Vestiigo fan Laura Davies recently reached out to us on Twitter to let us know that she had found a new career using social media, and that Vestiigo was one of the resources she used in her search. We asked her to share her experiences and provide insight on using social media for career searches. Here’s her story—thanks for sharing, Laura!

I’ll admit it; I’m a TGIF girl. I love Twitter, Google, Internet, and Facebook. I’m the girl who tells her friends to start blogs, forwards all the funny web links, and gladly gives twitter tutorials to skeptics. So, when it came to finding a job in a new city I knew that social media had the potential to help me navigate the confusing process.

I decided to move cities at an interesting point in my career as I had heaps of experience in the non-profit industry and had just completed my Masters degree. I knew I had potential, but without the connections to existing networks in the city I didn’t know who to contact or how to market myself properly. I spent a few days blindly searching and applying for jobs featured on job websites with the same CV I used 2 years ago.  After receiving multiple rejections stating that I was one of hundreds applying for the jobs and my skills did not meet the job requirements (when actually they clearly did) I knew it was time to reach out for some help.

Experiences using social media to find jobs, improve CV and skills

First, I knew I had to brush up my CV.  Using advice from blog posts and webinars done by Guardian Careers, Vestiigo and Total Jobs I learned some great tips about how to take my current CV and improve it with small modifications.  I started to use bullet points, action verbs, and listed my training courses.  I tweeted questions I had and got loads of advice from experts in the field.
 
Second, I used social media to find jobs. I replied to tweets advertising temporary jobs, engaged with people I followed always stating how I could help them with my skills. I followed links to websites and searched their current opportunities looking for any position I could apply for.  If there was something I was interested in I was sure to engage with them on twitter, through email and on my blog.
 
Third, I searched out as much advice as I could about how to succeed in interviews and present my skills and experiences in a way that would be attractive to future employers.  There is so much good information out there. I found that the Vestiigo blog on interviewing always had usable tips on what to say in those stressful interviews and gave much better advice than your high school guidance counselor in those mandatory career prep classes!

I am confident that social media helped me land the current position I am in right now, but beyond that it has connected me to valuable resources that will last my whole career.  I don’t think social media should replace you getting out there and physically meeting people, but it does help making those first steps in an unknown city or industry. 

Lessons Learned

Build your personal brand: Update and update often. Gone are the days when you had to hide your facebook from potential employers. Use your social media sites to build your brand, exhibit your interests and market yourself!  I agree with Jeff Waldman who in his recent blog post said that if they’re going to search you, “You might as well direct them to visually pleasing online content that will exponentially enhance your personality, personal brand and image in their minds.”

Get involved: Seek out events or organizations you are interested in and engage with them.  It’s a great way to meet others and get advice from experts.

Laura Davies recently accepted a contract working in Human Resources at a university in London.  The search for a fulfilling career, and a passion for adventure, has lead her around the world a few times. She blogs about the ups-and-down of life and jobs on her blog and on Twitter.