People have inundated me these past couple of months with calls and emails from people (mainly youths) either seeking work or asking how to use social media to find employment.
So I want to use this opportunity to answer their questions, hoping they will apply these tips below and find their dream job using social media. So let’s get to it.
How can I use social media to find a job?
These are the best and most effective ways to use social media to get a job.
Make an Online Portfolio or CV Available on Social Media: According to this article, the difference between a CV and a resume lies in the length, layout, and purpose of these documents. CVs have no length limit; resumes are typically one to two pages long. A CV describes the candidate’s academic history; a resume summarises the skills and work experience.
Your future employer is going to find you online no matter what you do. So make sure they see your portfolio and CV too! Upload the PDF version of your most up-to-date resume; Links to the social media accounts you want to share with potential employers. There are just a few social media accounts to put on a resume that matters. Social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter are perfect for showcasing an online portfolio or curriculum vitae. Be authentic and conversational because this is your digital handshake, and it can tell a story; you can share your sense of humour, personal interests, and so on. Ensure that your social media profiles are looking snazzy and up to date. Whether you wish to share your photos, poetry, a blog and so on into your resume, try to limit your digital portfolio to your best and proudest work.
Look for Jobs on LinkedIn and Twitter: Being “active on social media” doesn’t mean opening an account on every platform possible. Being more visible and active than other candidates are on LinkedIn will give you a competitive advantage. Let everyone know you are actively looking for a job. Don’t be afraid of networking with friends on Facebook. Make your Facebook profile private. Search for information about hiring managers and follow them on social media to know whenever they are hiring. As mentioned before, share a link to the PDF version of your resume. Create Twitter lists of potential employers, follow them and engage with their content. Get Found on Google. Use hashtags to find job listings, promote your job search, connect with companies.
Edit the Privacy Settings on Your Social Media Accounts: Social media is where you connect, chat, and celebrate with your family and friends. Any form of social media virtually eliminates the possibility of maintaining complete privacy. Social media privacy policies enable you to customise your account settings and allow you to control who sees your posts.
However, there are ways to change your privacy settings to reveal as little as possible. In most social media platforms, to make necessary changes, look on your profile, go to “Setting”, and click on the “Account” setting. Here you will see many elements. In most cases, you need only to click on the account privacy option and then select the options to hide your profile from search engines and the public.
Learn how to properly manage each of your social media accounts’ privacy settings so you know who is and isn’t allowed to view your profile and the information you share. Keep your social media under control by deciding what you wish to make public or private.
Engage in Discussions and Debates Through Social Media: Social media is the crucial catalyst for brand growth for many businesses, and it is a vital platform for public debate. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good. Get social savvy with your online community to increase social media engagement and boost your chances of finding employment. Be selective about the type of discussions and debates you take part in. I usually advise my clients to steer clear of political and religious debates. As a job seeker, you don’t want your comments on a heated discussion from way back to come back to haunt you and possibly destroy your chances of being employed.
Let Your Personality Shine Online: Social media aimed primarily to connect people online to be socially active without physically being in the same place. So let your personality shine through your social media posts and blogs. Infuse your personality into your social media activities. Each image you create and share should align with your online personality. Make use of these platforms to build genuine relationships with followers and express your brand personality.
You Should Be Modest in Your Job Search Through Social Media: Complaining about your present job on social media will backfire – don’t do it. It is essential not to appear childish and attention-seeking, either. Learn to interact with others and put them in the spotlight. By promoting others in your network, you’ll promote yourself humbly too! It is essential to speak to all the positions you are aspiring for subtly in your profile. Remember that as you are using social media to find employment, employers and hiring agencies are also using social media to seek potential candidates that will be a good fit for their company. So you don’t want to put yourself in a negative light by being a braggart.
Have a Coffee Date with Online Contacts: Coffee meetings have become less popular this past few months because of COVID-19. But when possible, try to meet with your online connections for coffee while observing social distancing. Though this might be difficult to pull off, especially if you’re a student looking for professional contacts for when you start your career, it’s still worth the shot.
The difference between a CV and a resume lies in the length, layout, and purpose of these documents. Click To TweetKeep up with the Latest Industry News Online: Update your news feed and stay on top of what’s happening in your industry. Doing so can help keep you ahead of other candidates seeking the same position as you. Keeping up to date with your industry news doesn’t need to be complicated. You can do so by subscribing to newsletters, online trade journals, blogs, magazines, and other information publications. Follow industry experts and influencers on social media and attend webinars and conferences. If you want to be a step ahead of other candidates, keeping up with the latest industry news and trends is necessary.
Join Groups Related to Your Work and Industry: In line with the above point, join groups on LinkedIn, Facebook and other social networks related to your work and industry. If you want to increase your chances of landing your dream job using social media, you need to join business groups. Being a member of an industry-specific business group is a sign that you like to stay abreast of the latest industry-related news. With so many businesses going remote, job seekers should look into virtual networking through LinkedIn groups, Facebook groups and so on to find valuable insight from others about potential job openings.
Be Careful Not to Use Clichéd Buzzwords When Writing Posts on Social Media: Avoid using clichéd buzzwords in posts. If you were to describe yourself in real life, how would you describe yourself? Odds are you wouldn’t describe yourself as a dedicated, passionate and motivated team player who always gives their all. We’re all guilty of using buzzwords and clichéd phrasing now and again at work and in life. But let’s do our best to avoid using these clichés. Using tired buzzwords and cliches are bound to hurt you. Ask a friend to proof-read your work to help ensure that you are not using clichés or other unnecessary padding words and phrases.
Be Sure to Keep Your Social Media Profiles Updated: Your social media profile is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have. Names displayed on social media platforms should be your own. Try to keep the same username across all social networks. Make sure that their profiles are filled out correctly. Don’t leave out any necessary details that may give you an edge over other candidates.
Your Online Profiles Should Be Creative: Make creative online profiles. Your profile is one of the most critical aspects of your online portfolio. Your social media profiles should function as landing pages for your brand. Therefore, make it creative and professional. Remember that you’ll not get a second chance to make an excellent first impression. Your profile gives you a chance to make the best impression possible.
What Is the Best Social Media Site to Use When Seeking Professional Employment?
Unemployed people aren’t the only ones looking for jobs! Inside every engaged worker is a job seeker.
When you call someone a job seeker, it means he/she is seeking a new job or is open to the idea. These job seekers get frustrated at searching for jobs online and getting no response.
They know that the best opportunities are for networking with actual people. Not through search engines.
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Social networking has become a core part of our daily lives. Recruiters use social media to post their job ads. Job seekers are also using social media to find their dream jobs.
Active job seekers can spend an hour or two a day on social media connecting with the right employers. This practice can pay off.
But spending too much time online is not the solution. It can never replace the one-on-one interaction. You get this from an in-person meeting with the employees and potential colleagues.
If you are not searching but open to new opportunities, make sure your profile is current. Your profile must be professional and appropriate.
Complaining about your present job on social media will backfire - don't do it! Click To TweetSome employers conduct an employee background check and use social media for reference checks. They scan the social media profiles of candidates and determine to hire the candidate or not.
They base their decision on the content they find on their social media profiles.
Don’t assume an employer will only check you out on LinkedIn. They may also check Facebook, or even Twitter and Google+.
The story you tell on each site should be the same, although it’s okay to adapt the material for the site.
Here is an infographic that highlights how to use social media to find employment.
Read the note of caution below to know what to avoid when using social media to find work.
Here is an infographic that highlights how to use social media to find employment. Click To TweetInfographic
Share this Image On Your Site.
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Recruiters use social media to find job candidates to hire, and employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. Click To TweetWhen searching for a job on Twitter, engagement is essential. Make sure you highlight your strength and qualifications. Reach out to your target recruiters and employers.
Facebook is the largest social networking site on the planet, having more than a billion users. Facebook Groups and apps like BranchOut make it easy for you to find open positions to apply.
Take part in LinkedIn group discussions. Share interesting professional content. Applying for suitable openings will maximise your chances of landing your dream job.
Promote your skills in relevant industry groups. This kind of promotion will put you in front of the right recruiters.
An infographic of your career path is an excellent visual format for reaching potential companies. Job seekers can create a set of pinboards to show employers the kind of place they would like to work.
Google+
More tech-savvy users and artists are flocking to Google+. It is an excellent place for tech-savvy people to find jobs. Create or join the right circles or communities.
YouTube
Create a simple video of yourself displaying your skills. Upload it to YouTube and direct prospective employers to watch and see your qualifications.
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Can Employers Look at Your Social Media?
Employers may check public social media platforms, but we consider anything beyond public accounts a grey area. Since it’s legal for employers to check public social media accounts, consider making personal accounts private. Although in some countries, laws prohibit employers from discriminating against a prospective or current employee based on information on the employee’s social networking site or personal blog. These include their race, colour, national origin, gender, age, disability, immigration, or citizenship status. Employers can use the information on your social media profile against you. Recruiters like to know whether candidates are creative. Additionally, employers want to see you participating in relevant online groups, and they care about the type of content you share.
What Are the Benefits of Social Media in the Job Search?
It increases job visibility and makes it possible to get higher-quality candidates. The company provides better employer brand awareness and reduces the cost of hiring, and shortens hiring time. Social media allows companies to target their vacancies more and screen their candidates. For job seekers, it opens the door to engagement with your employees. Having an active presence on social media and a network of professional contacts gives you the chance to find out about positions that companies may not publicly advertise. By joining in chats and re-tweeting content, you can raise your profile and build your brand. It lets you connect with a broad and targeted group of people working at various companies. Recruiters use social media to find job candidates to hire, and employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. The result is a win-win for both parties.
A Note of Caution
If recruiters find inappropriate content on your profile, you will not get the job. If they see information about you drinking or using drugs, you will not get the job.
If your profile shows you have poor communication skills, you will not get the job. If your profile shows you bad-mouthing previous employers, you will not get the job.
If your profile shows you making discriminatory comments on race, gender, religion, you will not get the job. If you lie about qualifications, you will not get the job.
Some job seekers embrace social media to extend their personal or professional brands. Others choose to use it is as a private channel with their friends and family.
Some recruiters use social media to get a sense of your interests and personality. But that doesn’t replace the value of meeting the individual face-to-face.
Your social media profile is one of the most valuable marketing tools you have. Click To TweetMaintain both professional and social personas online. Take the time to check your content review, who can see what is on your profiles.
So if you choose to share content on social media, make sure it’s working to your advantage. Takedown or secure anything that a potential employer can say is unprofessional.
Share content that highlights your accomplishments and qualifications positively.
Make sure your profile is free of typos. Your information must be coherent and applicable to your industry or job. Your photos must present you in a favourable light.
Check the profiles of other professionals in your industry and use them as a guide.
The information you provide online about your job background and accomplishments should be consistent.
Conclusion
When using social media to find employment, it is necessary to have a social media job search strategy.
Having a job search strategy will increase the number of opportunities that you get.
Are you taking advantage of social media to find employment? Let us know how it works out for you. Tweet me @ademolaabimbola or @mauconline.
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