How to use social media to find a job
Social media can be a great way to connect with employers. More and more employers are using it as a recruitment tool. If you’re wondering how to get a job using social media, keep on reading.
How social media can help
Social media allows you to put yourself out there and do extra research as part of your job search. You can learn a lot about businesses or employers you want to work for. You can use that information to make your application and interview stand out.
If you are after a career change or just looking for your next position, social media is a great way to find jobs. Just keep in mind your strategies might be different depending on what site you’re looking on.
One of the best things about LinkedIn is that employers and recruiters often come looking for you. It’s really important that your profile is up-to-date and is a good representation of yourself. The strength of your profile can determine if a recruiter or employer will contact you about a job or not.
With LinkedIn you can:
- list your interests
- make comments and like posts
- connect with other people that you have worked with in the past
- join groups through the discovery page to find extra resources and connect with other users
You can also browse for job titles and locations with the top search boxes and create a “search alert” to let LinkedIn send you job matches.
Twitter has feeds that you can find which are dedicated to jobs.
- In the search bar, type the word jobs. Press “search” on your keyboard.
2. Change to the “People” tab and you should be able to find some good job-related accounts that you will be able to follow.
3. You can also filter your search with the two dots in the right top corner to find accounts near your location.
On Twitter you can also use hashtags to find jobs such as #writersjobs and #developerjobs. This is useful if you would like to search for jobs in a specific field or area.
Facebook is useful for finding and connecting with:
- groups for job seekers
- job boards
- company profiles
Facebook even has its own dedicated jobs board.
Most companies and organisations have their own Facebook page, so it's a good idea to follow those that you are interested in working for. This will allow you to see any job opportunities that the companies post on their page.
Facebook job groups are also a good way for you to interact with other job seekers and employers looking to hire. Employers join a Facebook job group to promote job vacancies. If you’re in the group, you can make comments and ask the employer questions about their jobs.
Your social media presence
Before you start looking for jobs it's important to consider what you put out on your own social media platforms.
Remember, potential employers may:
- search your name and look up your online profile
- look at your social media accounts to see if you fit their company culture
It is important that you keep in mind not only what you are currently posting, but also what you have posted in the past. Go through and remove any posts or pictures that show you from a less-than-ideal perspective.
There are lots of benefits to using social media as part of your job search. Just remember to be keep your posts, pictures and account profiles work-appropriate.
Do you have any tips on finding a job through social media? Let us know in the comments.