Prepping for An Interview With Social Media
If you spoke the words Social Media a decade ago, youd likely have been greeted by looks of bemusement. Today, theres no escaping it. Be it Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Tumblr, the mediums are numerous and the potential applications tremendous. Within the corporate arena itself, social media is taking increasing prominence not least in the realm of recruitment. While for job seekers that can mean using sites like LinkedIn to look for openings, for recruiters social media is fast becoming a criteria of its own in weeding out applicants. Indeed according to some statistics, as many as one in five recruiters now conduct background checks using social networking sites like Facebook. The prospective uses, it seems, are limitless.However while candidates might already be utilizing such mediums in looking for jobs, arguably one of the most neglected uses of social media relates to prepping for the interview itself. Sure, LinkedIn might provide you with a tip-off that ultimately leads to an interview, but for many candidates the power of social media starts and ends there. Indeed, when it comes to researching the company in question and preparing for the interview itself, for many candidates its back to traditional methods. Namely, browsing the companys website, scanning over press releases or simply running a few keyword searches through Google. While such techniques are by no means obsolete, social media is an increasingly attractive alternative here too. Well show you why.
LinkedIn
Not only can you take down basic company facts and figures through LinkedIn, but you can also acquaint yourself with the firms recruitment structure. First by perusing a list of new hires, recent promotions and departures but also by tracking down the profiles of the interviewers youll face on a day itself. With a picture of their personalities and resumes in your mind, youll be able to ask more insightful questions on the day. Fortunately, LinkedIn provides you with all the tools you need to complete the task. In addition, perhaps the most valuable function LinkedIn offers is the ability to see how youre connected to current or former employees at the business and to contact them for some pre-interview advice. Perhaps by coincidence you know a current employee directly. Alternatively, it may turn out that a former employee just happens to be your friends sisters partner. Whatever the form of the link, LinkedIn will give you the opportunity to casually contact the person in question. Be it through sending the person a message directly or by requesting an introduction from a mutual connection. Hence, not only can LinkedIn get you an interview, but it can help you nail it too.
Facebook/Twitter
Otherwise, and for more topical information, why not keep an eye on the organizations Facebook or Twitter feeds? Sure, you can get the basic facts in other places. But if you really want to be one step ahead of the competition, having a solid grasp of topical news and events at the company is a great place to start. By following the organizations Tweets, Facebook entries and corporate blog posts youll be able to gain something approaching an insiders account of events. Perhaps the companys currently undergoing a major restructuring or possibly just the launch of a new marketing campaign. Whatever the event, if you can bring up such particulars in the interview itself and apply them in your answers, youll go a long way to securing the job.
Not only can you take down basic company facts and figures through LinkedIn, but you can also acquaint yourself with the firms recruitment structure. First by perusing a list of new hires, recent promotions and departures but also by tracking down the profiles of the interviewers youll face on a day itself. With a picture of their personalities and resumes in your mind, youll be able to ask more insightful questions on the day. Fortunately, LinkedIn provides you with all the tools you need to complete the task. In addition, perhaps the most valuable function LinkedIn offers is the ability to see how youre connected to current or former employees at the business and to contact them for some pre-interview advice. Perhaps by coincidence you know a current employee directly. Alternatively, it may turn out that a former employee just happens to be your friends sisters partner. Whatever the form of the link, LinkedIn will give you the opportunity to casually contact the person in question. Be it through sending the person a message directly or by requesting an introduction from a mutual connection. Hence, not only can LinkedIn get you an interview, but it can help you nail it too.
Facebook/Twitter
Otherwise, and for more topical information, why not keep an eye on the organizations Facebook or Twitter feeds? Sure, you can get the basic facts in other places. But if you really want to be one step ahead of the competition, having a solid grasp of topical news and events at the company is a great place to start. By following the organizations Tweets, Facebook entries and corporate blog posts youll be able to gain something approaching an insiders account of events. Perhaps the companys currently undergoing a major restructuring or possibly just the launch of a new marketing campaign. Whatever the event, if you can bring up such particulars in the interview itself and apply them in your answers, youll go a long way to securing the job.