|
The most important product you will ever market is yourself. For those job seekers hoping to land a marketing job, a social media campaign can be the cornerstone of an advertising plan aimed to “brand” themselves. An intelligent social media campaign that is thoughtfully conceived and diligently implemented can be the ticket to landing the perfect marketing job.
Remember that you really are marketing yourself, so - before doing anything - put some thought into what makes you the ideal candidate.
What are your strengths? What assets can you bring to the table? You are much more than a resume. Creativity, intelligence and past successes must all play a role in your social media campaign.
6 Steps to Up Your Campaign
Social media and the internet in general, are the perfect medium for a sales and marketing professional looking for a new position. They offer you a chance to display your work and develop your vision while gathering information and tips on potential employers and industry trends.
- Settle on just which social media sites you want to focus on.
Too many will become overwhelming, while focusing on the wrong networks is little more than an exercise in futility. Professional social media sites such as LinkedIn are a must, but don’t discount the ‘lighter’ side of social media. Facebook can be an excellent source of leads and information. Settle on three to four sites to focus on.
- Complete a profile for each site.
Only include information that is directly related to your professional life. This is a great opportunity to upload your portfolio. Include representative examples of your work for potential employers to view.
- Begin to develop a network.
Start out by adding anyone you know that may have information that is relevant to your search. Previous employees, co-workers or friends in a similar industry are an excellent start. When adding people to your network, be sure to include a brief message about your purpose. Your message should be polite, direct, and professional and ask for assistance on leads and information. Don’t forget to register with any groups or online neighborhoods offered by the various social media sites.
- Start to participate in forums and discussions.
Spend some time each day browsing professional forums and participate whenever possible. Include a link to your profile and be sure to remain professional at all times. This is your first chance to set yourself up as an authority in the marketing field.
- Spend a little bit of time blogging.
Write about industry trends, news or marketing tools and techniques. Well written blogs are another great way to establish your authority and relevance in the marketing field and can provide readers with a quick link to find you.
- Follow up.
Be sure to implement a system which allows you to quickly follow up on posts you have made, emails you have sent and other pertinent contact information. Failure to follow-up is the best way to ensure that your network fails.
Bottom Line
Developing a social media network for your job search takes time and effort. Properly managed and marketed, it can be an excellent way to get you and your work noticed. Finding a job is a job in and of itself and by treating your social media networks as part of your ‘work day’ you will find your sales and marketing network and visibility quickly expanding.
© Copyright Erin Kennedy, 2010. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
---------------------------------------------
About This Author:
Erin Kennedy, CPRW, CERW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and Career Consultant who has been helping clients since 1998. She is also the President of Professional Resume Services.
Return to Job-Hunt
Home. |
