Four keys to using social media to get a job in the law
Referencing the recent survey which found 94% of recruiters relying on social media when hiring, ReadWrite’s Selena Larson (@SelenaLarson), writes that your online presence is now just as important as your resume.
Here are four keys to the effective use of social media when it comes getting a job that I pulled from Larson’s post. 1) Decide who you are, 2) Build relationships, 3) Be authentic, and 4) Develop and demonstrate expertise. You may find they work pretty well in the legal profession.
Decide Who You Are
What do you really want to do? Where does your passion lie? Where do you have expertise? Where do you intend to gather expertise or further expertise?
This needs to come across clearly in your profile on the profile page of your blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, and Facebook about page. Employers need to see where you’re headed in the insight you offer, what you share, and who you’re engaging with.
Build Meaningful, Lasting Relationships
Be strategic in who you follow and network with. Are they potential mentors? Thought leaders in the area you’d like to work in? Are they close enough to ask them to meet for coffee?
The goal of networking is not to try to build relationships with everyone, as LexBlog’s President, Kevin McKeown (@kevinmckeown) reminds me. The key is to take the time to build and nurture meaningful relationships.
Engage people via blogging by referencing and linking to others. Or commenting on their blogs. Participate in discussions on LinkedIn and comment on what others are sharing in their LinkedIn updates. Create niche targeted Twitter lists to retweet and reply to others.
On Facebook, befriend the professionals you know well. Leaders in the law, fellow law grads, law professors, professionals and business people you went to undergrad with. Start adding the people you are beginning to get to know. Mix in some personal and professional engagement.
Be Authentic
Express yourself online, demonstrating your personality, passion, and sense of humor. Sadly, there are very few people in the law who do so.
Most legal professionals are afraid to be themselves online. Those looking for a job are afraid that letting their hair down will cost them job opportunities.
It’s just the opposite. Employers are looking for people they’d enjoy working with and who are capable of building relationships with others. That takes being genuine.
Develop And Demonstrate Expertise
Participate in discussions, maintain a blog, and providing insight and commentary on the topics you have experience in.
For law grads, share what you are finding and learning. Give yourself some credit. You know a thing or two from seven years of school. Most of you have clerked or done part time work doing research and writing memorandums. You have presented research findings before.
Listen as much as you participate, Larson says. “There is no better way to find out how to break in to a business than learning from professional peers.”
My guess is that less than 3% of those looking for a job in the law are using social to realize their goal. Look at this as a tremendous opportunity.