As tweeters go Hal Thomas is definitely no twit.
At a time when more than 15 million people are unemployed across America and job hunters are often advised to “send out hundreds” of resumes just to boost their chances of getting an interview, the content manager from Savannah, GA who bills himself a “social media Jedi”, bagged a job by posting a single tweet.
Thomas tells how he landed the job in a post on Band Aid. Back in September a company called BFG communications began a campaign to hire an assistant manager by tweeting that there was an open position.
BFG was looking for a person known to his of her friends as a “social media addict” and who “thinks 140 characters at a time.”
The instructions to applicants were:
Introduce yourself to us, be social and most importantly be creative in your response. We’re not looking for a generic cover letter. Show us what you can do. Go to Twitter, tweet your application to @BFGCom. Feel free to include links to your blog, a video, etc.
BFG didn’t want a resume or cover letter, just a tweet.
Thomas responded by sending: @BFGCom @SloanKelley It seems that BFG’s future could be looking bright! http://twitpic.com/ggkrf More info at http://bit.l6/2aziWg
The link Thomas sent led readers of his tweet to a mock up of Wired Magazine featuring Thomas on the cover page plus some blurbs about BFG.
The not so technically savvy might be tempted to ask: “if this is where job hunting is leading, where does this leave us?”
Eventually you will have to learn to tweet or do whatever form of social networking becomes vogue – if social media touches the career of your choice. There are tons of tips on how to use social media to land a job. Some even focus on using Twitter.
Will you land that dream job of yours if you send out an enticing tweet with a killer link today? Maybe and maybe not.
Thomas’ tweet might have been a stroke of genius. But remember tweeting the application was a main requirement. The job up for grabs required someone who was into social media. For many jobs in the tech sector, social media knowledge might not be needed and not all employers will take the recruiting route chosen by BFG.
Another thing to remember is that, Thomas’ strategy is not that far removed from what tens of thousands of jobseekers are doing or hope to do when they send out their resumes.
Essentially, what Thomas did was send BFG material that encapsulates his assets as they relate to the job that the company was looking to fill. It so happened that BFG asked that applicants use social media to do this. So Thomas used to medium to show BFG what he could do with it.
Resume writers are endlessly told by career coaches to “target” their resume to the job they are applying for. Coaches also tell us to “highlight” our most “relevant” accomplishments, skills, education or experience.
Building a personal brand that sets you apart from the rest of the crowd is crucial whether you’re applying for a job the traditional way of via social net. Another vital component that shouldn’t be left out is “networking”.
Perhaps social media has altered the job-hunting field, but were all still playing for the same prize – gainful employment or a satisfying career. The tools we use might have changed but we’re still essentially playing by the same old rules.
