Social media is useful for many different things. It’s now one of the best ways to find out about various products and services and, of course, it’s an excellent way to keep in connect with friends. It can be used to help you decide what to make for your dinner, for personal development and the endless round of funny videos can keep you entertained.
There’s also another essential use that not many people think about. Social media is an incredibly useful tool for job hunters. Here are some of the ways you can get the most out of your job hunting with the help of social media.
· Create Relevant Profiles
This is the first and most crucial step. Build compelling and professional profiles for yourself on various social media channels. Start with LinkedIn and then add Facebook and Twitter. Use your profile to demonstrate what you’ve accomplished, your strengths, and what you can offer future employers. You’ll be able to include links to all your social media pages when building your CV. Use an online CV builder, such as those provided by My Perfect CV, to make sure yours has a competitive edge.
· Connect with Others
Social media is great for keeping you connected with friends and family, but it’s also an excellent way to connect with others in your industry. A good place to start is with LinkedIn Groups. By using the directory, you’ll be able to highlight relevant groups and join those that are especially active, interesting, and informative.
· Stay Engaged
If there are companies you’re interested in, follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter because you’ll be automatically notified when they’re hiring. Demonstrate your expertise in a specific area by liking companies on Facebook and joining in with relevant conversations. A potential employer is going to find this very valuable.
· Help Others
You’re going to stand out from the crowd if you go out of your way to help others. Become a useful resource rather than the kind of person with a ‘what’s in it for me’ mentality. Answer questions, make introductions, link to provocative content, and you’re going to improve your online profile.
· Job Searches
There are a number of job sites you’re going to be familiar with, such as Indeed, Monster, Simply Hired or CareerBuilder. Visiting these sites means you’re getting access to millions of job postings. These companies also have Twitter feeds and Facebook pages you can look at, too. What’s more, there are also going to be a number of LinkedIn Groups you can join.
· Have a Plan
When you’re job hunting, it’s always a good idea to have a plan. Decide how long you’re going to spend on each social media platform and how often. Why not work on your profile one day, join groups on another, and follow companies on the third day? Your searching is not going to be very useful if you’re trying to do too many things at once.
Social media is essential to your job search because an increasing number of employers use it to research candidates. It helps them get a better picture of who you are and what you’ve done. An employer is able to pick up clues about your personality and whether you’ll fit their company culture. Before you post anything on your social media pages, think about the impression you’re giving to any visitors.