“SHIFT_. A single word that captures the passion and commitment that has revived and drives our future. Everything we touch, we shift. And everything we shift, we try to make better and uniquely Nissan.

SHIFT_ thinking changes the way we look at things, the way we do things and the way we react to life around us.  It’s no longer about just doing, but doing for a purpose, doing effectively. It is change, but change driven for better, faster, higher performance. We are not afraid to take the lead at times or to stretch the boundaries in wider, better directions. When you change the way you look at reality, you will find that amazing things can happen.”

Why am I talking about an automotive company?  Look a little closer.  You see, shift happens.  Things change.  Life moves on.  What Nissan has discovered is that you’ve got to keep moving toward your goals, whatever they may be.  Curveballs will be thrown at you!  To help you catch some of those wild pitches (or better, yet – help you knock them out of the park,) here are a few examples of how my mindset has shifted regarding some of the social tools I use (yes, this still relates to your career):

Twitter:

• Original mindset: This weird, new tool has no value. Why would anyone care what I think? And who really wants to know what I had for lunch?

• Current mindset: This awesome tool keeps me connected to the world in real-time.  News, humor, relevant articles – you name it, Twitter has it!  It’s all about how you use the tools, not the tool itself.  Ever used a sugar packet to level a wobbly table?  It’s up to YOU to find the value!

LinkedIn:

• Original mindset: It’s the professional space online. I should be using it for business, connecting only to people I know.  Oh, and I might as well copy what’s on my résumé into my profile.  It’s the same thing, right?

• Current mindset: LinkedIn is valuable, but again, it’s all about how you use it.  I use the platform to connect with people (and continue to connect with them after the initial invitation) in my network, along with people I’ve never met.  WHAT?  Connect with someone you DON’T know on LinkedIn?  There’s value in doing this.  Expand your network.  We’re all connected by fewer links than you think!  LinkedIn is also great for group participation and to establish credibility.  Know the answer to someone’s question?  Build your reputation!  By the way, I still don’t link all my tweets to LinkedIn.  For me, it’s distracting.  Sure, I cross-post sometimes, but EVERYTHING isn’t worthy of LinkedIn.  Know your platform and purpose.

Facebook:

• Original mindset:  Facebook isn’t for me.  Why?  Actually, Facebook wasn’t available to me when it first launched (I’m not THAT old) and I didn’t have an .edu email address, which was required for users at that time.  When the platform opened up its membership, I joined just see what everyone was talking about, connecting with long-lost friends and family members.  I posted pictures…some weren’t too flattering.  After all, who would use Facebook as a job seeking tool?

• Current mindset:  Facebook is the future.  Most of us already know this.  Why do I say that it’s the future?  Apps like BranchOut and BeKnown are bringing a new side to Facebook that allows job seekers to build their professional profile, without it being linked to their general profile (you can still have a locked-down Facebook page, but the apps open the professional information up for outside viewers, like recruiters.)  Think of this:  Facebook has nearly 800 million active users.  It’s where people are spending their time – day and night.  I check my social profiles and email every morning before getting out of bed.  That’s a powerful sense of connectedness!  We all like to share things on Facebook.  What this does is give others a sense of our personality and culture fit.  It’s who we are at our core.  Think about that before you question recruiters using it as a research tool.  You have the power to work this in YOUR favor!  YOU control what YOU post (and who sees it, who tags you in photos, etc.)

Pinterest:

• Original mindset: What is this and why are people posting pictures of food or their newest craft project on Facebook?  That feature can be turned off, by the way.  Hint, hint.  Why would I want to even entertain another social sharing tool?

• Current mindset:  I joined.  To my surprise, it’s quite useful!  I use Pinterest for moments when I need some inspiration or motivation.  I use Pinterest to help spark creativity as well.  The next time you hit a wall trying to squeeze creativity out of your fried little brain, check out the site.  You’ll be surprised at how refreshed and inspired you are when you get back to work on the task at hand, including your job search. NOTE: Pinterest, like many other social sites, CAN BE A TIME SUCK!!  Again, you make the rules.  It’s up to you regarding how you use the tool.  PS. If you have any delicious recipes, I’m happy to serve as your taste-tester.  🙂

One platform I’m missing is Google+.  I’m still in the infant stages of discovery with this tool.  The original mindset is this: What makes it so special, so different than anything else out there?  That’s the million dollar question that a lot of people are asking.

You tell me – what do you think about Google+ or any of the other sites covered in this post?  How are YOU using them for your job search?  How has your mindset shifted?  Please leave a comment below.  I want to hear from you.

As always, thanks for reading!