Female1: I just started using them and I had my son set me up on Facebook and then Linkedin, I am just starting to do it myself. I am recently unemployed so I did that for networking.
Female2: I see a lot of my friends starting to use it and I think I should probably get with it and get started on it pretty soon.
Sumi Das: Not just for throwing virtual sheep and chatting about American Idol, the number of baby boomers hopping on the social media wagon has reached a record high, jumping 59% since last year. And if you are looking for a job in a dicey economy, Brian Johnson says “It is crucial to follow the action.”
Brian Johnson: People who are hiring are definitely on social networks and that is the big difference. You want to be around the people who are hiring.
Sumi Das: Johnson runs Internet Guide Services and helps people navigate the often confusing waters of the web.
Brian Johnson: What I do is I hold their hand and walk them in to this social networking space and show them that their friends are already there.
Sumi Das: Today, he is meeting with Rene Shimada Siegel, her business connects hi-tech firms with PR and marketing consultants. With Johnson’s guidance, Siegel is managing her profiles on Linkedin, Facebook and Twitter more effectively.
Brian Johnson: You can shoot it on Twitter and you can have Facebook right there. So, this is another thing that I like, I want to share it.
Rene Siegel: Excellent.
Sumi Das: The first thing to keep in my mind, it is not what you know, it is who you know. Boomers know networking is important, what they may not realize is whether they are in a market for a job or not. It is essential they own their contacts.
Brian Johnson: A good friend of mine worked at a large international finance company for nine years. She’d accumulated thousands of business contacts. When she was laid off, it did not occur to her that that was the most important part of her job that she needed to carry forward into her job search.
Sumi Das: To avoid rebuilding your network from scratch, Johnson recommends setting up your work and personal address books to sync automatically. Next, sign up. There are lots of sites to choose from that start with Linkedin, Plaxo, Friendfeed and Facebook. Then add information to your profiles that showcases your talent and experience.
Brian Johnson: You need to show how you can help other people make money in their business. What is important is help people understand what you can do to help them out right now so it is not about what you have done, it is about what you can do.
Sumi Das: Now, for some do’s and don’ts. Do not use your profile as a soap box for political and religious views. Do update your status daily to remain front and center with your contacts but avoid frivolous posts.
Brian Johnson: Today, I had tacos for lunch. That could be a status update or you could say what a terrific article in the Harvard business review last night, here is a link to the story. Which type of status update is your best fit for?
Sumi Das: Once your profile is up, monitor it regularly.
Brian Johnson: Any sort of makeover starts and finishes with a look in the mirror. So, the first thing you need to do is take a look at what you look like online.
Sumi Das: Try Googgling yourself, make sure you are easy to find. How would you come across to a complete stranger? One way to develop a positive online reputation is through references.
Brian Johnson: I advise my clients to write a recommendation for someone every week and you are increasing the likelihood many times that someone is going to return the favor. I think this as paying it forward.
Sumi Das: But can sites like Linkedin really help you get ahead? Rene Siegel has no doubt.
Rene Siegel: That’s been a really great way just to stay in front of our clients, maybe ask them a quick question.
Sumi Das: Boomers may resist initially but Johnson is certain the social networking theme can help them put their best professional foot forward online.
Rene Siegel: I really did not want to share my contacts with everyone else out there but Brian helped me to understand that there really is a true business benefit for staying visible and managing our contacts correctly.
Sumi Das: For MoneyWatch.com, I am Sumi Das.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services