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What’s the Future of Job Hunting and Recruiting?


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Yes it’s true… I have managed to turn a personality disorder into a career. I don’t have a ‘job’ in the traditional sense. I just put myself out there, and they come to me. Are you looking for a job? Did you ever consider your next job may come to you? It’s a possibility, I’ve seen it happen many times. I received an interesting email recently, asking about the future of job hunting.

I’m working on an article about recruiting online - and there are a few companies that are actually posting job leads via YouTube. I’m wondering, as an expert on IT, if you think this is a viable way to job hunt. A lot of companies are slowly starting to embrace social networking tools like LinkedIn and Facebook - and now Youtube - to look for job candidates. Is the way people normally looked for jobs dead?

I would say yes, and no. I don’t think the resume and cover letter are dead. I don’t think making contact with people who are in a position to give you a job has been thrown out the window. I do believe that your next job could come to you, based on the things that you do.

One of the reasons I am so careful about what I do online is that I know people could be looking at me. I’ve landed several opportunities simply because I’ve uploaded videos to YouTube. I landed the gig with CNN because of the videos, and the live streaming.

The next time you go to upload the video, ask yourself if this video is something that a future potential employer will see and love… or hate. Could this video get you a job? Could it keep you from getting one? Don’t think that won’t happen. Trust me, it can and will. Many hundreds of employers (maybe thousands) search candidate’s names online, trying to see just what kind of person you may be.

Did you know the #2 search engine on the planet is YouTube? It’s food for thought.

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3 Comments

These are of course good points, but doing extensive search for employes online is usually an activity only headhunters are doing (or recruitment departments with too much time on their hands).

I believe you have managed to create these opportunities for yourself by honing your communication skills and combine them with a healthy interest in technology - and perhaps most important of all: being consistant and “present”. I do not think I can recall any Lockergnome newsletter that didn’t follow the regular schedule.

This is however not the case for most other people. It is a matter of time and how much effort one is willing to put into being visible on the net. I have been around on the net for about .. ummm … is it 15 years now? 14? Anyway - I am pretty visible myself as such, but my business proposals, contacts and opportunities comes from people I have met IRL or communicated with in real time over the net.

Actually, come to think of it - I do not think anyone has ever bothered to check my background. They are usually happy with the online CV I send them. And this is also the best way of catching other peoples attention - either we are talking about future clients or employers.

But again - this is of course also something that depends on what kind of projects - or positions - you are applying for. There are many facets to this discussion.

Chris Pirillo What are the Best Headphones to Buy? Death from the Skies: the End of the World? SONYStyle Black Friday Sale Ritz Camera Black Friday SaleWhat’s the Future of Job Hunting and Recruiting?

I submit an assignment for school about this subject. It’s called netiquette, and it’s costing alot of people potential jobs.

I got an “A” on the assignment BTW.. But here’s the key point.

Careerbuilders.com released this survey:
Twenty-two percent of hiring managers reported they used social networking sites to research candidates, up from 11 percent in 2006. Of those who have screened job candidates this way, 34 percent found content that caused them to dismiss the candidate from consideration:
41% - candidate posted information about them drinking or using drugs
40% - candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information
29% - candidate had poor communication skills
28% - candidate bad-mouthed their previous company or fellow employee
27% - candidate lied about qualifications
22% - candidate used discriminatory remarks related to race, gender, religion, etc.
22% - candidate’s screen name was unprofessional
21% - candidate was linked to criminal behavior
19% - candidate shared confidential information from previous employers

Unfortunately, many job seekers believe that if they keep their profiles private, they will not be discovered. Employers are researching how an individual interacts with others, so they look at your public comments and forum post, as well. Even though an employer can’t see your profile, this doesn’t mean that you’re hidden from the world. If you post on a controversial topic with very inappropriate language, they can still read the comment if it’s on someone else’s public blog, forum, etc. within the social network.

What Do You Think?

 
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