Social Media & Job Hunting

 

Social Media & Job Hunting

Using social media can really help you find a job. You can use it to connect with people and learn about companies you might want to work for. There are many smart ways to use social media when you're looking for a job.

 

Why Use Social Media in Your Job Search?

Even if you don't use social media much, it's smart to have a profile or two when you're job hunting. It shows employers you're comfortable with technology. But there are more good things about using social media to find a job:
                                  Helps you build your personal brand.

 

Lets you network and connect in ways you can’t in person.

 

Makes you “more visible” to hiring managers and recruiters that mine social media for prospective candidates—even when you aren’t actively searching for a job.

 

Gives you a chance to interact with companies you want to work for.

 

If you're still not sure about using social media for your job search, think about this: in 2017, most recruiters used LinkedIn (87%) and Facebook (55%) to find candidates. So if you're not on social media, you could be missing out on job chances!

 

How to Create Social Media Profiles for Your Job Search:

Just having a LinkedIn profile isn't enough to land you a job. You need to be active on social media and maintain a positive and professional image. Take a look at your existing social media accounts and clean up anything that might not look good to employers. You can also create separate profiles that focus on your professional side. Remember to post things that relate to your career or industry, and always think about how employers might see your online presence. The more professional and positive you appear online, the better your chances of impressing potential employers.

Many employers check social media when they're considering hiring someone. So, after you've cleaned up your profiles or made new ones, search for your name on Google. Look for any mistakes or bad things that might show up. Try to fix them before employers see them. This way, when they search for you, they'll find good, professional stuff.

How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search:

Now that your profiles are looking good, it's time to use them to find a job. But remember, you need to use social media in a smart and professional way to make a good impression. Here are some tips to help you use social media for job hunting like a pro.

After setting up your professional social media profiles, it's your chance to show off your skills and accomplishments! Got a new certification? Put it on your LinkedIn profile and maybe share it on Twitter! Finished a project related to your career? Share pictures of it on Instagram. Use social media to find a job, connect with companies, and showcase the skills, education, and experience that recruiters and hiring managers want to see.

 

It's okay to talk about your achievements, but you shouldn't announce to everyone that you're looking for a job, especially if you're still working for your current employer. Make sure your privacy settings are set up correctly so your current employer doesn't find out you're job hunting. Also, think about who you're connected with on social media, especially your coworkers.

Build connections:

In the past, keeping up with many different connections could be a challenging task, but social networking sites have greatly simplified the process. And while it's easier than ever to organize your contacts, you should also use these resources to reach out and forge new connections.

Whenever you make a new connection, it's important to follow up and stay in touch. Even if you only have the opportunity to meet someone briefly in person, connecting with this person on a social media site allows you to continue the conversation and develop a relationship. Try sending a quick message to some of your contacts every few weeks to establish a regular pattern of communication.

 

Work on Your Website:

Before hiring someone, most managers check them out online. If it fits your job, having a website can be like a portfolio for you. You can show your work, recommendations, awards, and achievements all in one place. If a personal website seems like too much, you can add work examples to your LinkedIn profile instead. It's not as fancy, but it works. 

Networking:

Using social media to connect with people is a great way to stay in touch with those who can help you, boost others in your network, and make meaningful connections online. But remember, networking isn't just about collecting as many connections as possible. When you network on social media, make sure you also support others. Like and share their posts, congratulate them on their achievements, and offer help when you can. Networking is about giving as well as receiving, so don't just do it to find a job.

Join Groups:

Another way to grow your social media network is by joining groups. For instance, if you want to find a remote job, join Facebook or LinkedIn groups that are all about remote job opportunities, like FlexJobs' LinkedIn group.

Social Media Job Search Mistakes to Avoid:

There are social media mistakes you want to avoid making during your job search (and any time!).

• Your social media profiles shouldn't be exactly like your resume, but they shouldn't be totally different either. For instance, if your LinkedIn says you're really good at accounting, but your posts are all about design, it might make a recruiter wonder if you're being truthful. It's okay to use different words on different profiles, but make sure they match up and you're being honest.
• Don't send out too many requests for recommendations on LinkedIn, like those generic emails you might receive. While it's good to have a few recommendations that show how great you are at your job, you don't need tons of them to look good online. If recommendations come naturally, that's great! But don't ask for them from everyone you know.
• Social media is useful for finding a job, not just for sharing fun stuff like cat memes and vacation photos. Using it wisely could help you land your next job.

https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/4-ways-to-use-social-media-in-a-job-search/

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/jobsearchandnetworking/job-hunt-with-social-media/1/

By: Taras Ivanuts (career peer)

 

Effective Ways to Job Search

The job search process can be intimidating but it is important that you find a job that meets your needs and satisfaction. So here are some tips on effective ways to do a job search! 

 

Create a Plan 

You would find that it is extremely helpful to create a plan before doing your job search. Determine what industry you want to work in, what types of roles you’re looking for, what salary you want and the type of company you want to work at. It’s very important to think about these things before doing your job search because it can help you set goals like the numbers of jobs you apply for per week or how many hours you spend job searching. You should also keep track of who you applied for and when you applied to them in a document or spreadsheet. 

 

Make Your Job Search Diverse 

There are a lot of ways to find jobs, especially online. There are many job search sites that have every type of job, sites that focus on one industry and employers’ career pages. Not every company posts their job listings on every job search site, so by making your job search more diverse, you may find opportunities that you would have missed. Check all your job search accounts regularly to see if anything pops up that you may be interested in. 

 

Network 

Networking is a great way to land a job since it connects you to job seekers that may have jobs and positions that interest you. Whether you’re looking for a new opportunity in your current field or a different field, networking is a great boost in helping you find what you’re looking for. You can network at industry specific events, conferences, online platforms, job fairs or even through people you know. 

 

Reach Out to Potential Employers 

Research companies in the industry you want to work in to see which one suits your interests. Use the list you created and see what job openings they have, past and current employees’ experiences working with those companies, and their mission statements and their culture to see if it suits your desires. 

 

Use Social Media to Find Jobs 

There are many social media sites that you can use to help your job search. Most business would have some sort of social media presence, even if it's not on every platform. You can look at companies who you think are a good fit for you on those platforms and see if they have job postings or mention that they are hiring. You can also use the research done on these companies to update your resume and applications to suit what these companies are looking for. Social media is also a great tool to help you network and find different opportunities and people of interest. 

 

Prepare for Interviews 

You can prepare for potential interviews by practicing responses to certain questions. It's very to prepare a few stories about your past experiences and try to relate them to the job you’re applying for to show why you would be a good candidate for that company. 

 

Follow Up with a Thank You  

After an interview, you should follow up with a thank you email/note for their time to increase the chances of you getting that job. It shows that you are appreciative and grateful for the company’s time for interviewing you and taking the time to consider you. 

 

Be Patient 

There are many times where the job searching process would be very slow, especially after the interview and waiting to see if you landed the job or not. But you must remain patient because you can cause unnecessary stress for yourself by checking in on an employer too much. Instead of dwelling over an application or interview, you should practice your skills or even develop new ones that you can add to your resume. 

By Shannon Alexander (Career Peer)

 

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/job-searching-process 

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/best-ways-to-find-a-job 

 

 

Tips for Choosing the Best Major for You!

 

Are you unsure about what to choose as your major? 

It's normal to feel both excited and unsure. Your major is a big deal because it can affect your time in college and your job options later. But don't worry! We prepared for you seven tips which can help you to find your Major.

 

First, Try to Know Yourself: Reflect on your interests and strengths to identify what truly excites you and where your talents lie.

 

Second, Do Your Research: Explore various majors to understand their coursework, career opportunities, and potential salaries.

 

Third, try to Seek Guidance: Don't hesitate to consult academic advisors, professors, and career counselors for insights and advice. Schedule a career counseling appointment with an advisor in the KCC Career Center located in room C-102. 

 

Fourth, Consider Your Goals: Think about your future aspirations and choose a major that aligns with your desired career path and lifestyle.

 

Fifth is be Open-Minded: Be willing to explore different options and step out of your comfort zone to discover new possibilities.

 

Sixth is Gain Experience: Seek practical experience through internships, volunteering, or part-time jobs to gain insight into different fields.

 

The seventh and probably the most important Trust Your Instincts: Listen to your intuition and follow your passions when making your decision. Remember, it's okay to change your mind along the way.

 

In conclusion, choosing a major is important, but with some thinking and help, you can feel good about your decision. Take your time, check out different options, and trust yourself to pick what feels right for you.

By: Taras Ivanuts, career peer

Have You Ever Thought About a Career in Media Arts?

 

Have You Ever Thought About a Career in Media Arts?

The Associates degree in Media Arts that Kingsborough Community College offers is designed to help students be prepared for the world of media, broadcasting and its allied fields, or to even transfer to many four-year programs with various specializations such as studio operations, television, recording, radio and media performance. The Media Arts program at Kingsborough Community College provides graduates a level of distinction. This degree is well-suited for people with artistic interests and technological abilities. Media arts majors are also encouraged to become active at WKRB-FM or with KCC Television.

Some classes at Kingsborough Community College that an associates degree in media arts provides are:

• Digital Illustration

• Digital Publication

• Photography

Some careers in that a media arts degree can offer you are:

• Journalist

A journalist is someone who reports on news for print, online or broadcast media outlet. They do thorough research for their stories, establish industry contacts, interview sources to verify accuracy and write stories or scripts.

• Publicist

A publicist is someone who maintains or improves a company, brand or individual’s public image. They also arrange publicity events, pitch their clients to media outlets, track media coverage, develop strategic publicity plans and coordinate interviews as well as press conferences.

• Digital Illustrator 

Digital illustrators are individuals who create pictures for print and digital publications or products. They use design software to create material and translate their ideas into visually appealing illustrations. They also consult with clients and work with other digital staff members to discuss their designs.

• Design Director

Design directors are people who supervise design and branding projects. They look over the creative process and develop design ideas. Design directors also attend client meeting, select design elements, establish budgets and schedules projects.

By: Shannon, Career Peer

https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/academicdepartments/communication/AboutBTM.html

https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/career/career/documents/majors/media_arts.pdf 

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-can-you-do-with-media-arts-degree

Artificial Intelligence (AI) In the Workforce

 

What is AI

Artificial intelligence or better known as AI is a machine that has the ability to “perform all the cognitive functions we usually associate with human minds,” essentially AI is a machine system that can think the way that humans think. AI can be used for various tasks, such as problem solving, decision making, and various other tasks. Over the past couple of years AI has taken the world by storm, everyone is so fascinated and horrified about what this new machine system could mean for their lives.

AI in the workforce

AI has been a part of the workforce for years now, using things like google now or Microsoft's Cortana to help complete tasks or answer questions at work is how AI has been part of the workforce. Today 35 % of companies in the United States use AI to help them with work related tasks, and about 42% of companies are working on implementing AI into their companies. Companies use AI to help track the progress that their employees are making, some companies use AL to aid in their hiring process by tasking AI with reviewing resumes, sourcing data, and scheduling interviews. A notable example of this being used is in companies like Amazon and Uber, these companies have trained their machines to know what a suitable candidate for their company looks like and to schedule them for interviews.

 

Impacts of AI

Although the use of AI is seen as a step towards a more advanced future with great advantages to help make tasks easier in the workforce, it also has many disadvantages. AI is on its way to replacing 18% of the world's workforce in the upcoming years. According to the Guardian, jobs that may include coding, research, or customer service have a higher chance of being replaced by AI in the upcoming years because these jobs have a lot of repetition which is something that AI programs excel at.

On the other hand, AI has also been credited with helping employees lessen their workload. Having access to a system that can formulate answers and solve problems to tasks that would have taken hours can be a handy tool to have when you need it. AI can also help people to reduce the risk of errors in their work, ensuring that things are done correctly. Overall, AI is something that will be part of everyone's work life in the future, it is up to us to make the most out of it, and really use it to benefit the people the most.

By: Bassma Touta (Career Peer)