I’ve been reading about how social media, computers and the Internet are changing the process about searching for a job. Keywords have become increasingly important, both in resumes and in job descriptions. Employers are using search terms to find candidates online, and they are using keywords to electronically filter the hundreds (or thousands) of resumes they are receiving.
I even heard recently of applicants for social media and other marketing positions being told not to send a resume. They just send their name, and the employer checks them out online, presumably looking for Twitter accounts and blogging activity.
Sound intimidating? Sure it does. Having a good resume isn’t enough anymore. You’ve got to pay attention to all these other areas.
But the good news is that one fact still remains. Networking will still get you in the door. It won’t land you a job if you’re not qualified, but knowing the right people at your target companies will get you past the automatic filtering.
By all means pay attention to the technological changes in a job search, but do not ignore the human element. Do your research. Find your target companies. And then use your network to get personal introductions.
It’ll be a long time before those strategies go out of date.
