Using Social Media to Get a Social Media Job

For my recent job switch it took me 1 week to speak with 3 companies, sign a deal with one and double my salary in the process. Oh, and I did it all with social media...

You might be saying, "But Sean, I thought social media was simply a device for telling your friends what you ate for lunch".Well of course that is true, however, you can also use these services to land that next great gig. For those curious, or perhaps looking for a social media job, here is how its done.

• LinkedIn: Take your paper resume and throw it away. In the tech space LinkedIn is the new resume. Build out a nice large network by tracking down any former/current colleagues. Get them to leave you a recommendation whenever possible. SEO the shit out of your profile, include every major keyword from your industry. This is ultimately how Docstoc.com came across me, via a recruiter who found me through a LinkedIn search. Big thanks to Dan and Jason at Neohire who setup the whole deal for me. Add me to your LinkedIn network to get started.

• Twitter: Oddly enough I had an interview with another company because of Twitter. Stranger still, it was with a start up I was razzing in a recent tweet. They used tracking services to follow their company's name and it started a dialogue between us. While this case is probably unique, a good Twitter presence is vital to getting any social media job today. At Mahalo we managed to get a nice amount of traffic from the service. Due in part to Jason's large following and the vertical-based Twitter accounts I set up. You have an MBA? Good for you, but who cares if no one is following/listening to you today. You can follow me on Twitter here.

• Meatspace Marketing: I was able to get a few potential jobs lined up through this medium. The meatspace is that strange place away from the web. Its where real people exist and occasionally interact in a none virtual fashion. Become part of your local tech community and get to know the players. Contribute so they can all see how great you are. Read Chris Brogan's post on how to be sexier in person.

Happy hunting!