Introduction to Social MediaNJRA/NERA Spring 2012 Training Meeting

Presented by Michele Martin

@michelemmartin

I’m Michele

To join, send email to discoverabilitynj@gmail.com

Is this how you feel about social media?

Objectives• Demystify social media!Demystify social media!• Discuss some statisticsDiscuss some statistics• Review some basic social media toolsReview some basic social media tools

What IS Social Media?

Web 1.0•One way

communication

• Static home pages

•Organizational control

•Minimal multimedia

• Site as destination

• “Push”

Web 2.0•Conversation

•Dynamic content

•User contributions

•Multimedia-rich

•Outposts on the web

• “Pull”

Key Features•Require minimal technical skills—no programming

•Facilitate connections, sharing, collaboration—2-way communication!

• Privacy and control settings

•Different platforms support different online goals/tasks

• Support/facilitate multimedia sharing

•Varying levels of accessibility

•FREE or very low-cost

By The Numbers

PwD & the Internet

• 54% go online, compared to 81% of general population

• 41% have broadband, compared to 69% of general population

• Somewhat related to age, socio-economic class and type of disability

• More likely to search for health information, government programs and play games

• Less likely to use Internet for job search

• Barriers are technical and educational—lack of knowledgeSource: Pew Internet and American Life

PwD and the Internet

• 40% say they would NEVER go online, compared to 24% of non-disabled.

• Say they don’t need it and are afraid of online porn, credit card theft and fraud

• Less likely to have friends/family online

• More likely to say that Internet is “confusing” and hard to use (21% vs. 9%)

Source: Pew Internet and American Life

Employers80% of employers use LinkedIn as primary tool to find employees45% of employers use social networks to pre-screen candidates

86% of employers said positive online identity would positively impact hiring decision.

70% of employers have rejected a candidate due to “digital dirt”

Recruitment

Let’s talk Tools. . .

Social Networks• Platform for connecting to people who

share interests, etc.

•Users can create profiles, communicate with other members, share links, info & media

•Users can create “sub-groups”

•Each network has a unique “personality” and features

Blogs•Easy publishing

platform

• “Posts” in reverse chronological order for sharing more timely information

•Commenting to create community

•Easily incorporate/share multimedia

Twitter• 140 character “tweets”

• “Followers” & “Following”

•Great for sharing links/tips and making connections

•#Hashtags for events, topics

•Can access via web, mobile, IM.

Multimedia Sharing• Platform for

sharing/finding multimedia

•Can create community around media

•Can access via web, on smart phones.

•Embed/linking/download features

Wikis•Easy-to-use

publishing platform

•More flexible than a blog

•Good for collaborative projects

•Can embed media, documents

Video Calling•Video calls from computer to

computer

•Use for practice interviews, case management appointments.

•Employers increasingly using for screening interviews.

•G+ can do “Hangouts” with up to 10 people. . . For FREE!

Google Documents•Online document creation &

sharing

•Can easily create forms, gather data—can even use to create quizzes!

•Upload/download—compatible with Word, Excel, PPT

•Can create PDF files

Google Alerts

Google Calendar•Online calendar

•Can create and share multiple calendars

• Send reminders to email, cell phone

•Get agenda emailed to you each morning

• Schedule office hours

•Embed calendars in blogs & wikis

For Job Search

• Professional social network

• Way to research businesses and individuals

• Professional “branding” opportunity

Basics

Connections

InMaps

Building Your Network•Join and participate in Groups—great way to

get to people for connections!•Be a good “neighbor”--update your status, share articles, make referrals, write recommendations, give advice, connect people to each other. •Ask for introductions from your 1st level contacts to get to 2nd and 3rd level connections. •For 3rd level connections, join groups they belong to and interact via the group

Newsfeed and Updates

Finding Job Openings

“Jobs You May Be Interested In”

Keyword Search in “Jobs”

Company Search

Company Profiles

Skills Search

LinkedIn Groups

LinkedIn Companion

LinkedIn Email Signature

Using LinkedI

n

http://www.twitjobsearch.com/

Ways to Use Twitter• Share professional resources with followers• Provide tips, advice, etc. • Connect people• RT and DM people• Participate in #chats

41% --candidate posted info about drugs/alcohol use.

40%--candidate posted inappropriate photos 29%--candidate had poor communication28%--candidate bad-mouthed previous employer27%--candidate lied about qualifications21%--candidate linked to criminal behavior

. . . Is for screening out applicants

•Facebook default settings are ALWAYS the most open they can be. You have to CHOOSE privacy.

•Facebook is always changing settings—have to stay on top of how privacy is changing.

Facebook Privacy

Positive Strategies•Use status updates to connect, let people know

about job search. •Revise profile to emphasize professional/

educational accomplishments.

•Limit photos

•Choose friends wisely

•Join and get active in groups and on Fan Pages that are connected to your profession and/or to companies that interest you

A few more ideas. . .

Use Google Alerts to track job leads, companies, etc.

• Names of companies • Names of key people in organization• Industries• Key skills/certifications (remember LinkedIn

Skill Search?) • Industry trends

Keywords for Your Alerts

Use Google Documents to edit and publish an online resume

FORMS

Job Search Calendar

Can add tasks to shared calendars

Wiki for Online Portfolio

What will YOU do with social media?

Find more info at:

www.discoverabilitynj.orgmichelemmartin.wikispaces.com