Looking for a job? Consider these out-of-the-box experiences to increase your chances of landing a great career online.
Alec Brownstein and the $6 Google Campaign
Alec Brownstein was a 28 year-old copywriter tired of wasting his time on a job that was below his skill level. Rather than hunt for a job in a traditional way, however, he chose to go a different route. He researched the top creative companies and creative directors in his area, and determined to try a different method to get a job. Alec purchased the 
adwords ad space for each of the names of the creative directors that he admired most.
When someone typed the name of the creative director into a search engine, the following message appeared, “”Hey, [creative director’s name]: Googling yourself is a lot of fun. Hiring me is fun, too.” Alec then included a link to his personal website for more information about his skills. He received call backs from almost all the directors, and was finally offered a job with two of the companies a few months later.
The Hiring Power of Twitter
Twitter is a surprisingly effective way to land a job. Christa Keize, who interned at Cone, was able to land a job through Twitter. She used Twitter to post industry-related tweets to establish herself as an expert. This gained the interested of Cone, who soon hired her for a summer internship.
The same thing happened to Kate Ottavio. She posted relevant industry information on Twitter on a daily basis. She was contacted by the HR Director at Quinn & Co., who soon offered her a job based on her tweets and LinkedIn profile.
The Daily Use of Social Media at HootSuite
The Social Media company HootSuite encourages all of its 300 employees to engage in social media throughout the day. Using Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites, employees are able to research topics and find qualified people. Customer support uses social media to get back to customers faster. HR uses social media to hire new employees. Other employees use social media to keep up with trends and develop new offerings for the company. Many other companies are starting to embrace the web in many ways as well.
Tips for Landing a Job through the Web
If you want to use social media to get a job, there are a few steps you should take. First, create skill profiles on a multitude of sites, like Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Make sure all photos are flattering and non-compromising. Keep your information professional, and try to establish credibility as an industry expert. According to CareerBuilder, about 29 percent of employers find positive information for hiring new employees through social media sites.
The more you engage and interact with people online, the better your visibility. Participating in discussions, joining groups, sharing experiences, and posting relevant industry content is a highly effective boost for gaining web-based employment. Just like getting a job in the past, you must put yourself out there. Just in this case, “out there” is in cyberspace rather than the physical world.
If you need more help, a qualified website builder, such as 1&1 Website Builder, can help you establish your profile online.
Byline
This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd. She’s a freelance tech writer who shares her thoughts on various blogs. When not blogging she plays netball with her friends or kills enemy forces on Battlenet.
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