Social Media Tips For Job Hunters
When searching for a job, social media can either be an asset or a liability. It depends on how you plan on using it. While you may be used to using social media for ‘social’ reasons, it can be a significant asset to your job hunt when used properly. Follow these tips from Harnham to ensure your social media works for you.
Clean Up Everything
You want to be certain that your social media accounts are fully cleaned. The last thing you want is for your prospective employer to see all of your old tweets. Go through your accounts one by one and ask yourself whether or not you want someone who is considering hiring you to see them.
Alter Your Perspective
Rather than looking at your social media accounts as a means to showcase your adventures, you should be using them as a means for networking. A lot of college students and those who recently graduated don’t necessarily love the idea of using networking to find a job. That being said, you already have an established group of people who care about you that are ready and waiting to assist you. All you need to do is activate that network and let everyone know you are looking.
Get Professionally Connected
When you are looking to improve your social media efforts to land a job, you want to try to leverage LinkedIn. LinkedIn is easily the best social network to leverage when looking for a job because it was designed to be just that. If you are brand new to the platform, you can start by connecting to everyone you already know. From there, you should be looking to branch out to the second level of your network which consists of their network. These are the basics of networking. To land a job, sometimes it’s not who you know, it’s who they know. While you may not have that big of a personal network, you likely have access to a much larger network of people through the people you know.
Getting Your Resume Out There
You want your resume to be properly constructed. You also want to ensure you are using the best formatting and putting the right content in it. From there, you should be looking to build out your LinkedIn profile to supplement your resume. Also, you want to post your resume across all social media platforms you are on.
Ask For Professional Help
When you need support, don’t be afraid to ask for it. While you may not be able to get the professional help you need from your friends and family, they may have a contact you can talk to. A good example of a post to your social networks would be: “Hi everyone, I am officially starting a search for a new job and I’m looking for _____. If you happen to know of anyone who is looking for candidates in this field, can you help with introductions?” Making this simple post can give you several responses instantly.
The fact is, social media is one of the best things you can use to not only grow your network but to land a job. A lot of your family and friends may have professional connections they can use to help you out. A lot of them may even get a bonus for making a referral. Therefore, you could be doing them a favor as they have an incentive for helping you land a job.