The economy continues to lose jobs with unemployment rising to 5.5 percent. As with all downturns, we are starting to see layoffs and marketing department cuts. But regardless of the impact on traditional media and marketing, new media seems to continue to thrive. Demand for social media savvy communicators remains high.
This is important because with oil prices rising, a certain administration change, we are likely to see unemployment continue to rise. Communicators that want to survive the forthcoming economic turbulence can beef up their resumes with bonafide social media experience (image: Cisco Virtual World Career Fair by Text 100).
While social media in many ways represents just another tactical tool set, the ability to execute intelligently is hard to find. I receive two-three calls or inquiries a day from folks looking to hire social media savvy people. It’s usually a low to mid-tier hire.
Here are some thoughts for PR and marketing folks that want to beef up their social media resume:
1) Highlight past experiences as much as possible. If your company doesn’t let you engage in social media, highlight your personal blog and social network accounts. I’ve hired several people based on personal social media involvement as this still provides a leg up over the generalist who has no experience whatsoever.
2) When you talk social media, don’t just chat up blogs or conversations. There is much more to offer companies, particularly from a relationship building standpoint. Be able to discuss how these tools can impact a company’s integrated marketing communications plan.
3) Be very aware of your personal Google search results. You can’t talk the talk without the walk. Make sure your discussion and commentary are in line with reality.
4) While social media may be the milk that brings the cat, be careful not to become a specialist — unless this is really what you love. In general, tactical masters can only rise to great career prominence in large companies or agencies, and the reality is that most companies are not that big. The rise up the ladder lies in general marketing or communications strategy with mastery of several tactics.
5) Be able to cite examples from other successful social media efforts besides your own. Remember this is new stuff for many people, so being able to highlight any success is a plus.
I was expecting to find some advice for using social media AS one’s resume, but I’m happily surprised with this. I think point 4 is the one that gets a lot of people into trouble–if one becomes the go-to guy for one thing they may become more of a technician than a creative. It’s VERY important to develop depth in many areas or you’ll be limited both in how you rise within an organization and the value you offer to clients or coworkers.
Thanks, Jared. Yeah, I hear that a lot. Use a social media resume, but while we might be impressed, I think social resumes will actually work against job seekers in a downturn. Most businesses in a downturn are hyper conservative and spraying them off with some new fangled resume. Keep in mind the buyer, right?
Indeed, it pays to be a “generalist” in lean economic times. That said, social media tools are relatively cheap and easy to launch – two qualities any company can appreciate. The strategic side is where experts are required.
Terry: Good point. Strategy leads the way.
Outstanding post Geoff. I don’t always agree with everything that you advocate with regard to social media, but I found this post extremely useful and informative. In fact I found it so useful I posted about it in our local chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association at http://cwcfprablog.typepad.com/weblog/2008/06/social-media-beefs-up-resumes.html.
Please continue to provide this type of commentary from a corporate perspective. The real world application of social media skills and how they will be valued in the workplace is an excellent topic for further conversation. If you have additional sources commenting on this topic, please share.
Best Regards.
From the Beach Chair,
Matt Gentile – 300 Days of Sunshine
FloridaMoves.com
Geoff,
Great post. As someone recently out of college (graduated in December), I’ve been adapting social media to my job search. I’ve added my website to my resume to get employers to visit and learn more about me and my marketing knowledge. From there I have links to my social spaces including Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. All of those sites link to each other and my blogs, so everything is full circle.
The results? Well, I’m still searching for a job, and I haven’t been questioned or commented about being socially savvy during interviews. But, I still feel that these efforts will help in the long run. I guess I just need to find people like you who are advocates of social media!
P.S., feel free to send those employers searching for web savvy people my way :)
I think Social Media is the best way to beef up any resume.
It gets out there faster for all to see. Like if Im looking some business up all I have to do is look up their Social Media network rather then look it up in google wich we all know you would have to look at 20 or more links to get all the info.