Learn to Job Hunt Like a Millennial
Being cast back out into the vast ocean of job seekers is not lost on me: After a series of short-term stints that I was promised would lead to a permanent position, my contract was not renewed.
Dejected. Angry. Scared. The range of emotions was broad. And yet the most important thing at that point was my composure: I needed to dust myself and find something fast since not working was simply not an option.
When you get laid off, you may very well find yourself thrown back into a job search that you don’t feel prepared for. Finding your way out of this does not have to be such an abstract concept though.
The job search today is markedly different than before and as the “gig economy” rises (think Airbnb, Uber), and job automation and economic swings take place, less than 50% of job seekers feel optimistic about their job hunt.
According to Gallup “Millennials have a reputation for job-hopping”, with a recent poll showing that 21% have changed jobs in the last year. This number is more than three times that of non-millennials. What’s more, millennials have experienced the advent of social media firsthand and use these tools to their benefit as they look for jobs.
And though the job search has changed, the central components remain the same: Resume, Cover Letter, and Interviewing remain focal points. This post will help you to use social media to complement these central components.
Social Media: Use it or Lose Out!
Whether you check your Facebook every five minutes or avoid social media like the plague, a 2015 survey showed that 92% of recruiters use social media. That means that only 8% are not using social media.
Social media can help you to:
Find job listings
Connect with recruiters
Research a company/person
Increase your visibility
Different platforms provide different advantages, and overlap in several cases. According to their recent study, Jobvite’s Job Seeker Nation Study 2016 shows that 48% of job seekers used social media in their most recent search, most often for the purpose of researching a company:
Twitter: Looking up current employees to learn more about their experience and skills
Facebook: Pictures and content for company culture, and also for brand reputation
LinkedIn: Mutual connections at companies and learning more about company leadership
Action: Let’s start with LinkedIn:
After you have an account, search for a company or organization in your industry. You will find several “sections” in the search: groups, companies, people, among others.
Find the company or organization you are looking for and click to be taken to their page.
In the upper right hand part of the page, click “Follow”
But wait, don’t stop here!
Scroll down and look on the right-hand side of the page for “People Also Viewed” and visit similar companies in the sector, repeating the above steps as desired.
As a follow-up to the above, take note of the companies that you are now following. These companies more often than not are also on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Glassdoor, Google+, Instagram, Snapchat, or a mix thereof. Show your interest in the company by following them in these locations.
The Spin: By opening social media accounts you are given a daily dose of company news, whether it be open positions, new growth areas or products, leadership changes, whatever.
But perhaps more valuable, you learn to talk the talk and know what the company does and what they are likely looking for. Going forward, you are able to easily tailor your job application components to their liking and once in the interview, are able to speak knowledgeably.
Networking: It's Not So Bad...
I always thought that networking seemed distasteful and I felt uncomfortable taking up others’ time. That is, until I found out how to do it right.
Regardless of how you view networking though the benefits are undeniable: LinkedIn’s Global Recruiting Trends 2016 report shows that Social Professional Networks and Employee Referral Programs are the first and third best resources for quality hires.
Reframe your networking as a means for learning how others got to where they are. You are not there to ask them for a job, but rather to learn how you may improve your skillset so that it is similar to theirs.
Action: After you have identified the companies following the above steps, identify a few people at these companies, also using LinkedIn.
Access the company page as described above
View the “How You’re Connected” box on the right side of the company page
- “1st” signifies you are connected to someone that works there, “2nd” signifies that one of your connections knows someone that works there, “3rd” signifies that a connection of a connection knows someone that works there
Reach out! (See below)
Example: When reaching out to someone for networking purposes, you can propose a short coffee if they are nearby or a short phone call.
“Hi ____,
I discovered your profile on LinkedIn and found that we have a few contacts in common. I have a background in financial analysis and am currently searching for new opportunities in banking. I am in the research stage of my search and hope to learn about different companies and the work that they do.
I'm writing to see if you would be open to sharing some insight into your role at [company/organization], and giving me the benefit of your advice on how to best position myself in my search. I would like to invite you for coffee - or - I would appreciate 20 minutes of your time on the phone in the coming weeks to discuss.
Thank you in advance for your considerations.
Sincerely, …”
The Spin: Your goal is to learn about why that person has that job. If it’s specific skills they have then you can work on developing those. If it’s a specific method that they used, then you’ve also learned which approach worked for them.
This is a non-invasive, respectful approach that gives your new contact an idea of what you are looking for from them so that they can prepare. Likewise, you should be prepared with knowledge of their company and the ability to speak knowledgeably about the company/industry/or role.
Finally, if they see that you would be a good fit at their company or organization, then great. If they offer to refer you to a position there, also great. But recall that this is not your goal here and would be merely a byproduct of your new connection.
