When it comes to looking for work, particularly for young job-seekers, the Internet can provide perks or pitfalls.
With a growing number of people constantly expanding their online presence, downtown Toronto-based Youth Employment Services (YES) is looking to help young job hunters navigate the web successfully through a program designed to teach the do's and don'ts of netiquette.The YES program will teach job seekers to use the 'net effectively while avoiding some of the perils of the online world."In the summer, especially, it can be highly competitive looking for work," said YES Spokesperson Sinead McCarthy. "It's important to use normal job-searching methods, but you can't ignore using social media as a way to find a job."Online and video resumes (used along with, rather than in place of, traditional resumes) can also boost a job-seeker's odds, as it allows them unprecedented access to prospective employers and shows both initiative and ingenuity.Networking can also get a young job-seeker's name out there."We want young people, when looking for a job with a specific employer, to become active on the platforms that company uses," McCarthy said. "Are they on Twitter? On Facebook? Get on those sites and get into the conversation."While smart youth can get a leg up through effective use of social media, carelessness can torpedo an otherwise strong candidate for a job. As job-seekers are becoming more media-savvy, so too are those looking to hire."Employers are Googling (candidates) and then they're making a judgment call," McCarthy said, noting that everything from Facebook profiles to comments left on message boards could be publicly visible."We want to make sure youth are very aware of what they're saying online," McCarthy said. "Not making your Facebook page private and having compromising photographs on there, making compromising comments about their current or past job, making inflammatory comments, these are all things people will notice."New job-finding apps can also notify those looking for work the minute a job is posted online, allowing tech-savvy youth a chance to respond quickly and show their interest.While a strong and positive online presence can be a boon when seeking work, McCarthy noted it should not replace conventional methods. Employers still value face-to-face meetings."This is just about netiquette and putting your best face forward at all times," McCarthy said.For more information about the new YES social media program, call 416-504-5516 or visit www.yes.on.ca