Social Media Archives - Page 6 of 6 - The Voice of Job Seekers

How Can Career Services Engage College Students Through Social Media?

Editor’s note: Alexandra Levit, is a member of the Career Advisory Board answered some questions . I interviewed Alexandra Levit last fall about another survey conducted on behalf of the Career Advisory Board, DeVry University, and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). She offered insight and advice on how college career centers, students, and employers can engage more effectively on social media.

Mark: It seems as if Career Centers pass the eye and enthusiasm test initially in their use of social media, but not particularly the ear test because of the lack of conversations and engagement. Is that a fair assessment of this study?

AL: That’s a great way of putting it, Mark. Although social media awareness and usage skyrocketed in recent years, career services professionals leverage social networks in a similar fashion to email – as one-way communication devices to share career center-related information with constituents. Only about 25 percent of respondents use social media to engage in back-and-forth advisement sessions with students and only 20 percent of respondents engage with students daily on social networks. This is a wasted opportunity.

MD: Since enthusiasm of the use of social media does not equal success, does the disappointment continue of the adaption of social media?

AL: I do see some disappointment, yes, especially as the centers try to set up shop (or their own pages) on the social networks. Advisers may set up groups and neglect them as static entities, thinking that “if we build it, people will come.” We know that this is not the case on social media. Students will join and regularly visit a center’s group or page because it continually provides value to them and a chance to engage productively with people they know. If the centers understand this, they will put more focused effort into their online properties, will attract more engagement, and thus will receive more positive reinforcement.

MD: Can we assume that this process of career service/student engagement will take time since building an online reputation is a process itself?

AL: It absolutely takes time. I like to tell people that my blog Water Cooler Wisdom was launched in 2004 and only now that it’s 9 years old does it have a really terrific following. Everyone likes to try their hand at online engagement, but only a handful actually stick around long enough to engender trust and credibility. Career centers have to be patient. Slow and steady wins the race.

MD: What will really change the average student’s perception of career services brand universally?

AL: I think this will require a critical mass of career centers keeping up with the times and showing students how they are relevant from freshman year to graduation and beyond. Eventually, word will trickle down to students just beginning university that career services can be a major asset. I think we are a long way from this happening, but every bit of awareness helps.

MD: Why wouldn’t career services use a model like TweetMyJobs to bring opportunities mobile but still use career services as the main contact?

AL: The most sophisticated centers are doing this in combination with other strategies. The key is, I think not to do anything in a vacuum, but to present a uniform online communications approach for students (and other constituents) that showcases job opportunities as well as other offerings.

MD: What suggestions would you have to provoke meaningful dialogue between career services and students?

AL: Instead of “friend blasting,” career services professionals should connect selectively – sending unique and highly personalized invitations to each individual based on compatibility. The purpose is not to collect contacts, but rather to view, comment and converse on postings so that advisers can develop relationships that will eventually move offline. A student is much more likely to attend an event or seek in-person advice from an adviser he or she has already learned to like and trust through social media.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

May Day! My Job Search is Crashing! Panel Discussion

Last Sunday, I facilitated a job search workshop providing job seekers employed, unemployed, and underemployed information to help position them better for employment. We gave away a couple of career books that each winner will enjoy. I also invited two of the blog’s contributors to participate in a panel discussion about using social media for the job search. Bianca Thompson aka “Sassy HR Girl” and Sandra Tedford were both prepared and ready to offer her perspective. Collectively and individually, she displayed expertise and candor that engaged the audience who, I think, received much value from their answers.

They addressed several questions regarding social media profiles and the use of Linked In:

The positive and negative use of having a profile
How an incomplete profile is perceived
What if a candidate has the right components except for his or her Linked In profile
A bad profile picture? What a bad or no picture implies

There were several other questions the audience asked and overall each answer was appropriately offered.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by SandraTedford

Is Social Media Keeping You From Getting A Job?

Editors note: Sandra Tedford (@WeTalkToday), CEO of WeTalkToday.com and her guest post aligns with my belief that job seeker’s discretion using social media is essential to the job search.

Have you ever posted to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, only to discover afterwards you had typos, misspelled words and used more words than necessary?

Then you think better change that, because all my old classmates who thought I was so smart in the tenth grade will see this.

Gotta protect the rep, right?

Effective communication, in business and as a job seeker can either make or break your chances at landing that much coveted contract or getting hired.

When we post to social media websites, we sometimes find ourselves editing our words to make sure we don’t sound like an idiot.

That’s a good thing.

However, what do you do when someone throws fighting words at you? Maybe you’ve pushed the limit, by responding with a few choice expletives. Well, maybe this one doesn’t apply to you.

Nevertheless, it’s essential for everyone participating in online discussions of some sort to be a good communicator. What we write is just as important and can have lasting impact, as the pictures we post.

We share about vacations, new restaurants, celebrities, shopping experiences, online purchases, friends, family and the list goes on. Sharing our experiences helps us express ourselves to others.

When we post to social media websites and the post is long it forces us to choose our words carefully. Being a good communicator can open doors that you didn’t even know were there. Here are a few tips to use to make communicating easier and a lot less time consuming.

1. Don’t Be Long Winded. Replace words with a larger character count, with shorter words of a similar meaning. Writing on Facebook and Twitter in particular, forces us to be concise in the words we use to convey our thoughts to the reader.

2. Be Prepared To Give An Answer. When we write online we may be subject to criticism when someone disagrees with our post. How would you respond? Are you short, using some very choice expletives to convey your thoughts? Or, do you turn the other cheek?

3. Provide Value Added Feedback. When you comment on someone’s blog, provide comments that offer value to readers. The articles author and the readers will appreciate you taking the time to provide thought provoking feedback, rather than the standard “great article” or “good post”.

If a potential employer or company looking for a contractor to do business with, contacts you on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter, what would you say? And yes, they are looking on Facebook and Twitter. Would you be embarrassed by your posts or tweets? I’m not saying everyone has to be buttoned down, however, make sure whatever you post online today, is not going to somehow embarrass you in the future.

About Sandra Tedford

WETALKtoday stands for "Web Entrepreneurs Talk" and provides a platform for business and tech savvy entrepreneurs with information and resources to grow their business in the new economy.