Wading into Social Media --- C'mon on in, the water's fine !

So you've heard alot about Social Media and you've been wondering whether it's right for you. Is it something worth exploring?  Could it help you identify an opportunity or find a job?  Just about everywhere you turn, there's some mention of Blogging, Linked In, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.  So what's all the fuss about anyway?

You and Your Personal Brand

When it comes to networking or seeking new opportunities, making sure you create a favorable first impression---with a positive "personal brand" online---is critical!  Each of us has a personal brand made up of various elements---how we represent ourselves in the public domain.

How each of these elements is displayed to the public, will in large measure, have a significant impact in how you are perceived in projecting your personal brand---good or bad  !

These personal brand elements include:

• Your personal style - standard of dress and grooming 
• Your education and professional development
• Your employment background
• Your unique skills and capabilities
• Your personality and work behaviours
• Your 60 second intro - elevator pitch
• Your manner of speech and business/social interaction
• Your telephone and voicemail greetings
• Your email address and signature
• Your online brand – Facebook, Linked In, Twitter etc
• Your resume
• Your volunteer and community involvement
• Your memberships and associations
• Your personal interests

Think about how you present yourself to others online right now.  Are you presenting the best possible image of yourself? Are there areas that you can / should improve upon?

Example: Is the email address you used as a student (hotstuff123579@hotmail.com) still the one you use today?  Does it really project the professional image you want /need?

Do you have an email signature that you include on all emails?  Does it include a telephone number should someone wish to call you on impulse?

Think about taking steps to project the professional image you want to capitalize on opportunities!

Quick Factoids

Google - 88% of all employers will Google your name.  What will they find?  Google yourself and find out !
422.6 million non-unique visits to Google each day

Linked In is the single best business research tool used to source key decision makers in corporations and organizations and connect with them. This is an incredible time saving tool you cannot afford to overlook.  Grow your professional network effectively on Linked In! 
85 million users on Linked In

Twitter is a powerful tool to follow people and / or organizations and have quality information pushed to your Twitter homepage ! In turn, you can then share select information with your personal network on Twitter and Linked In simultaneously.  Read that---value  add! 
190 million users on Twitter

Facebook is a social media phenomenon that continues to grow exponentially, connecting friends and family, but also connecting individuals to organizations (Fan pages and Business Pages) Many major organizations are well represented on Facebook.
500 million + users on Facebook

YouTube has many instructional, motivational, as well as corporate videos on a broad range of subject matter.
Over 2 Billion videos are viewed daily on YouTube

*NOTE* All of the above tools are available to you free !


Don't Get Left Behind!

Far too frequently, we hear people make summary judgments like, "Oh, Social Media's not for me.  I don't need to do that.  I can find a new job on my own no problem." 

Frankly, only after you've taken adequate time to examine, play with and learn about these various social media tools and their derivative benefits, will you have sufficient information from which you can make an educated decision as to whether they're right for you !

As evidenced by the chart below, we should take the lead from younger generations who have adopted Social Media in greater numbers...



Keeping up with changing technology is an essential ingredient to success, no matter what your role is. If you choose NOT to keep up with new tools and resources (yes, it's a conscious choice you make), you may well be viewed as someone who cannot (or will not) learn new things or adapt to change.  When that happens, decision making transfers from your hands to that of others.  Probably not the image you want to portray !

Don't let this happen to you! 

Take charge of your personal learning and development and make a commitment to explore and learn how Social Media tools can benefit you and your career ! 

To begin this process, I invite you to view an array of short, good quality "how to" videos on Getting Connected to Social Media to learn the value of Linked In, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Take a few minutes and a look through these great videos. You'll be glad you did !

So go ahead.  Wade into Social Media and get your feet wet.  C'mon in, the water's fine !

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Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. --- George Lois

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Networking or Notworking - the choice is yours !

There is a tendency for many job seekers today to spend hours on end in front of a computer screen, searching online job postings, visiting career pages on websites, all in the hopes of finding a new job online.  While these are essential elements of a job search strategy, online job sources represent less than 20% of all opportunities. Is spending the majority of your time online good time management ?   Probably not.

Having numerous, quality conversations (aka networking) with people you know, can ultimately lead to introductions to key decision makers, offering the best ROI for your time, effort and energy expended.  Networking is something you manage directly, leading to increased traction and momentum in your job search.  Conversations should represent the major part of your work day and one that is sure to produce quality results.

Networking = an exchange of information between two people

Requests for/or offers of a referral---something we know is worth sharing or,  something we need help in locating, is basic networking. Face to face, on the phone, via email or your social network, we do it every day !  Some common examples:

• Here's a great new restaurant you should try
• Here's a new movie you just have to see
• Any idea where I can get a deal on snow tires?
• Can you recommend a good dentist? 

Most of us do it without even realizing it. Maybe it's simply sharing an article we read, a great website we just viewed, or a new game we just played.   Maybe we need a referral before  making an important decision or committing to a major purchase.  Networking is simple communication between two people.  But what to do? Where to start ?

Who forms part of your personal network?

If you think about it for a moment, your network comprises virtually everyone you know including:

• Family, Friends, Neighbours
• Colleagues, Ex-colleagues
• Customers, Suppliers
• Social acquaintances, people with whom you volunteer
• Parents of your kids' friends

For those with children, a terrific source of networking contacts can be found through your children's extracurricular activities.  Be it hockey (I'm Canadian, eh?), football, soccer, gymnastics, swimming or dance, you typically run into lots of parents (with like interests) at practices, or dropping off and picking up your kids. You instantly have a common bond---your children!

And if you're like me (a Dad with daughters who dance), I find myself frequently waiting with other parents at the dance studio, sometimes 4 - 6 nights a week. Networking opportunities abound !

It's not a person's position or station in life  that's important---it's who they know (AND who knows you).  As you build your network and begin to reach out to your contacts, start with people that are easy to talk to---family and friends. These people know you well and truly want to help you find that next opportunity!

Utilizing social networking tools---Linked In, Facebook and Twitter---can help both build your online social presence and, help you find and research contacts you know and those you'd like to meet.

Talk aloud about what it is you're looking for. Your networking contacts can't read your mind.  Time and again, when individuals tell their contacts what they're seeking,  contacts can often provide a name, a job lead or a resource to tap into that can help them move forward---closer to that new opportunity.

Preparation, preparation, preparation!

In real estate, the old adage is "location, location, location." In networking, it's "preparation, preparation, preparation."  Do your homework and learn something about the person you're meeting with.  Then prepare what you'd like to say. The more you know about yourself and your accomplishments, the better you'll be able to present demonstrated skills,  enabling you to help solve real problems in the market place. Specific, measurable accomplishments will differentiate and distinguish you from all other networkers! 

In sports, practice produces muscle memory and can  substantially improve your game.  The same applies to networking; the more you practice, the easier it gets and the more proficient and effective you become !

You're not asking someone for money, nor are you asking them for a job.  You're simply asking them for their advice and their opinion. And trust me, people love to share their advice and opinions !

What should you take to a networking meeting?

First, an enthusiastic "can do" attitude demonstrates commitment to getting a job done. Let's face it, everyone loves to hire individuals with a positive attitude.  Someone who  can get along with members of an existing team is crucial to the team's success!

Secondly, people who display self confidence and project it,  are far more likely to succeed in interviews.  Networking contacts  typically only refer people whom they believe in.  Would you be willing to risk your personal reputation referring someone who doesn't present themselves well?

So whether you're actively seeking new employment now, or contemplating a change in 2011, make a personal commitment to grow and exercise your networking activity DAILY !  You will open more doors and create more opportunities for yourself  than you ever thought possible !

Believe it !

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"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending" 
Maria Robinson

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