I saw a statistic* a while back about finding a job and social media.  It said that in 2011, many major companies (80%) will back away from the traditional methods to fill their job openings and instead use social media.  The numbers look like this:

• 78% using LinkedIn

• 55% using Facebook

• 45% using Twitter

Let’s look at LinkedIn.  How many of you have a LinkedIn profile?  LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking group. It can be used to find jobs (it has listings that match your profile, you can find people who work at companies that may interest you, you grow a network of people who can introduce you to people who are hiring) and it is also used by the employed to network and broaden business opportunities.  Over 120 million people worldwide use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas and opportunities.  It is also a rich resource to stay informed about your industry and the people within it.   Here are a couple of simple rules for setting up a free profile:

1. Complete a profile.  Use the easy to follow instructions.  LinkedIn prompts you along.
2. Join groups and when there, join the conversation by asking and answering questions.  There are many occupation-related groups and job search groups.  You can join up to 50 groups for free.
3. Use the same or similar key words to describe what you do.  For example, my LinkedIn profile has the words “Job Search” liberally sprinkled throughout it.  These words not only describe what I do, but help position my placement on LinkedIn should someone be looking for a job search trainer or coach.
4. Invite people to connect.  Look for former colleagues and friends and ask them to connect.  DO NOT use the scripted invitation that LinkedIn offers to connect.  Instead, modify the invitation to explain how you know the person.
5. Add a professional picture to your profile.  Ask someone to take a professional head shot of you and post that.

Finally, take a tutorial to completely understand how LinkedIn works.  One LinkedIn group that is particularly helpful is called Linked Strategies.  Here is good place to get started: http://learn.linkedin.com/what-is-linkedin/.

• 2010 Jobvite, Inc.