Jobs hunting part two
Author: will | Filed under: 2008, advertising, blogging, job search, social change, social network, technologyLast week I wrote about a different approach to creating your CV or résumé. This week I’m looking at companies that look for employees in a different way.
Image via WikipediaWhile you could have a “jobs” or “careers” page on your website, if your business works closely with social media techniques then it makes sense to take the approach of Edgecast media and advertise your position in a blog post. Its an approach which can also be used if media is not your main business. You could even advertise the job on FaceBook. In practice it’s not that different from advertising you position in the old fashioned way. (But it might get you some takers.)
There seems to be an alternative, Seth Godin brought it up (pictured right), and it seems to be one that Aaron Strout of mZinga is looking at. Namely don’t send in a CV or Résumé (either in the post or as an attachment). Since they ale looking for a community-centric person person, contact them via Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn or what ever social network they both use (its not clear if he willing to join a new social network just to look at a job applicant. I really should do more in making one). Then (or beforehand), blog about why you should get the job. I presume that they have media monitoring in position (or at the very least, Google Alerts).
Unfortunately for me, the job is in Burlington, MA, USA. But it is an interesting way to pick someone. Essentially it is a try before you decide exercise, which ends up benefiting both parties.
However there is a downside to all this. As Virginia Miracle explains, it is very time consuming. I suspect that if the person’s profile and blog is interesting, you could stay there far too long.
But is anyone trying this technique on this side of the Atlantic. Did anyone try this in Europe let alone Ireland? And how did it work out?
take care,
Will
Tags: business, Business and Economy, Career, Employment, job search, linkedin, Résumé, Seth Godin
April 29th, 2008 at 2:05 am
Hey Will – Good summary of what’s happening in hiring right now. IMO, it’s interesting but not necessarily all that groundbreaking. When Seth says “great jobs… don’t get filled by people emailing resumes” and my colleague Aaron says “don’t send me a resume” they’re confirming what’s long been the case. The great jobs are filled by networking and connecting with people in your industry. Social media has just made this easier for potential employees and employers.
We (Mzinga) do monitor what’s being said out there and do our best to stay in touch with folks interesting in what we’re doing (wherever they are). It sounds like you might have been interesting in a job at Mzinga if it had been closer to home. We’ll have to stay in touch for when we open up an office on that side of the Atlantic.
Jim (@jstorerj on Twitter
April 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Dear Jim,
Thank you for the compliment. Interesting to hear about expansion plans.
Aaron has confirmed that he will update (new post or update?) his blog when the decision is made. I’m looking forward to finding out the details.