Miriam Salpeter is a social media strategist for job seekers and entrepreneurs, a job search coach, resume writer, author and speaker. She is a “top 10 job tweeter” according to CNN and author of “Social Networking for Career Success” (To be released by Learning Express, May 2011). I interviewed Miriam in a three part blog series that kicked off with Dan Schawbel.
People are rushing to get their 2011 plan in line. These days companies are not the only ones with branding and social media strategies. Individuals are more likely to land the job of their dreams if they have a strong personal brand. Finding activities that enhance one’s performance in the office is where many companies look to find unique talent.
Sarah: Does the brand of an individual seeking employment in the new year need to be well rounded or targeted in 2011? Why?
Miriam: There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to job search or personal branding. However, most job seekers will be more successful with an approach that is rooted in their targeted employer’s needs. The most important thing a job seeker or careerist can do to build a strong personal brand:
- Know his or her skills and accomplishments
- Understand what problems he or she solves
- Recognize and be able to articulate the relationship between those skills and accomplishments and the problems the targeted employer needs solved!
- Demonstrate those via social media and job application materials
Sarah: How important is social media management? Does it help people get jobs?
Miriam: I believe the most important thing that social media offers job seekers (and everyone else) is a unique opportunity to expand their network by meeting people online they would otherwise never know. It also offers a previously unavailable opportunity to demonstrate expertise to a broad audience and potentially attract opportunities to the job seeker — effectively reversing the traditional job search approach. The goal of anyone using social media to enhance career opportunities should be to try to attract opportunities.
Since the majority of jobs are filled via referrals and networking, increasing the number of people who “know” you and recognize your expertise should improve someone’s chances of landing the right job!
It’s important to keep in mind that it is still possible to lead the way in social media in some fields. This blog shares an example from someone in finance who is using Twitter and blogging, even though his colleagues are not all on board already.
Sarah: What trends are companies looking for in the job market? Who is in high demand? Any 2011 predictions?
Miriam: One thing has not changed – companies are looking for people who are clearly qualified and make a clear connection between their skills and what the employer wants. It’s still difficult (although not impossible) to transition to a new field. It’s all about problem solving and being able to “fit” into the company’s culture.
Even as more companies and social networks flood the market, I believe it will be more important than ever for people to maintain a personal website (for example, MyName.com). While solutions such as LinkedIn and other sites are useful, they do not offer the flexibility a personal site provides; individual users do not have 100% control over what people see in their profile. As companies such as LinkedIn look to monetize users, they will continue to take steps to decide what information is easily available to their users. Having a personal website is the best way to control and manage a successful online presence.
