Using social networking to land a job

Update:
Tony Wittrien is in day 2 of his 72-hour online job hunt. View his live stream here.

Published Nov. 3, 2010

Midlothian Apothecary is bustling with activity on most mornings. Sizzling bacon can be heard over a number of greetings from hungry patrons who are ready to start the day with a good meal. The atmosphere is iconic as each seat at the lunch counter is occupied. Others make their way to the tables to join friends, usually with a ‘hello’ or two from long-time pharmacists and owners Everette and Janet Darby and the pharmacy’s employees. “We’re like family,” says employee Susan Alistock.

Part-time Apothecary employee Al Mermelstein keeps an eye on the door for the regulars to come in. He pours the customers’ usual beverage almost before they can sit down. “People shouldn’t be surprised to hear little kids singing their ABC’s or someone playing the guitar serenading the pharmacists,” Mermelstein says.

The social network at the Midlothian Apothecary is as alive as the online version of any Facebook page and or Twitter feed. Besides the sheer size and the geographic limits, there is another significant difference between the online and in-person social networks, Melmerstein notes, “People are giving hugs here.”

Many customers share news of family, business, health, or politics while munching on American fare. Mermelstein added that people have made friendships while visiting the shop on a regular basis and some have found employment through those friendships.

For Midlothian resident Tony Wittrien, the traditional networking hasn’t worked in landing a job. He hopes to use the online social networking phenomenon. It’s exactly how the unemployed father of three hopes to land a job.

Wittrien has been out of work for two years. The 35-year-old Information Technology specialist will be dedicating a 72-hour non-stop Job Huntathon on Twitter starting at midnight on Monday, Nov. 8.

An independent British filmmaker Ad Lane, who is also on Twitter, inspired Wittrien. Lane dedicated 72 hours on Twitter to raise funds for a film. Wittrien, who added that he has tried every conventional way to land a job, looks to use the same concept in order to snare a position in his field of work. “I thought, ‘What if I did this to look for a job?’” he said.

Wittrien has been spreading the word via Facebook and Twitter about his intention for two weeks. “To do this kind of thing, I’m spending a whole lot of relationship capital. It’s not just me sitting there [on the webcam]. It is about someone out there who is willing to look at me and the job skills that I have that are valuable right now,” he said.

The dad, who cares for his 18-month old son Ben during the day, works part-time delivering pizzas in the evening while Ben’s mom Heather Craft works during the day. His daughters Katarina, 12, and Hannah, 9, live with their mother. “The last full-time paying job I had paid $31 an hour. They consolidated all the IT operations to Ohio. I have my kids and my ex-wife, my girlfriend and my son here and it would have been impossible to transfer,” he said.

Wittrien’s current take-home pay is prohibitive for child care. “The ideal position for me would be one to work from home. I’ve heard about telecommuting for years. How many companies are having people work from home?”

With friends and family to help care for Ben during the marathon job hunt, Wittrien is looking forward to the social networking challenge. “I already have a lot of friends who know how long I’ve been out of work and are ready to stay up with me through all this. If I can get just one employer to say, ‘I’ll hire you,’ then it will be worth it.”

If he doesn’t succeed, Wittrien at least knows he’s tried to use the online social network to connect with potential employers and other professionals in the online community. “The whole purpose, to get a job in this economy, is ‘Who do you know?’ Twitter is the ultimate ‘Who do you know?’”

To follow Wittrien’s 72-hour Job Huntathon, follow him @indyracingnut on Twitter.com