Social media can be a great way to get your name in front of an employer. It can even be a great way to actually talk to an employer! (LinkedIn’s “in mail,” for example allows you to send an e-mail to a hiring manager even if he or she is not in your “network.”)

But the ability to connect easily and quickly also means it’s easy and quick for an employer to reject you. What’s more, the hiring manager could do so publicly, in that he or she could hit “send” on a negative or rejecting reply to your tweet or Facebook post – for everyone to see!

Careerbuilder.com recently offered four tips to help you survive when an employer doesn’t “Like” you. Read below.

Most important piece of advice: Never take it personally. Unless you were egregious in your friendliness, sloppy or crass in your message or – gasp! – even somewhat disrespectful yourself, chances are the employer’s rejection was a case of “wrong place at the wrong time.”

Think about how nasty the rejection was – and how public. Would you really want to work for someone who is rude to you in an online forum such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook? The hiring manager’s rudeness may just have been a big favor, saving you from working for – or even meeting – a jerk.

If you didn’t get a response at all, you may need to rethink your strategy.

“Be sure you’re addressing their needs up front and explaining to them why you would be a great fit for their company,” the CareerBuilder.com article says. “Because these individuals are so busy, it is important you get to the point in the most respectful manner.”

It’s also a good idea to look at your profile and tweak it to reflect the experience and professionalism you want to exude.

If you did get a nasty response, it might be wise to ask a trusted “third party” to look at your message to the potential employer to see if it “reads” in the way you meant it to be. A great deal of one-on-one communication is conveyed in tone of voice, eye contact and facial expressions. Written communication doesn’t have those added portions and so what you believe to be funny and self-deprecating in an e-mail could come across as smarmy to someone who doesn’t know you. Ask a friend, mentor or trusted colleague to take a look at your message.

How often should you send an e-mail before you know it’s a dead end? The CareerBuilder.com article recommends three e-mails. If you don’t get a reply after three, it’s time to call “it quits.”

If you’re ready to find a great new job in the New York City area, send your resume to a recruiter at Winston Resources. We have great temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire opportunities with some of NYC’s top employers. Contact us today!