As someone reviewing resumes for a Social Media & Web Marketing Specialist position, I’d like to share some tips. In the first 48 hours I had about 100 people email me. I’m guessing other employers are having similar experiences. Some of these tips really aren’t social media specific, but take my advice:
Everyone wants to stand out, but if you create more work for the person reviewing resumes, chances are you won’t be considered.
I’m doing my best to review every applicant who has contacted me, but if it takes me more than a few minutes to get an impression, I’ll admit you go on the “no thank you” pile.
Tip 1: Resumes are still used
It’s great you have a LinkedIn profile or that you keep information about yourself on your web site. If 99% of other candidates are still sending a resume, having to go find information about you creates more work. Not good. It may be a personal preference, but I try to stay organized and my inbox expands by several hundred a day, for me it’s easier if you send your resume as an attachment. No need to attach your cover letter, your email can say the same thing.
Tip 2: If your resume doesn’t include links to you & your work, you aren’t presenting yourself as a social media pro
I hate to be harsh about this one, but if I’m looking to hire someone it’s because I need help. (Meaning I’m already overloaded.) If I have to lookup your information to know you have a professional online presence, you haven’t made it easy for me. I’m not saying you should provide a laundry list of all your sites, just the ones you feel are key. You want the links to point to you and your work. It’s your portfolio, not the kitchen sink, just include the best.
Tip 3: Be easy to find
It should be a given, but just in case you’re new to this, if you make it past an initial review of applicants, expect the next step will be that someone Googles you. Are the links that come up ones you would want a prospective employer to see? Do you come up in the results at all?
When I get so many files, I typically save them all off into a folder. Naming your resume ‘resume2.doc’ makes it that much harder for me to find you again later. At a minimum, make sure your name is in the file name.
I’m sure there are many things I’m not thinking of, but I have to get back to finding the right person for this role. Any other suggestions? Leave a comment.
-k
Comments
4 responses to “Tips for getting your social media job application process off to a good start.”
Amazing that these tips have to be mentioned at all in such a tough economy. I’d be interested in knowing what separates one from the crowd if once they’ve met this fairly low standard.
Thanks,
@jobhuntin
Amazing that these tips have to be mentioned at all in such a tough economy. I’d be interested in knowing what separates one from the crowd if once they’ve met this fairly low standard.
Thanks,
@jobhuntin
Thom-
Yes, these tips are a pretty low bar, but you’d be amazed how many people don’t do them. For me, the biggest factor in whether to look further or not is how much experience the applicant has with social media. Personally, I’m looking for breadth and depth. I have one candidate fresh out of college who blogs, tweets, and has several successful Facebook groups (and included stats on them, not just current, but growth over time.)
One of the challenges with this many people applying for the same job, the hiring manager has more flexibility to pursue people with strong experience who can articulate what they’ve done and most importantly, the impact of what they’ve done.
Thanks!
-k
Thom-
Yes, these tips are a pretty low bar, but you’d be amazed how many people don’t do them. For me, the biggest factor in whether to look further or not is how much experience the applicant has with social media. Personally, I’m looking for breadth and depth. I have one candidate fresh out of college who blogs, tweets, and has several successful Facebook groups (and included stats on them, not just current, but growth over time.)
One of the challenges with this many people applying for the same job, the hiring manager has more flexibility to pursue people with strong experience who can articulate what they’ve done and most importantly, the impact of what they’ve done.
Thanks!
-k