Finding a job in today’s economy can be difficult, but you just have to know where to look. When people think of searching for a job, social media sites are probably the last resource they think of. However, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be beneficial to your job hunt.
Many employers are going to social media sites to conduct background checks and look for the qualifications of job candidates. 65% of hiring managers look to social media to see if candidates present themselves professionally, and 45% want to find out more about candidates’ qualifications. To get your foot in the door of your dream job, here are some steps to take online that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Facebook and Twitter are a good start for your job search. However, LinkedIn should be your main focus. LinkedIn’s sole purpose is purely professional. Create an account and make sure to really optimize it. Adding your qualifications, work experience and what type of job you’re looking for is just as important as updating your resume. LinkedIn will allow you to search for jobs as well as put yourself out there for potential employers to find.
To engage with a potential employer on LinkedIn, send the HR representative a personal message stating who you are, why you are interested in their company and ask if there are any open positions. It would be a bad idea to send this message to the CEO of a large company, especially if you’ve never met him/her. However, HR people are used to receiving job inquiries through LinkedIn. That’s their job!
A smart move to make on LinkedIn is to join groups in the profession that you are interested in pursuing. This will help you stay up-to-date on new job postings and connect with industry professionals. Be sure to join in on discussions as well.
On more personal platforms like Twitter or Facebook, you should be very wary of what information you are putting out there. A good rule of thumb is that if you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t put it online. It is also important to adjust your privacy settings on Facebook. Potential employers don’t want to see pictures of you duck-facing or status updates about your foot fungus. These will definitely rule you out as a potential employee.
Do update your “About Me” sections on both Twitter and Facebook. Add links to your personal blog, online resume and portfolio. You could also showcase previous work you have done on Facebook. If you managed any events or have experience in design work, showcase pictures of your samples in an album. This is a great way to use Facebook as a visual portfolio of your work.
As to how to engage employers on Facebook, like their pages, subscribe to their posts and like/comment/share. Many companies have job boards and even fan pages specifically for jobs. Keep your eye open for these opportunities.
Twitter is a great place to follow companies and brands that you’re interested in. Here you can tweet them questions about their company or job openings. Also, retweeting them will show that you are interested in their company.
Doing all these things is guaranteed to benefit your online job search. Be sure to continually update all platforms and stay informed on your industry. Here is a great inforgraphic that breaks down how social media is being used to find jobs.
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