Archive for the ‘Social Media’ Category

Ensuring Your Privacy on Facebook

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

The new format for Facebook pages does not display your picture or name in association with “liked” pages. It would seem this would increase privacy to others seeing the types of pages you “like” but beware as your your picture and name are still viewable on feeds to blogs and websites, such as the one on The Career Centre blog.

Privacy is important to consider when using online social media. It’s a topic recently explored in our post, Using Social Media in Your Job Search. This article focuses on the pros and cons of incorporating social media into your job search and reminds users that the default settings in social media accounts usually make information public rather than private.

Since publishing that blog post, we discovered the unofficial facebook resource which lists the 10 Facebook Privacy Settings You Need To Know. Great information is contained in this list including Tip #4 which shows you how to remove your Facebook page from showing up in Google searches.

Do you have privacy concerns or tips to share?

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Using Social Media in Your Job Search

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

The pros of using online social media for your job search are many. It’s where society is headed, just watch this fun youtube clip about the power of social media. This revolution lends easily to mass communication and it is accessible from anywhere (that is, anywhere with an internet connection). Social media is open to anyone and it fosters community, which allows users to build relationships and network.

Online social media provides a real-time and transparent impression of you. Increasingly employers search Google, Facebook and LinkedIn for background information about potential employees. So before you tag pictures of yourself on Facebook or a blog, consider your current (or future) employer. How will those late-night images of you ‘enjoying the party’ be perceived? One quick tip to help protect yourself is to ensure you have established security and privacy settings on your social media accounts, as the defaults usually leave users exposed.

Another thing to consider is that electronic comments can live on and on. You never know who may be reading your comments on other blogs, Facebook wall posts or tweets. Think twice before you make a comment. Generally, it’s best to avoid negativity altogether. How would your future employer interpret a Facebook status update that says: “I hate getting up for work”? Communicating through social media is like living in a small town, everyone knows your business.

For more information on sign up for our workshop Using Social Media in Your Job Search. Check the workshop schedule for the next date and call the Career Centre at 250-248-3205 to register.

Posted in Social Media, Social Networking | 1 Comment »

Understanding Labour Market Information

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Recently two of our staff attended a workshop on Understanding Labour Market Information. Following is some key information that may be useful in your job search:

  • In today’s economy job seekers shouldn’t rely only on the classifieds and job postings sites. (Only 20% of jobs are actually posted, the other 80% are through networking). When the job market is tight, job seekers need to be more creative and resourceful in their job search. This can be accomplished through social networking either in person or online.
  • A great place to start would be connecting with family and friends. Let everyone know that you are looking for work and what type of work you are looking for. Another effective way of networking is to do an informational interview. This involves talking with people who are currently working in the field to gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry and to build a network of contacts in that field. Other ways to find labour market information are to read the Business section in the newspapers and business magazines. Newspapers and magazines are provided at the Career Centre in the Resource Room along with other valuable LMI.
  • Another way of connecting with others is online social networking. This is an online service, or site that focuses on building social networks or social relations among people who share interests and/or activities. Some great social network sites to sign up with and follow are Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, LinkedIn, Blogs, and RSS Feeds. The Career Centre has access to the most current information available to assist people in their job search. In fact, we teach a workshop on how to utilize Social Media as part of your job search. The next workshop will be held October 18th from 1-4pm.
  • The BC Labour Market Outlook 2009-2019 was recently published. It includes topics on what level of employment growth is expected, where the greatest growth is anticipated to be across the province, what occupations are expected have a strong outlook, what level of training will be needed for the job openings, and the impact of the aging workforce on employment.

    • Following are a list of popular labour market research websites which can be found on the Career Centre website:

  • Labour Market Gateway
  • BC Work Futures
  • Alliance of Sector Councils
  • BC Chamber of Commerce
  • A Guide to the BC Economy and Labour Market
  • Employment and Labour Market Services
  • Small Business BC
  • Service Canada – Build Your Occupation Profile
  • Education Planner

    • Posted in Job Search, Social Media, Social Networking | No Comments »

    Add Fun to Your Job Search

    Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
     
       

    Summer is here and often people relate summer to fun, play and vacations. Looking for work could be a tough task when the sun is shining and the beach is calling. So here are some ways to add some fun to your job search:

    1. Start a blog or website that focuses on your interests and passions. Have you felt a surge of energy when you are telling people about your favourite fishing hole or the great golf game you had yesterday? Does time fly when you are scrapbooking? Share these passions with the rest of the world and you never know where this may lead. Perhaps a golf course hires you to help in the pro shop or a local scrapbooking company hears about your blog and hires you to assist in a workshop. Start with www.blogger.com, an easy free blogging site. Sign up for our Using Social Media for Your Job Search workshop to find out more.

    2. Most jobs aren’t advertised and job seekers find out about jobs through their network. There are fun ways to expand your network, like signing up for that course you always wanted to take, even if it isn’t related to your job. Who knows who might be in the class? Join a recreation class; you get exercise and meet new people, who may be possible employers, or know someone who is hiring.

    3. Pamper yourself – get a new haircut, pedicure or a new outfit. You will feel and look good and present well in interviews and when dropping off resumes. The Vancouver Island University Spa Institute offers reduced rates for spa services at the Parksville/Qualicum campus.

    4. Get out in the community! Summer is packed full of festivals, markets and special events in the Oceanside area. Volunteer to help out at local events and meet people, gain more skills and enjoy the day. Oceanside Tourism Association has a calendar of local events.

    Posted in Employment, Social Media, Workshops | No Comments »

    New “Using Social Media in Your Job Search” Workshop

    Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

    Spring is in the air, time to clear the clutter and also entertain new possibilities. An exciting new tool to assist in your job search is social media. What is social media? It is a way to interact with people through the internet. Millions of people sign onto social media websites, such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, everyday.

    Take advantage of the potential to broaden your network and meet new people that may eventually provide you with job leads or employment opportunities. It doesn’t mean spending all day sitting in front of your computer and creating more clutter in your life; in fact, it could reduce the amount of time you spend on the computer. There are programs now, such as Google Reader, that alert you of any updates on job posting sites and other related websites. Instead of going to all those job posting websites, you can just visit one. Using social media for networking and job searching can be a more efficient and proactive use of your time, rather than aimlessly searching the internet for jobs. Market your skills and experience on Facebook, LinkedIn or even create a blog. Use Twitter to quickly create a presence on the internet and also connect with others. Learn more at our new workshop, “Using Social Media for Job Search” Monday March 15th from 1pm to 4pm. Call the Career Centre at 250-248-3205 to register and for more information.

    Posted in Job Search, Networking, Social Media, Workshops | No Comments »