So you want a new job. Where to start? Rummage around to find that old copy of your resume and print it out? Hit the typical job hunting sites to sift through the clutter? Neither option is necessary any longer thanks to social media. The social media arena is increasingly giving individuals the opportunity to create and maintain a personal brand on-line, which ultimately aids in the job hunting process.

Additionally, with the emergence in popularity of social media forums, new tools and applications are continually popping up to help ensure that your job hunt is seamless and effective in the on-line world. Gone are the days of paper resumes, going door to door, and being a mere blip in the stack of resumes and cover letters.

Embarking on your social media job hunting adventure should start well in advance of actually applying for a job. Consider carefully how you would like to be perceived by potential employers and your personal network. Determine a personal brand and vision for yourself which will guide all of your actions on-line. To communicate your personal brand, use the following resources.

Blogs: Start a blog that will help to position you as knowledgeable or a thought leader in your industry. Your blog should contain a mixture of interesting insights, information, links, and experiences. Additionally, find blogs from others in your industry and begin to read and comment on them regularly. Become a participant and commentator to get the word out about yourself.

LinkedIn: Create a complete LinkedIn profile and participate in Groups and the Answers section where it makes sense for your industry. Make sure to take the time to add all of the people in your business and personal network. Import your e-mail contact lists and go through the large stack of business cards you’ve amassed. Then watch your network grow!

Twitter: Join Twitter, and follow or connect with people in your industry or city. Twitter provides a unique platform to participate, stay up to date, and offer value to those following you. Feel free to be upfront about your job search (provided it won’t get you into trouble). Share articles, photos, and information which are relevant to your industry or might appeal to the organizations you are trying to reach.

Recruiters: Find job recruiters on-line (there are plenty on Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, et cetera). In fact, entire blogs as well as social media accounts are dedicated to recruiters working in niche or general fields. Connect with recruiters to see if they have any positions available and encourage them to keep you informed. Connecting with them on-line ensures that you will remain top of mind when that perfect position become available.

These are several key thoughts or guidelines to keep in mind when conducting job searches using social media:

Ӣ Do your research: Approach a company only after you have a good understanding about their market position, work, and team.

”¢ Make a connection: Don’t be afraid to reach out to people. Use social media sites to search for people (preferably someone with hiring authority or influence) who work at the companies you are interested in.

Ӣ Give more than you receive: Social media is about community and, with that in mind, remember to offer your network plenty of thoughts, information, or scoops to pique their interest and ensure a lasting connection.

”¢ Protect your personal brand: Be careful to only ever post or type anything that you wouldn’t mind your current or future employers reading or viewing. Once it is on-line, it is accessible forever.

Jenn Lowther is the director of social media marketing at Vancouver-based 6S Marketing. Check Jenn out on Twitter at twitter.com/jennmae.