Lee Hecht Harrison surveyed 877 job seekers throughout the U.S. via an online poll asking, “How searchable are you on the Internet?” The results were as follows:
| I have a LinkedIn profile | 61% |
| I am active on several social media sites | 15% |
| I have LinkedIn and Twitter profiles | 11% |
| I am active on several social media sites and blog | 6% |
| I don’t show up in a search | 7% |
Greg Simpson, Senior Vice President, Career Transition Practice Leader for Lee Hecht Harrison, stated, “Social recruiting techniques are making it easier and more efficient for employers and recruiters to distribute job openings and find prospective candidates online. Job seekers without an online presence may be at a disadvantage.” Simpson advises job seekers to be visible and connected online to not only find job postings, but to capture the attention of the hiring community.
Simpson cautions that it isn’t enough to post a profile and use social media to build a network. Job seekers need to develop a strategic approach that ensures their use of social media aligns with how recruiters and hiring managers work. According to Simpson, “Networking is foundational. But job seekers need to go far beyond the fundamentals of building a network. They need to consider how social media can help them find open positions that aren’t advertised, engage directly with hiring managers, support the interviewing process and keep their candidacy strong.”
Simpson suggests, “If you’re a job seeker, use social media to advance your job search. Set up professional profiles on the networks appropriate for your field and industry. Get to know key players, build relationships and join the mix in ways that demonstrate your knowledge.”
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