Mediaboss Marketing

In today's competitive job market, social media has become the new jungle. Is a reluctance to sign up for a LinkedIn account keeping you from the job of your dreams?

Quite possibly, according to Dan Schawbel, personal branding expert and author of "tMe 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success."

Increasingly, companies looking for workers are investing more resources into social ads on Facebook, Google AdWords, Craigslist, Twitter and blogs, Schawbel says.

"Social media is replacing classified ads," he says.

Having an online presence is essential for today's job seekers, "because if you aren't visible, you don't exist to the world," Schawbel says.

"If I search for your name, or someone with expertise like yours, and you don't come up, you will lose an opportunity each time that occurs. If two candidates have the same background, but one has a popular blog, the blogger will be hired," he says.

Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing in Boston -- which helps job seekers with "social media and job search" -- agrees that companies are turning away from job boards and toward social media when hiring.

In some cases, companies post jobs exclusively on social networking websites, especially when targeting candidates who are "social media savvy," says Reynolds, who is also a sales and marketing consultant, blogger and author.

Schawbel says some job seekers, such as those in the service industry, still may have luck pounding the pavement and scrutinizing the Sunday classifieds.

Continue reading here:
Can Social Media Rescue Your Career?