Participating in social media has become essential to the job search. LinkedIn, considered the most professional social media site, and Facebook allow you to join various groups and engage in conversation with other members. Additionally, Twitter provides you with instant updates on industry news and jobs. Finance and accounting recruiters and employers constantly monitor these social media sites, making it important to extend your resume to the cyber world.
Your Information - An estimated 2 out of 10 candidates are sourced through LinkedIn each week, according to our finance and accounting recruiters surveyed. This means updating your profile with current experience is crucial. Recruiters want to find out everything they can about you to make sure you are the best candidate for the job.
Your connections - You've heard the saying, "it's all about who you know". That same phrase goes for social media. Recruiters may check your connections to other members to see who you are communicating with or learn more about a colleague who recommended your work. Finance and accounting recruiters also use social media to view the industry and professional groups you have joined, such as 'CPA' or 'Accounting Professionals', to gain additional insight into your professional interests.
Your discussions - Creating and updating your profile and contacts shouldn't be the end of your involvement on social media. Especially at the senior level, finance and accounting recruiters want to see how you are interacting on social media sites and what kind of expertise you may offer on discussion boards.
"Just having your name and where you worked doesn't give us [recruiters] a lot of perspective of who the candidate really is," says Leigh. "We like to see how candidates are leveraging social media and engaging in discussions to see what their thought process is."
Shannon Leigh is a Talent and Development Manager at Kforce Inc., a professional staffing and solutions firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in the skill areas of technology, finance & accounting and health and life sciences. Shannon focuses on providing Technology and Finance and Accounting resources for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations nationwide.
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