Social networking can be enigmatic when you look at it from the outside. There is no dearth of conversation about it these days, with just about every talking head out there weighing in. We’re no exception.
We got a host of questions following our post The Smart Way To Network Online. According to our most recent poll, just over 20% of job seekers have found social networking to be the most effective tool in their job search quivers. It’s time to spread some knowledge to the other 80% out there (especially the 12% that chose “Blackmail”, damn jokers).
To start, let’s talk about David Moye. After getting canned from an internet marketing job in September, David decided to make a jump into the world of PR. Of course, his lack of PR experience just added a second obstacle to the anemic job market.
David recorded five skits where he gave PR advice to his daughter’s puppets. Then he posted them on YouTube (this one is my favorite) and used Facebook and LinkedIn to send it around his social network. Eventually it made its way to CNBC correspondent Jane Wells, who wrote it up on her blog. Now David had evidence that 1) he was creative 2) he was adept at using social media as promotional tools. “If I can get a cheesy puppet show on CNBC, think of what I can do for your clients” he said.
The results? He got a job, of course. And he loves it. It didn’t take a heroic marketing effort, either. “Funny thing is, the site has had less than 500 hits, but every one of those people knew someone who could get me a job.” That’s the power of a targeted search.
David isn’t alone, by any means. Chris Kieff, after losing a great job prospect to a hiring freeze, tweeted about it to his 1000+ followers. “New job just fell through, but got a new client” (the hiring manager had asked him to do some freelance work for them in lieu of a full-time job). One of his 1000+ followers happened to be looking for someone with his qualifications, and now he works for them. As the Personal Branding Blog points out, ‘One Tweet, One Job’. Goldmine.
I have a dozen similar success stories sitting in my inbox right now. When used creatively, social networks are the real deal.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:13 am
as a follow up: David works for Alternative Strategies now, a full-service marketing communications firm located in San Diego.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:39 am
After recently being fired by Ashley Schaeffer BMW, the company I helped create, I need a job. I just don’t see how giving advice to finger puppets is going to help me… How would someone with more job experience in the “older” demographic use social networking if I’ve never used it before?
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Ashley:
Here’s how a puppet show helped me and can help you.
A) It proved I understood the basics of PR. The puppets are a metaphor for real people who, as we know, are all puppets of the media.
B) It proved I could do something totally unique on no budget.
C) Getting it on CNBC proved that I knew how to get media exposures on a major level even for something as cheesy as a puppet show.
D) It demonstrated my uniqueness. If you have 100 people trying to get one job, you have to do whatever is necessary to stick out.
As far as your other question. Before I created PR Puppet Theatre I combed Linked In and Facebook for as many people who were familiar with me as possible.
I sent the You Tube clip to them and explained my situation. When you give something entertaining to people and are honest about your situation, they are more than willing to help.
The fact that I was silly enough to use puppets to promote my career brought a smile to people and those people remembered that smile when they recommended my site and myself to others.
June 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
That’s amazing!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
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