Do you think of social media as the place you connect with friends, keep up with family, and look up news? You should also be thinking of social media as a top way to find a job. Many jobs now are advertised on social media. Here are the top 6 ways to use social media to find a job.
1. Have a LinkedIn profile
It’s very important to have a LinkedIn profile if you’re in the market for a new job. First, many jobs are advertised on LinkedIn. Second, many recruiters use it as a way to double-check on people’s employment history and background.
If you already have one, great! Make sure it’s up to date with your experience, skills, and interests.
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, develop one. Many are streamlined resumes, so you’re already part-way there.
Always place the URL of your LinkedIn profile on your resume.
2. Make your social media profiles consistent
Both Facebook and Twitter can also be helpful in looking for jobs. But you need to make your social media profiles consistent across platforms when you’re in a job search.
Develop your LinkedIn profile for jobs first. Then, standardize your Facebook and Twitter profiles to be consistent with that.
First, make sure all your profiles are professional. No pictures of drunken partying on any social media site! No strong emotions that might cause an employer to think twice about hiring you. Employers look at all of them to check you out. Make no mistake that these are looked at only by friends.
Second, make sure your job descriptions, goals, and interests, if any, are consistent. Don’t be a social media assistant on one platform and a nursery school attendant on another. If you actually do both jobs, they need to be consistently displayed.
3. Search and set up alerts for jobs
LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter all advertise jobs. Search for postings. You can also set up alerts for postings you’d be interested in.
4. Connect with your network
One of the things social media is really good at is connecting with a network. And networking like that is an excellent way to find people who are looking to hire someone.
Tell people in your network that you are searching for a job. Be specific about what role and skills you have. Note: this is a good idea for people who know or friends of friends. If you or a friend don’t know them, it’s not such a good idea.
5. Use LinkedIn to research organizations
Because LinkedIn is specifically about business, it’s a great resource for businesses.
It’s always a good idea to research companies who have called you for an interview. Find out about their mission, offices, and the number of people employed, etc.
6. Used LinkedIn to research hiring managers
If a job posting gives a specific hiring manager title, it’s a good idea to look up the name of the person on LinkedIn. If it says “reporting to Manager of Production,” for example, search for that title and the company name.
Once you find it, use the name rather than just the title in the cover letter. Customizing a cover letter like this may put you ahead of the competition.
Let Debbie Staffing Help You Find a Job
Thinking about a new job? Working with a staffing agency is a good idea. We can provide job postings and advice on how to look. We’re happy to help. Contact us today.