01 3 / 2009
Social Media Saves Lives
I’ve recently experienced first hand the power of social media in my personal life. As a professional in the industry, I’m familiar with its relevance and significance for people and companies everywhere, everyday. I just never thought it would be the most crucial and pivotal instrument for my career path right now.
I’m just another victim of today’s economy and was laid off from my employer Friday February the 13th. A dozen others or so from my previous company were given the ax the same time as well. I’ve been laid off before a couple of years ago but it was even different back then. The only sources for my job search were Craigslist, Monster, Careerbuilder and recruiters. Twitter didn’t exist and LinkedIn was unknown to most of society. Here and now, those two social networks are the channels that have saved my ass.
The first thing I did when I was let go was to DM all my followers on Twitter in search of job opportunities. I was pleasantly surprised at how many responded back with condolences and leads. After all, 60% of those I follow I only know by pseudo-name and of whom I’ve never met in person. I felt overwhelmed that these strangers were willing to lend a hand; in the offline world it would have been different.
LinkedIn is truly a sophisticated and professional network. In contrast to Twitter, I received several emails and opportunities from companies and executives who were looking for me. They say LinkedIn is the current leading tool for recruiters to find employees, and I feel grateful that there are colleagues and companies out there reaching out to me.
I’m very thankful of the people I’m associated with both virtually and physically who appreciate the presence and power of social media. There’s no doubt that this growing digital trend is essential to career development and networking for professionals in today’s modern society. There’s plenty of opportunities and despite the economic downturn, there’s no other industry I’d rather be a part in. I hope to land a big gig soon.
