23 things every job seeker should consider doing on social media
Each social network is unique in its own way. How you interact and with whom you interact on a daily basis can have a great influence on how recruiters may view you. Using social media is a great way to get visibility. It also shows how you value your reputation professionally. There are numerous ways in which you can use social media to your advantage.
Get your complete profile out
While filling out your profile, ensure that it is completed. Recruitment managers cannot go hunting for the missing bit of information that you haven’t filled up. A complete and relevant profile portrays a systematic and organised person.
Do not scatter your presence everywhere
Being active on social media platforms gives your clients and prospective employers a chance to ensure that you are an actual human with a life. But that doesn’t mean you have to go out and make your presence felt everywhere. The point is to recognise which platforms are good for your field and go ahead and manage them well. Perhaps if you are more creative, Instagram, and not LinkedIn, would work better for you.
Review your personal information
It’s good to share your basic personal information across social media accounts so that potential employers also know about your background. However, do not go overboard and share unrequired information. It might prove to be harmful in the long run. A lot of people have been prone to hacking and abuse because of this.
Showcase your work
You could use social media as a portfolio for your work. Showcase your past work and accomplishments. It is a way to stand out in this age where competition is massive.
Get maximum information about hiring managers
Before applying for a job, look up the HR manager on LinkedIn. Based on that, you can craft your resume and covering letter. And in case you get called, you will also know how to tackle questions to a certain extent.
Google yourself
Do a thorough research on what comes up first when anyone Googles you. You would want relevant and useful information about yourself to be out there on the web. Make sure that you clean out everything and update your LinkedIn profile as well.
Get people to know you are searching
Let your friends and followers on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter get to know that you’re searching for a job and also the kind of job that you are looking for. You never know when a certain company looks for the exact skills that you may be having. You may also come across these through word-of-mouth or referrals.
Use posts and tweets to show your passion
If you are passionate about certain subjects and constantly write or discuss about it, then share updates, posts, and tweets about them. Sharing links and articles will demonstrate your expertise. In case you have attended relevant events related to them, then post useful content and learnings you got from them as well.
Review long term career paths
Check social media to research about various profiles and the associated career paths. It also helps in knowing about the other employees in a company and their backgrounds.
Clean up everything before you start
Cleaning up doesn’t mean removing pictures of you partying or holidaying. It means checking for anything even mildly controversial that you have commented or shared. Although it’s fine to be opinionated, you may be unnecessarily judged for no fault of yours, which may affect your chances of fetching a job you like.
Use Twitter to gain insights about your industry
Twitter chats are a great way to build contacts and network. Twitter chats usually take place at the same time every week and are hash-tagged. They bring like-minded people together. They also provide an opportunity for everyone to ask relevant questions and listen to everyone’s perspective.
Show how you use social media
Learn to display how you use social media usefully. You could use social media tools to promote yourself effectively. These tools may also help the company you plan on working with. It also shows how resourceful and insightful you are. So go out there and let them know your worth.
Use job search apps
These days, more and more job seekers use mobile apps to search for jobs. There are several useful applications that can enhance your search and make it easier for you, including apps to organise your job search process and provide faster responses. Here are a few:
This app lets you make a professional resume using your iPhone, and is ideal if you’re running out of time and need to send out resumes quickly.
The LinkedIn Mobile app can be accessed through the Blackberry OS, iPhone OS, Android, or Windows. You can easily view the company’s info or the interviewer’s page on this app.
Job seekers can access the website directly and search for jobs using keywords, company, and location. The highlight is that you can go right away to the source using this app.
Launched by Monster.com and Monster Worldwide Inc., BeKnown works you’re your Facebook timeline to allow people to avoid mixing business and other activities. It allows job seekers to establish their own career identity.
Check your grammar
Ensure that you have used good language. Remove public posts where you have used too much slang. Spelling, language, and grammar are things that cannot be neglected.
Common connections may help
Although you may not know everyone on Facebook or LinkedIn, you could use your contacts and connections to get in touch with anyone in the same field as yours. Some of your friends or acquaintances will be able to connect you to other people who may have already worked in a company that has an interview scheduled with you.
Writing content
If you are good at writing and have lots of articles to your credit, then it would be a good idea to post your long articles on social media platforms and see what kind of audience they attract. Certain websites already have a set audience for various topics. If those areas match your interest as well, then you may get a good follower base. You may also develop a blog that you can share. Who knows? It might also prove to be helpful in your new job.
Be who you claim to be
A lot of people write descriptions about themselves in resumes and turn out to be nothing like it on social media. Most of the recruiters look up potential employees on social media to understand their background. Make sure there is consistency across all the social media platforms that you have made your presence on.
Seek job experts
You might come across several experts in your field, or the content and posts that you share may attract many professionals. Either way, you can benefit from this. It can open an array of opportunities for you.
Follow up on trends
Reading up about a particular industry and following up on trends will give you insights about the companies you wish to apply to. It will also help in interviews and group discussions.
Project professionalism
Click a professional photograph wearing appropriate clothes to showcase yourself and gain attention of your recruiters. Pay attention to the minute details in the background, if there are any inappropriate texts or visuals, etc. You may not realise it, but recruiters many a time use information outside your professional network to see how systematic you are while you aren’t working.
Highlight your interests
Everyone likes people with versatile interests. Make sure you mention these qualities in your resume and also in your social media updates. Showing how you enjoy your free time will also demonstrate how flexible and adaptive you are. It is always good to know people who have a life apart from work. It helps in team building and recreational activities spent during your break time.
Keep up your search daily
Join relevant groups across various platforms and ensure that you check them daily. Check where the companies post updates first regarding their openings.
Follow up with any relevant contacts
After attending a conference or event, take pictures, connect with people, and follow up with them. You could connect on Facebook or LinkedIn and later on see how you could collaborate.
If you haven’t used social media for networking, branding and growth yet, then it’s time to use these useful tips to make social media work for you today!