How to use social media to get hired

In today’s tough employment market, your social media presence can make you (as you tweet your way to a new job) or break you (as that regrettable Facebook photo sends your crumpled résumé sailing into the trash).

Like it or not, the “social” in social media is misleading—and the phenomenon has now fully permeated our professional lives. According to Maribeth Kuzmeski, that means if you’re unemployed or if you’re just looking to make your next career move, it’s time to consider how to use social media to your advantage.

“The Web has been an integral part of job searches for years now,” notes Kuzmeski, “but it’s been in only the past couple of years that social media has gotten so important.

“I think many job seekers find out the hard way that it can be a double-edged sword,” she adds. “If you have the right kind of online presence, it can greatly improve your chances of getting hired, but one wrong move and employers might shun you. You have to remember the connections you make online define you. When you’re trying to get hired, you have to be careful what you say.”

Read on for Kuzmeski’s advice on how to get hired (and avoid being fired!) using social media.

About the Author

Maribeth Kuzmeski

Maribeth Kuzmeski is president of consulting firm Red Zone Marketing.

Known for her energetic style and her easy-to-implement tools and tactics, Maribeth teaches leaders how to identify and capture the potential business that’s often “hidden in plain sight.”

Maribeth is the author of five books, including The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life and …And the Clients Went Wild! How Savvy Professionals Win All the Business They Want.