There’s probably very few of us who aren’t socially connected online in one way or another.
In fact, there’s so much concern over our fix with the latest updates, movements like Scroll Free September have popped up in a bid to prise us away from our screens.
Clearly, while there is a down side to being glued to social media, there are so many positives, particularly when it comes to finding a job. In fact, if you’re looking for jobs and you’re not over social forget it.
For a start, employers take into consideration the trends surrounding social media and will look to maximise the best performing channels to help their recruitment.
Check out our social media tips for job seekers……
LinkedIn is arguably the most important channel for job seekers and recruiters. As a professional networking site, it is actively used by employers to recruit candidates. Your profile on LinkedIn is effectively a virtual CV; it enables you to document your work and educational history, write a bio about yourself and connect with other professionals via the network.
Following employers who you would like to work for will keep you up to speed on activity within the company, such as new vacancies or news on their performance. All of this information will be available to view in your news stream.
By connecting with a company you are able to gain an impression of the kind of people they employ. Knowing the background of the people who are being hired gives you a clear insight into the skills and experience that are valued in their recruitment process.
Twitter is an extremely valuable tool for job seeking and there are a number of ways you can use the site to your advantage. Employers often have more than one Twitter feed for their business and often have a dedicated Twitter handle for their jobs, so make sure you are following the right account.
Another great way to use Twitter, almost like a search engine, is to search via hashtags. If you do this, you will see all of the tweets from everyone who has used that hashtag, so a handy starting point would be to look at the hashtag #UKJobs. This will give you a good idea about who is out there recruiting and might give you some companies or websites you weren’t familiar with before.
The other excellent thing about Twitter is that you do not have to do all the legwork. Recruiters often use software that scans for keywords on its feed, to help compile a list of candidates that they may want to approach about a job.
Often this software will look at the content of your Twitter bio and your tweets and match it to certain keywords. Use this knowledge and ensure your bio comprehensively states you are looking for work. Ensure you have mentioned the particular field you wish to work in. You do not have to tweet about jobs all the time, but a few times a day will ensure that you are picked up by employers who are looking at Twitter for leads on candidates.
Facebook / Instagram / Your Own Network
These channels (and there are others coming up all the time) may not strike you as obvious tools for job seeking. They are ones you would probably associate with your personal, rather than your professional life. However, it is surprising how many employers use these accounts in their recruitment process.
At the very least, following their accounts will give you a good grasp on the latest news and the opportunity to start conversations with key people within the organisation.
Ensure your privacy settings are well managed to allow your private and work life to remain, to a degree, separated.
Remember, along with company pages, your network of friends can be a powerful way of learning about new opportunities. People you are connected with may post details about jobs in their own companies which could prove to be advantageous.
A quick summary of the benefits of using social media in your job search
- Apply for advertised roles easily and quickly
- Visible to recruiters who are using social media to advertise their jobs and source candidates
- Choose the channels to follow which match your interests
- Build your own profile to create a positive presentation of what you bring to employers
- Ask direct questions to potential employers throughout your job search
A quick summary of our top tips
- Make sure your social media profiles state you are actively seeking work and the type of role you’re looking for
- Follow companies you’re interested in
- Contact people and start talking with companies on topics related to your industry
- Make sure your personal updates and professional updates are on separate accounts