As an intern, maybe you fetched your share of coffee for colleagues but this story is quite unusual…

Our friends at AOL Jobs mentioned the Weather Channel interns are involved with a simulated tornado on camera as part of “Tornado Week.” No worries though, the @TornadoWeek Twitter feed indicated, “No interns were harmed in the making of this in office tornado.”

Aspiring employees take turns sitting in an office with electric fans. Get this — as they get more and more tweets, the tornado becomes stronger and stronger. They’re still doing their work at their desks, huddled in hoodies and continue with a business as usual mindset.

Business executives at the director level and above prefer LinkedIn as their go-to social media site, as Forbes mentioned a recent study conducted by DHR International and Modern Survey.

Although execs revealed they still frequently use Twitter (27%) and Facebook (44%), LinkedIn got top billing. The second tier encompassed blogs, Pinterest and Google+.

A similar study was conducted three years ago and over the years LinkedIn has increased its lead to surpass other Web sites. In addition to the sites logged onto most frequently, the study showed that executives engage in social media only one hour or less per week. And although they’re not avid users, they are daily users.

Executives revealed in the survey they would be engaged more online if they were actively searching for a new career opportunity, if they better understood the benefits and if the items learned were consistently high value.

Got smiles?

Good, we knew you did. According to a survey conducted by Kelton Global on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, first positive impressions all come down to the power of an attractive smile. So, when it comes to a coveted job interview, candidates should flash those pearly whites to make a positive impression. Read more

We’ve seen it all too often here at MediaJobsDaily.

Companies post a job on their own Web site only to get candidates via Twitter after their in-house recruiter mentions a few available opportunities.

And as per a recent post on Harvard Business Review, engaging with candidates via social media isn’t only wise for job seekers, it’s smart for companies as well.

Although the piece is written with the employer in mind, on the flip side it’s beneficial for job seekers as well. Why not take advantage of following companies on Twitter and trolling their feed to get your foot in the door? They’ll get to know you on a more personal level than blindly submitting a resume through the job posting channels.

Roy Bahat writes in the piece, “If candidates do engage with you through social media, you’ll also have an equally immediate way of getting to know them — in a personal, verifiable way.”

He adds, “And, most important, they will feel some connection with you and your company before you even start talking with them. They will have a sense of your idiosyncrasies and your passions.”

Although we’re not suggesting to not apply online, we’re just emphasizing the importance of social media.

In particular, it’s in an employer’s best interest to see who’s tweeting them because they’re actively engaged in the company’s daily movements. Plus, considering recruiters need to peruse countless resumes in their applicant tracking system, a tweet or two here and there would help candidates stand out from the pack.

Bahat points out, “You spend a lot of time screening mediocre candidates only to learn that many of them barely care about what you do.”

Here’s a word to the wise to all of the social media divas and divos out there — you can never be too careful when it comes to Facebook.

Here’s why: On Friday, the Montana Office of Tourism got in a bit of hot water when its status update on its official page read:  ”F this job. I just want to live in Whitefish with my future husband. Leaving Bozeman for good tomorrow. I love you with all my heart and you are not leaving me. Never. Thanks for the good times MercuryCSC!” Read more

Social media has revolutionized the way recruiters search for talent, which means job seekers need to make sure their profiles are tuned to perfection. After all, you never know when the right person will stumble across your LinkedIn page at the right time. In the latest Mediabistro feature, career experts and seasoned freelancers tell how to get the most out of social media profiles during the job search. One thing you can include is:

Charity work and professional affiliations

Even if it doesn’t relate to the media biz, fulfilling work you do outside of a paying job can be a great conversation starter. Plus, you never know if the person scoping out your profile knows someone involved in that organization. So, if you spend Sundays tutoring kids at the local community center or helping your child’s PTA organization, include it on your profile.

Likewise, listing professional groups you belong to is a good idea because it builds credibility. (It’s the perfect chance to list those organizations that you pay to belong to just so you can list them on your resume!)

Read more in What Job Seekers Should (and Shouldn’t) Include on Their Social Media Profiles. [subscription required]

Since social media is a constant part of our lives, soon it’ll be hard to imagine an election without its presence, right?

As such, it’s no surprise that media giants like Reuters reminded staffs about social media rules during election night. As pointed out by JimRomenesko, the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post recently sent reminders and as per his site yesterday, Reuters was the latest employer to issue a reminder as well. Read more

Submitting as many applications as you can through job boards is one way to land a gig, but the reality is that all jobs don’t magically appear on the Internet. Says freelancer and writing mentor Carol Tice, “In fact, the vast, vast majority of good-paying jobs will never be advertised. Stop waiting to spot them in ads.”

Want to tap into the hidden job market? (You know, those great gigs that haven’t been posted yet?)

Tip No. 1: Contact companies directly.

Amy Phillip, an executive career coach, recommends connecting directly with the person who hires. For journalists, that’s often the editor or managing editor, while it can be the director of marketing for copywriters and bloggers. “Find that person on LinkedIn and send an introduction,” she said.

Read more in How to Find a Job Before It’s Posted. [subscription required]

As the presidential campaign heats up, maybe you’ve been posted a heated status update or two on your Facebook account?

Okay, even if you haven’t, this little employment story is a reminder to all of us to watch what we post.

Check that — it’s more like an unemployment story now.

The National Relations Board determined that a car dealership did not violate federal labor laws by firing one of its employees after sarcastic comments on Facebook. The salesman posted photos and comments with the caption, “OOPS,” after his teen drove one of the Land Rovers into a pond.

Oops indeed. Read more

This just in — Jobvite’s 2012 Social Job Seeker Survey revealed a lot of interesting stats, one of which is that approximately 76 percent of job seekers use social media in their hunt for a new gig.

Plus, it sounds like the job search isn’t like hitting an on or off button. Rather, it’s always on. The survey showed that 75 percent of employees are actively looking or are open to exploring new opportunities. Read more