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"Joshua Waldman is the author of the\u00A0Jobjuice Social Media Job Search App, which is now available for download for iPad and iPhone in the App Store. Connect with Joshua and Jobjuice on\u00A0Twitter\u00A0and\u00A0Facebook.\nIt's no secret that employers are incorporating social media into their recruiting plans to find top talent. For job seekers looking to stay current, you know the opportunities exist. But, knowing\u00A0how\u00A0to properly reach out may be the barrier between you and your dream job.\nJob candidates commonly struggle when it comes to effectively leveraging social media platforms to connect with employers. Out of fear of being a nuisance and making an awful first impression, many refrain from getting themselves a step ahead in the job search.\nDeciding what is appropriate in the eyes of recruiters and hiring managers online can be a daunting process to sort through. Below, we outline two very important elements of reaching out to employers on social media properly.\nFind People for Informational Interviews\nInformational interviews are your way of gaining a more in-depth look at a potential employer by gathering first-hand knowledge from past or current employees; a casual, coffee-shop conversation can yield a lot of insights. Social media gives you the opportunity to add two-way communication to the research you have already conducted regarding the company. You can network with alumni, new hires and former employees with the following:\n\nLinkedIn: LinkedIn is the professional online network most used by employers. First, make sure you have at least 150 connections prior to utilizing it as an asset to your job search. When you visit your desired company\u2019s page, review \u201CYour College Alumni.\u201D These individuals are great candidates for informational interviews.\nTwitter: Twitter is a level playing field that enables you to reach out to company employees with a likely chance of getting a response. Since many employees mention their employers in their bios, take advantage of Twitter directories such as Twellow\u00A0to help you find profiles mentioning your desired company. You can also @reply to the company\u2019s personal Twitter account inquiring about an informational interview source.\nFacebook: There are many Facebook applications, such as BranchOut, intended to ease the process of finding connections to companies within in your own network. These applications will help you effectively incorporate the largest social network in your job search.\n\nHow to Ask for Their Time\n\n\n\n\nThe catch with reaching out to employers online is that they are not obligated to respond to your requests. Therefore, it is your responsibility to make their contribution as simple as possible. Here is how:\n\nHave a plan:\u00A0Before ever sending your LinkedIn inMail, direct message or Facebook message to their inbox, be sure you have put some thought behind it.\nGet to the point:\u00A0Don\u2019t throw your resume and your life story on them from the get-go. Be clear of what you want from the start and leave all the fluff for later.\nExpress your commonalities:\u00A0Having something in common with the person sparks their interest. If you have a shared interest, their ears may open.\nBe specific, avoid generalities:\u00A0There is a difference between wanting just any job and wanting to work for that specific company. Let the employer know why you are pursuing them.\n\nSocial media places our future employers within arm\u2019s length. Although it simplifies the process for us, remember to remain professional and polite when reaching out to employers online.\u00A0Believe me, your online network works. You just have to use it properly.\nHave you utilized social media in your job search? Have you found success in reaching out to potential employers via social media? Share with us below!\nSocial Media Job Listings\nEvery week we post a list of\u00A0social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we've selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!\n\nCommunity Manager\u00A0at WeWork in New York\nProduct Manager at Yelp in San Francisco\nSenior Director, Finance\u00A0at NASCAR in Charlotte, NC\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2012/08/05/potential-employers-social/>