It’s amazing to me how many people think that as long as they have created a great resume and cover letter all they have to do to find a job is send those to prospective employers or answer ads in papers and online. The reality is that hunting for a job is a full-time occupation in and of itself. The sooner you start treating it like one the sooner you will have a new job. This means that you get up early every day and begin work. You need to scan newspapers, online ads and wherever you have been looking for jobs. Apply immediately for anything new. Then start networking. Find common connections for the employers you are targeting through social media sites such as LinkedIn. You also want to go to any in-person meetings, open houses, job fairs etc. that are taking place that day. To be hired, you need to be known. Attend seminars, talks and presentations in your field. Afterwards, introduce yourself to absolutely everyone you can. This is a great way to meet employers that you might not have thought of previously. Don’t hand out your great resume at these meetings but have a business card available that includes your social media links as well as contact information. Exchange the information and be sure to follow-up online. The inclination to mail resumes and sit back and wait to be offered an interview is great; resist it and you will find yourself hired for a great new job even sooner than you thought possible. You may also make some great new friends in the process.
Social media sites are an effective way to brand and market your work. Pinterest is one such site where you can create boards onto which you can pin examples of your work. It is especially effective for those with visual careers such as filmmaking, fashion, illustration, photography, or graphic or product design. A group of boards can function as an online portfolio where you can send potential employers or customers to view your work. This free, online portfolio can be paired with a creative arts industry resume to give an employer a complete view of your work and career. It is easy to get started on Pinterest. You can have a friend send you an invitation to join Pinterest, or go to pinterest.com and click on “Get Invitation” at the top of the page. The Pinterest invitation allows you to create an account by using either your Facebook or Twitter accounts. You then choose a user name and fill out and save a profile. Create your boards from your Pinterest home page by clicking on “Add” at the top of the page and then on “Create a Board.” Name the board, choose a category, provide a brief description for it and then click “Save.” You can then upload your work to your Pinterest boards. You can add and delete pictures at any time, including moving pictures from one board to another. Add captions or pin pictures with no captions. Once you have your career portfolio set up on your Pinterest boards to your satisfaction, you can send your Pinterest URL to potential employers and clients. For example, if the name you chose for your Pinterest account is cameraman, your Pinterest URL would be pinterest.com/cameraman. Be sure to list your Pinterest URL on your resume under the Online Career Portfolio section and also mention it in your cover letter.
