in which to develop relationships and grab the attention of hiring managers and recruiters. Share your expertise and lead with the business in all you do. Your posts, pictures, and tweets should be at least 70% business related. Lead with interesting articles, tidbits, and information that is industry specific or related to the job in which you currently work or aspire to.

Party in the Back

The remaining 30% of your social media content can be related to your personal side but be weary. I have visited FaceBook profiles with one too many drunk pictures and tweets leading me to search for talent elsewhere. If you are unsure if something is inappropriate, ask yourself if your mother would approve. Items that your mother would approve and/or tolerate are generally appropriate to display on your social media profiles. Social media is all about interacting and developing relationships. I encourage you to tweet or post comments seeking input and feedback from others. Commonalities make you interesting which lead to engaging conversations with persons from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Unfortunately, for Dog, the Bounty Hunter, this advise has come a little too late.   He is a good example of why your social media mullet is so important.

**Dont’ forget to leave to follow the link to the Tweet & Shout Blog contest and leave a comment to help me win the contest.

Earlier today I came across an outstanding YouTube video featuring Patrick Schwerdtfeger.  He discusses social media intergration from Blogs, to Facebook, to LinkedIn, to Twitter and even Utterli.  Patrick does a nice job of engaging the audience and grabbing their attention.  His website, www.tactialexecution.com has some interesting tools and tips for people and businesses interested in building their online brand.

If you have ever heard me speak about Twitter, you know I am passionate about this social media platform and its possibilities. I am also an advocate of Twitter’s use as a form of internal company communication as well as company branding and marketing possibilities. However, there are a handful of instances and examples that force me to draw the line especially when used in the Human Resource industry.

• Terminations. An employee of the Doner Advertising Agency learned via Twitter from @thefounder that his company was laying off employees prior to any notification being made to employees. Examples like this will continue to be the norm as Twitter and 3G phones and technology continues to grow. I only hope that companies learn to plan appropriately when communicating a downsizing or layoff to their employees via internal memo or other company communication as soon as possible.
• Job Offers. Twitter user @tomraftery received a job offer via Twitter from @redmonk. Interestingly enough @tomraftery accepted and is current working from them as a Technology Analyst in Spain. Certainly, many of 6 million plus that are currently unemployed would be more than thrilled to receive a job offer. Twitter as a means to communicate this message is unprofessional and a slap in the face. A new employee deserves to be communicated and welcomed in more than 140 characters.
• Job Interview. On March 17th, Twitter user and ABC journalist @GStephanopoulos (George Stephanopoulos) and @JohnMcCain (Senator John McCain). While the back and forth banter was very entertaining, I do not see a future in this form of communication if being used in the job interview and hiring process.

Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are here to stay. Companies need to consider these mediums and use them appropriately in a business and human resource setting.

*Special thanks to www.mashable.com and Tribble Ad Agency.

What’s on your MySpace, Facebook, or Friendster page? Did you know that the content on your social networking page could keep you from getting a job? Yup, it’s true. More and more companies are viewing your social networking page as part of the hiring and background check process. I, myself have viewed candidate’s social networking pages prior to giving them the job offer. Within the last year, I have attended a training seminar with the topic of navigating social networking sites and use during background check process.

I would strongly recommend asking a trusted and respected friend or peer to take a look at your social networking page offering honest feedback and comments. Walk a mile in the recruiter’s shoes and consider what photos, comments, and postings could disqualify you from the job.

More to come later this week about how to use social networking to your advantage in the job hunt. Check out the youtube video to learn more about recruiter’s dirty little secret, viewing your social networking page as part of the hiring process.