I’ve written about using LinkedIn to find design jobs here and here, but I’ve yet to suggest ways to use Twitter or Facebook as part of a design career search.
Needless to say, it is an obligation today that during the application process for a new job you take a moment to see if the company offering a position to which you might apply maintains a Facebook page or Twitter account. If so, Fan and Follow them, read some of their social media content, and then tailor your application / cover letter based upon the insights you have gained by doing this little bit of homework on the company. I know all seems obvious, but it is still worth illustrating because each experience using social media for this purpose is different.
For example, I’ll go look at Coroflot’s Twitter feed right now and check the most recent job announcement to see if this whole application process using social media works…
OK, here is the latest job posted on Coroflot’s Twitter feed:
CI Creative Director: Landor Associates New York, NY http://bit.ly/6H9LnM
(Note: if you are not following Coroflot’s Twitter feed then you can do so here.)
After reviewing the ad, I’ll visit the Landor Associates site and familiarize myself with them, and then search Twitter to see it they have a Twitter account, which they do, and here it is:
http://twitter.com/landor_dot_com
So in addition to what I know of Landor from their website, and from the ad, I now know from their Twitter feed that their CMO has published a short video about branding for non-profits: http://ow.ly/Q2dg
Why would they publish a video about branding for non-profits? Very likely because it is a target market of interest for them. I, personally, have worked for non-profits so have that to mention in my cover letter for the job. If you have worked for non-profits in the past then you too have that context to work into your cover letter. If you have not, fine, make reference to something else you find on their Twitter feed that matches a skill or interest that you have. And make sure they know you learned of it by reading their Twitter feed.
So with this one example of using Twitter as part of your job search process several things have been accomplished, and it took you all of 3 minutes to find and read through the prospective employer’s Twitter feed.
First: If you do a little homework using social media then when you apply for a job you’ll come across as someone that does everything you do with a little extra effort.
Two: You have shown business savvy and you are coming across as someone who “gets” the value of social media.
Three: In the example I provided above, you will have mentioned the CMO by name in your cover letter and, therefore, flattered a C-level executive in the company by commenting on some of their work.
Four: You are showning that you not only have a portfolio of work, but that you have expertise in a market that they are interested in pursuing which, in this case, is the non-profit market.
The list goes on.
I’ve not really touched on Facebook but you can apply the same priciples. Find the comapany on Facebook, fan them, and find something that you can work into your application/cover letter.
So add Twitter and Facebook to your job search strategy and you’ll not only find jobs, but also be able to tailor your cover letters to prospective employers and get an edge over other applicants.
