Human Resources: Social Networking Grows in Importance as Job Search Tool

BOSTON, MA-September 22, 2009- Nonprofits increasingly are incorporating social media channels into their marketing, fundraising, advocacy, and recruiting efforts. For this reason, many professionals seeking nonprofit job opportunities are incorporating these tools into their job search efforts, but what is the best way to use these emerging tools?

To better understand this issue, Bridgestar, an initiative of the Bridgespan Group, interviewed Beth Kanter, author of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media (http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/ <http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/> ), which she has been publishing since 2003 for its September newsletter (http://www.bridgestar.org/Libraries/Newsletters/Leveraging_Social_Media_in_a_Nonprofit_Job_Search.sflb.ashx <http://www.bridgestar.org/Libraries/Newsletters/Leveraging_Social_Media_in_a_Nonprofit_Job_Search.sflb.ashx> ).

According to Kanter, while online social networking will not replace face-to-face networking, it can enhance the search and “put old-fashioned networking on steroids.” In sharing her perspective, Kanter highlighted the following points which appear in full in the Bridgestar article “Leveraging Social Media in Your Nonprofit Job Search: A Q&A with Beth Kanter, Author of Beth’s Blog: How Nonprofits Can Use Social Media <http://www.bridgestar.org/Library/LeveragingSocialMedia.aspx> ” (http://www.bridgestar.org/Library/LeveragingSocialMedia.aspx <http://www.bridgestar.org/Library/LeveragingSocialMedia.aspx> ) about what the appropriate role social networking is and should be playing in a professional’s search for a nonprofit management position.

· Social networking not only helps you prepare better for interviews but also it can be used to connect you to people you want to meet, people associated with members of your online social network (e.g. LinkedIn.com).

· Even if someone has not had prior experience using social networks, there are good social network websites offering easy to read resources that give good practical advice on how to be strategic. (A list of these resources can be found in the supplementary article “Social Networking Resources for Nonprofit Job Seekers http://www.bridgestar.org/Library/SocialNetworkingResources.aspx)

· LinkedIn.com is one of the most effective online tools since it gives you an online resume and you can choose to make it public. You should also make sure your profile demonstrates clearly your expertise such as presentations, publications, and professional affiliations.

· Key social networking sites for the nonprofit sector include: Idealist.org, Change.org, VolunteerMatch.org, and AllforGood.org.

· Twitter can be used as well for research and seeing if there are mutual connections and for its powerful search tools.

· Blogs can be used for research and/or as a way of getting attention from prospective employers.

· The best strategy is to find the channels that are going to have the greatest density of people you want to reach. Sometimes that requires doing a little bit of setting up and seeing who’s there and deciding if that channel is worth your time.

· Last, while social networking will not replace face-to-face networking, in the next 10 years it certainly is another important weapon in the arsenal.

About Bridgestar
Bridgestar <http://www.bridgestar.org/> , an initiative of the Bridgespan Group <http://www.bridgespan.org/> , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, provides a nonprofit management job board, content, and tools designed to help organizations build strong leadership teams and individuals pursue career paths as nonprofit leaders. Bridgestar’s goal is to attract, connect, and support senior talent, leading to greater organizational effectiveness and social impact.

Bridgestar is excited to announce the launch of a new Bridgestar.org which includes improved job search functionality, enhanced email job alerts, improved job-posting capabilities and more.

Each month, Bridgestar’s newsletter, “Leadership Matters,” focuses on nonprofit leadership career- or recruiting-related themes. For a complimentary subscription please visit http://www.bridgestar.org/Newsletters.aspx <http://www.bridgestar.org/Newsletters.aspx> .

“Leadership Matters” is part of a robust portfolio of offerings that includes a job board that lists nonprofit management and leadership positions, including board of director positions, across a range of service areas including the environment, human services, elder services, human rights, and youth services.

For further information, please contact: Liz London, Director of Media and Conferences at liz.london[at]bridgespan.org <#liz.london[at]bridgespan.org> or at 646-562-8906.