Gone are the simple days of walking into a
business with a résumé and asking to speak with
the manager. It might have worked for your dad,
but we live in an age where most hiring
managers scour the internet for prospective
applicants. Luckily, there are tools in place you
can use to increase your exposure online aond
connect with professionals in your career field of
choice. Social media is one of the most effective
ways to find a job in the 21st century. Why not
learn how to make it work for you?
Create an Online Presence:
Image credit Flickr
media networks, now is the time to do it. There
are three major social media sites most job
recruiters will use (or at least require their
employees know how to use): Facebook,
LinkedIn, and Twitter. If finding a job is at the
top of your list of priorities, joined LinkedIn; it’s
an entire site dedicated to working professionals
and career searchers to connect with one
another. It’s like a massive 24/7 job fair online.
In fact, 93 percent of recruiters report using
LinkedIn to look for new talent.
Cultivate a Professional Appearance
Chances are you didn’t create your first social
media profile because you were looking for a job.
Most people flock to sites like Facebook and
Twitter for the social aspect, and thus treat it
with the same level of formality they use with
their close friends and family (i.e; none at all).
However, employers use social media to gauge
the character of their potential hires.
It would be in your best interest to expunge any
and all incriminating photographs and
controversial status updates. After all, would you
hire somewhere who had a red Solo cup in every
one of their Facebook photos?
Showcase Your Skills:
Many people use social media profiles as a
showcase of their talents, accomplishments, and
capabilities. No matter what field you work in—or
even if you’re still in school—you can use social
media to illustrate what you’ve done with your
talents and free time recently. Did you volunteer
in your community? Post a picture of it! Was
your workplace featured in the news recently?
Post a link to the article! Do you work in graphic
design or audio production? Show off your latest
projects. Recruiters want to know whether you’d
be a valuable asset to their company, so take
every opportunity you can to show off your job
skills for the world to see.
Follow Trends in Your Field:
Once you’ve established yourself in the realm of
social media, take time to ‘like’ and follow pages
that give the latest updates on happenings in
your career field. You’ll want to learn as much
as you can about your target profession during
your job search. For example, how will new
technologies affect your future occupation? Who
are the big mover and shakers in your industry?
The benefit here will really shine through during
your interview. If you can sit down and have an
intelligent, nuanced discussion with your
potential new boss about the latest news and
events, you’ll be leaps and bounds ahead of your
competitors.
Connect with Established Professionals:
Maybe you’re in a position where you’re not quite
sure if this new job is what you’re looking for.
More often than not, new job seekers are sold on
the mythos and superficial glamour of a chosen
occupation without knowing much about it. Take
time to reach out to workers who’ve been in the
industry for years. They can tell you about what
your day-to-day job duties will be like, what
interviewers look for in applicants, and other
tidbits of valuable information you won’t likely
find anywhere else. If things go well enough,
these individuals can actually serve as
references or connections during your search. In
fact, a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York showed referred candidates were twice
as likely to get interviews than people who
applied through more traditional routes.
Social media is a powerful tool that changes the
way we view our lives and business
relationships.
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