When it comes to job hunting, most people think social media is simply the thing you clean up prior to beginning your search. But, in reality, it can do so much more for you than just prove to potential employers that you’re sane and not an all-night partier. You can utilize social media to find job openings, connect with potential employers and give yourself a leg up when it comes time to interview. No really, you can!
Tell the World
Let your friends, all your friends, on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn know that you’re looking for a job. Specify what your skill set is and what type of job you’re on the hunt for. Even if they don’t know of any openings at the moment, in the future your name will be at the top of their list when a job opens up. This can give you an edge before the job even goes up on a job board, plus, you may be able to get a recommendation from your social media mate.
Do Your Research
Even before you submit your resume and cover letter, do a little background check on the hiring manger. Twitter feeds and LinkedIn profiles are a treasure trove when it comes to information on people. If you know a few nuggets about the person who’s hiring, you can use that to your advantage and tailor your cover letter accordingly.
Use Social Media Daily
If you start utilizing social media, really using it, on a daily basis, you’ll soon find that you can turn yourself into a social media maven. Tweet at people, hashtag (smartly), like pages, friend request regularly, tag companies and users. By doing this, you can now put social media down on your resume as a real skill, and trust me, in this day and age that goes a long way. Not only can you make yourself look better to employers, but you may just stumble across a job or two.
Don’t Overlook Facebook
While it’s pounded into your brain that LinkedIn is the way to go in the working world, Facebook really has the edge. The site can even be more useful than LinkedIn because friends who know you personally have a real stake in helping you. Network on Facebook and, remember, keep it PG on all social media sites. You never know what could turn someone off from you.
Speaking of Facebook…
Did you know you can filter your personal Facebook page? Facebook’s list feature allows you to continue building your network without having to worry about professional contacts seeing your personal updates. All you have to do is go to “Account,” then “Friends,” “Create New List” and then just customize your privacy settings so that professional friends can only see what you want them to see.
Hyperlink
In the contact information section of your resume, add the URL for your Twitter handle and LinkedIn profile (not Facebook, since that really should be made private.) This gives the employer a chance to see how you interact online, plus it shows you’re social media-savvy.
Use Google to Your Advantage
If you aren’t thrilled about what pops up when you Google your name, do something about it. But what? Create a LinkedIn profile with all of your updated work and contact info, and become active on the social media site. This will aid in pushing your LinkedIn profile to the top of Google’s search results. You’re welcome.
Partake in Twitter Talks
On Twitter, search for chats that revolve around your industry or the industry that you want to work in. By joining online conversations, you can help yourself stay up-to-date on the industry, showcase your expertise and meet helpful contacts. Oh, and become accustomed to hashtags, and start using them regularly.
At the end of the day, social media is one of the few things that you can control when it comes down to landing that perfect job. You can work to be more present on the sites and put yourself out there. You can also make yourself look more attractive to potential employers with your social media skills. And you never know, that may be just the thing that puts you above the rest.
