As if looking for employment didn’t pose enough of a challenge, here is an entirely new problem for those seeking employment – the effective use of social media. No, no, no…not how to use it for networking or job search, but how not to use it. It seems many job candidates torpedo their chances with some employers because of the inappropriate things they post on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.

Is that fair to job candidates? Apparently so, according to this article:

Four years ago, Stacy Snyder, then a 25-year-old teacher in training at Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, Pa., posted a photo on her MySpace page that showed her at a party wearing a pirate hat and drinking from a plastic cup, with the caption “Drunken Pirate.” After discovering the page, her supervisor at the high school told her the photo was “unprofessional,” and the dean of Millersville University School of Education, where Snyder was enrolled, said she was promoting drinking in virtual view of her under-age students. As a result, days before Snyder’s scheduled graduation, the university denied her a teaching degree. Snyder sued, arguing that the university had violated her First Amendment rights by penalizing her for her (perfectly legal) after-hours behavior. But in 2008, a federal district judge rejected the claim, saying that because Snyder was a public employee whose photo didn’t relate to matters of public concern, her “Drunken Pirate” post was not protected speech.

Since Facebook and other sites are public domain sites, it looks like they are fair game for assessing your common sense and discretion. So, next time you get in one of those “drunken pirate” moods, you might want to hold off on posting the pics. I’m just sayin’…

This article further points out that 75 percent of recruiters and HR professionals scrutinize online sites for information about job candidates, and 70 percent of those individuals have actually rejected a candidate based on information obtained from these sites. As companies seek to acquire the best talent they can find, they have been given the golden opportunity to not only assess that talent, but to assess the character of that talent as well.

Formerly, employers were limited to a credit check, a background check, and all those stellar references you put on your resume. Now, however, you have willingly opened up your entire world for them to examine – which, by the way, can be a good thing just as much as a potential risk. After all, your Facebook page could just as easily reveal a solid citizen as much as it could reveal a scalawag.

With recruiters and HR professionals on the prowl, consider this “Word to the Wise:” You might want to check out your Facebook page and analyze it from an employer’s point-of-view. Does your online persona reveal someone that might be considered a huge hiring risk?

A (nearly) foolproof plan to finding another job fast.

You’re Fired! Whether it’s those words you hear or a pink slip that you see which notifies you of your tenure coming to an end, it’s time to think on your feet and start looking for a new job, pronto.

Problem is, the unemployment rate is above 10% in the majority of areas. It’s likely even higher than that when you include people that have, reluctantly, removed themselves from the job force. Even those who are continuing to look for something, anything, to do for income are having a difficult time of it… and the open positions are out there, you just need to be smart with how you go from fired to hired in no time.

This plan is not a guarantee that you will be hired for your dream job or company. In fact, you may even end up working somewhere you’d never pictured yourself – but it’s a pay check and potentially great learning experience.

Update Your LinkedIn

Why is LinkedIn so important? Well, just because an estimated 80% of hiring employers turn to the business / career – focused social network when looking to fill open positions. An updated profile on this website will allow for higher visibility and more potential with various human resources associates and recruiters. Additionally, there are a good number of companies and job search engines which will use (with your permission) your LinkedIn profile to fill in a good part of the application. If you’re concerned about privacy, LinkedIn does allow you to change your security settings, but it will affect your visibility. Read more on how to use this free tool to aide your job search.

Get on Twitter

Should you really be limiting your job search to 140 characters? Yes! Well, in a way… While Twitter may technically limit you to 140 letters, numbers, and punctuations, you’re actually expanding your world. On Twitter, you’ll be able to connect with a broad variety of people and keep up to date on the latest job openings in your field(s) of interest. Check out three easy steps to finding your next job via Twitter.

Refresh Your Resume / Curriculum Vitae

What is the average amount of time human resources spends looking at an individual resume? Around 20 seconds. So pose this question to yourself: What are you getting across in that fraction of a minute? Is it enough to be put in the “for interview” pile? Since the most harsh, and biased, critic of you is yourself, let an outside give you some help with your resume. Consider a low cost resume building service, where the professionals on the receiving end of a resume will be able to guide you and make your resume more marketable.

Search for Open Positions

The key aspect of a job search is the search itself. Using the right job search engines and keywords will optimize the open positions you can find. While newspaper classifieds and physical job boards still exist, they are used less and less in this digital age. Consider a few of these resources to find the best job search website online for you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Fired to Hired in No Time” by subscribing to our RSS feed, or skip ahead of the pack by going straight to the experts at 360jobinterview (see side panel for services and contact information).

You already know it’s a Web 2.0. Social media and social networking are the wave we’re riding into the future. Great, but how does that help you? You’re searching for a job and don’t have time to play around on things like Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, right? Wrong. Your next job offer could very likely come from one of these, or many similar, socially interactive sites. Let’s focus on how Twitter can help you find that perfect career offer.

Step 1: The Set-up

First thing, get your Twitter account set up. It is imperative to pick a more professional sounding username and upload a photo of yourself (or something that closely represents you. Steer clear of juvenile names and images (and really, do upload one – it does make a difference). In your bio section, you have up to 140 characters to put in. Use the space wisely. If you’re unsure of what to put,  a 360 CareerActionPlanning coach could help out here. Don’t forget to put a link to either your professional blog, portfolio, or online c.v.

Step 2: To Follow or Not to Follow

Second, scout out people on Twitter to follow. They could be human resources representatives for companies in your industry, the company itself or a c.o., recruiters, job search engines, or other Tweeple that can help you along with your search. Don’t forget to follow @360JobInterview while you’re at it to stay up to date on promotions and other relevant information. Click the “follow” button after determining which folks have a message relevant to what you’re looking for. Also, be sure to check your new followers for more potential Tweeple to follow.

Step 3: Go Social

Thirdly, it’s time to get interactive. You may notice a lot of “dms” in your inbox. These are direct messages. Only people you are following can send them to you, and vice versa. While this is useful in giving out your contact information to prospective employers, you do not want to overdo it and send them too many links. To send a dm, you can either ‘message’ a follower or put “D [twitter name] your message.”

The way to communicate with Twitter users that is more common is to ‘mention’ them. Do this by place an @ symbol directly before their name (i.e. “@aplusk [your message]“). You may often see things like “RT @[username]” or “[message] via @[username].” These are called ‘retweets’ and are used when you find another’s Tweet so useful that you want to share it with your followers. Most Twitter users are excited to see their name mentioned or something they sent out retweeted.

Keep on top of who you are following and the messages they put out. With applications such as Seesmic or Tweetdeck, you can separate those you are following into separate groups to track certain types of Tweets easier. You can also use Twitter on all smartphones and many other cellphones.

Now you have the basic tools and know-how to get out there and get a job. Good luck, and if you ever have any questions, leave a comment below or just Tweet out a mention to @360jobinterview; we’re here for you.

We’re big advocates of utilizing the power of networking to help develop your career. Whether your goal is to find an starting position or move up a few, socializing and connecting with the right people is essential. It can even make or break you.

Let’s go over some key places available to you online that can really boost your network.

LinkedIn is the one site that you must add your resume to. Oh, and all of your past and present professional connections, as this is more than just a website, it is a social network.

By fully optimizing your LinkedIn profile, you will have a full, strong resume available online for viewing. There are even settings to change your public profile, the one that will come up in search results for those who are not in your network. It will build your image online, the one that you want there, as it usually becomes one of the top search engine results when searching for an individual’s name.

Hey job seekers, where were you last night? If you didn’t say, “out at a business networking event,” you may be missing out on opportunity. Meetup is a great online place to both host reoccurring networking events and find good ones to join.

Some of the greatest career advancements were made possible by a good word from the right person. To find those right people, it’s time to begin actively socializing. Meetup is the place to go if you’re looking to join a social or professional group of folks that share your interests, experience, and goals.

To use Twitter as a ‘micro-blogging’ site or a place to provide a general status update is a mistake if you’re hunting for a job. Twitter is quickly turning into a tool that is used to project a professional, yet personable, image. And, let’s face it, image counts for a lot when looking for the right job.

Twitter gives you real time information that could be useful to you for your intended career change. Find some suggested Tweeps to follow that can help with your job search here.

It is this former job seeker’s recommendation to avoid using websites like Myspace and Facebook to network for your career. While they’re great for interaction at the personal social level, leave it for your family and non-professional friends only. The details you will likely find yourself putting on there are not the first things you’d want a potential employer to see when reviewing you as a candidate. Get some more advice from the 360 pros with live career action planning. Good luck and happy networking!

One of the strongest complaints about candidates for a job during a job interview is their lack of knowledge about the company. It amazes me that so many recruiters complain that the person being interviewed does not understand the business. A great way to be prepared is to utilize the 360 advantage by receiving one-on-one personalized job interview coaching.

I remember preparing my son, who is now a Vice President in a major financial firm, for one of his first interviews. We went into so much detail in this preparation to make sure that he understood the business the firm and the key issues. When he had the actual interview, he did so well that the firm decided to hire him for a more desirable position.

Preparation goes beyond just looking at the basic financials of the firm. It involves really understanding the key issues that the firm is challenged with. They expect you to carry on a knowledgeable conversation about the industry. They want you to be able to render an opinion about the issues. Most people are not able to do so, because they do inadequate preparation.

What are some of the sources of information? Clearly, there is plenty of public information, especially about large firms. Anything written by the company will be biased somewhat, but there are other objective sources. Read industry and news reports to round out some of the information.

Another useful tool is social networking. You should be able to find people who currently and who worked formerly at the firm through Linked In. If you do a ‘search by company’ you will get information on current and past employees of the firm. This is especially useful if the firm is private or little known in the general pubic. When you find these people ask your contacts to pass along a request to these individuals for you to have an informational interview.

By going out of your way to learn more about the industry and speak to people who are currently or formerly with the company, the recruiter will conclude that you are very interested in working for company and went out of your way and when beyond the usual approaches to research the company.

In my next entry, I will discuss what questions you should ask on an interview.