Business – 10 Ways to Use Social Media to Get a Job

Today 238 million professionals covering over 200 countries and territories are members of LinkedIn. 400 million tweets ring out every day. 700 million people use Facebook daily. The statistics are staggering, and any savvy job searcher will utilise these tools to bag THAT job. We decided to narrow the minefield down to 10 tips to be a social media champ.

GOOGLE YOURSELF, Before you can use your online presence, you must find out what your digital footprint is. The amount one can find out about (like your drinking award from rugby soc at Uni) is frightening. Forewarned is forearmed, so find out what is being said about you and fix it.

LINK YOURSELF UP, If you are not already on LinkedIn, then you should be. This is the platform for job networking, so make sure you fill in as many details as possible, upload a photo (no mug shots please) and keep the profile regularly updated. Don’t be afraid to cry out ‘I’m Unemployed!’ on this network – employers will be looking. Your headline should be a tasty little sound bite advertising yourself, and be creative. ‘Banker’ is boring. ‘Innovative financial thinker’ is better. You get the gist.

TWEET, TWEET, TWEET, And then tweet some more. Twitter is a great networking tool so follow companies you are interested in, and get actively involved in conversations. It will show your expertise in your subject and your genuine interest in what is being debated. A device called ‘Twello’ allows you to search bios for keywords and URL’s that will best benefit you.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF FACEBOOK, I know we all associate Facebook with mushy relationship statuses and ‘look what I had for breakfast’ posts, but can you say you know all the companies your Facebook friends work for? Close friends, distant relatives, and that girl you can’t really remember will all be able to help with putting you in contact with the right people. Humans have short memories, so tag your friends who you think could be of use in your ‘help me’ posts and ask them to do the same again. When you want to alert the world to your unemployed state, post a note as this will allow you to write more and it will stay on walls for longer.

DIGITALISE YOUR CV, Creating your own website is a very slick way of presenting your CV in a new and interesting way. Then you will have a readymade URL that provides the essential info, which you can then pop in to your social media accounts. The website can also be a good forum for posting any of your impressive work, information on what you have been up to, along with any pictures you may deem internet worthy which demonstrate your skills and interests.

HAVE A VOICE AND SPEAK OUT, Bloggers are the internet’s thought leaders so try starting your very own blog and inject a little personality in to your online profile. Write about what you know – the creative juices will soon start flowing. Narrate your way from unemployed to ‘Employee of the Month’!

GET INVOLVED, Now you are part of all these wonderful social media forums, get stuck in. Don’t be a passive observer. Your involvement will attract new contacts who will see the proof in the pudding in your online presence.

PROOF YOUR ONLINE PROFILE, So you have been successful in diverting everyone’s attention to your name. Good? No! As Google proved earlier, you already have a lot of fun stuff going on that employers don’t need to see. Reasons for not being hired due to social media include: inappropriate photos; alcohol or drug abuse; and bad mouthing previous employers. So have a thorough spring clean and get rid of work rants, Fresher photos and posts from friends who thought that video was ‘hilarious’.

DO YOUR RESEARCH, This is a two way street. Search LinkedIn for contact names and take a little peek at what they have been up to. Often a shared interest can create a spark that will give you the edge over other candidates. Being up to date with companies latest posts and Twitter campaigns will give you interesting interview conversations and will highlight your detective skills. It’s elementary Watson.

BRAND YOURSELF, Having all these different platforms may make your head spin. Consistency is key, so keep them updated with the same information. Use keywords from your field – they will attract the employers most suited to you and your digital footprint will be modelled into an Italian leather shoe for their company. Importantly, do not feel too confined, but personality is no turn off and employers want to know what a loveable gent you are.

By Rio West