Social Media and Networking for Job Seekers

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In the days before the internet, people would go to mixers to meet people in their industry. Surprisingly that has not changed much. People still attend mixers, but they are now called networking events.

Networking is an important tool for job seekers. Today, it can happen virtually through social media. However, it's not a replacement for flesh and blood. In fact, social media networks enhance in-person networking instead of getting rid of it. Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are popular places for organizing real-life events.

Networking is the first step of building a relationship with a person you're interested in working for. There are both realistic and unrealistic goals. You cannot expect every person you give your resume or business card to hire you. You must get to know the person. They need to understand how you will be able to solve their problem. This simply can't be done with a piece of paper.

Here are a few guidelines for networking events.

Before the Event

• Know what type of event it is.
• Set goals for the event. For example, you could try to gain three new connections.
• If possible, research who will be there.
• Prepare for the event:
• Practice your elevator speech.
• Brush up on current events.
• If you use business cards, have a fresh batch ready.
• Have a clear plan of what you're going to do when you get there.
• Locate your name badge.
• Think of some good "get to know" questions.

At the Event

• Wear your name tag on your right shoulder. When shaking hands, the other person's eyes will travel up your arm to see your name.
• Shake hands firmly – like the three bears, not to firm, not to soft, just right.
• Make eye contact with the person you are meeting.
• Repeat the person's name.
• Listen! Don't immediately launch into what you can do, listen to what they have to say.
• Share a business card or mini-resume. Don't assume that the person wants your business card. Instead, ask them politely if they'd like to exchange cards.
• Give them links to your social media profiles. A good way to do this is by putting these links on your business card. Or, you can simply tell them.
• Ask questions relevant to the event. For example, "Do you run your own business?" might be a great question at a Chamber of Commerce event.
• Hold back on the sales pitch until you have found common ground.
• Pay it forward! ­­Think about who you know who might be able to help the person.

After the Event

• Think about how you will follow up with the people whose business cards you collected.
• Follow your plan for reaching out after an event. To use social media effectively in networking, you'll need to stay in contact via these platforms. Here are some great ways you can follow up:
• Connect on LinkedIn or another social platform.
• Send an email.
• Schedule a time to meet. This is the time to sell your product or service. Remember when you are looking for a job, you are your product.
• Post about the event on one of your profiles (or a few).
• Keep your promise! If you volunteered to do something for the person you met, like an introduction, follow through.

Remember that in marketing, it is not about who you know, but who they know. The person you met may not be hiring right now. They may not be the perfect lead for the product you are selling. They may not be in the correct industry. However, they might have the absolute perfect connection inside their network to whom they could introduce you.

As mentioned earlier, networking still revolves around people meeting people. You can find new people to meet or enhance the connection you have with someone by using the right social media tools!