How Social Media Can Help You While Job Searching

Social media is not all about fun, wasting precious time and making connections with people you know and don’t know. If you want to present yourself to potential employers, then social media is a tool you shouldn’t neglect. Many employers rely on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn when they want to reach out to potential recruits.

Do you know what the catch is? A potential employer may be attracted to your social media profile, but can also be repelled by the information they get. You can use these websites to your advantage when you’re on the search for a job after graduation, but there is a right way to do that. The following tips will show you how to stay informed and connect with recruiters through social media platforms.

Control your online reputation

The way you present yourself to your friends is not how you want potential employers to perceive you. Think carefully about the posts and content you want everyone to see. There is a simple way to see what impression you would make to recruiters: see what comes up when you search your name on Google. If you come across anything that’s not supposed to be there, change the privacy settings on the particular profile.

You should be especially careful with forum posts under your real name; if you have expressed some views that are not in compliance with the values your target company stands for, you won’t be considered as an option.

Your public email address is also important, so make sure it sounds professional.

LinkedIn is more important than you think

All social media platforms can help you get noticed by recruiters, but LinkedIn is the only one that presents you as a true professional. It doesn’t matter how much experience you have; it’s never too early to create a LinkedIn profile and start making connections.

Think of this profile as your virtual CV. It has to offer the same details as an actual CV you would send to an employer. The profile picture should be professional, but friendly and inviting at the same time. Once you create the LinkedIn page, you should join groups relevant to the industry you aim for and start growing your network by inviting friends from university, faculty members and previous colleagues to endorse you.

Although recruiters can easily locate your LinkedIn profile if you offer what they need, you shouldn’t leave everything to chance. Don’t be shy to send a direct message to someone who can offer first-hand advice for a particular company or industry. If you take an active role in the process of job searching, your official application might receive a more thorough treatment.

Don’t go overboard with sending messages, though! Contact only LinkedIn users you have something in common with. Don’t get disappointed if you don’t receive feedback from someone; send only one message and leave the rest to the person’s goodwill.

Twitter is a great tool for finding jobs after graduation

You don’t need to use many words to make yourself appealing to a potential employer. Twitter is the perfect platform for accessing a wide network of high-profile professionals working in your industry. The best part about Twitter is that you can make an informal, but effective approach to helpful and influential people.

If you impress someone with your tweets, you might get valuable help on your job hunt as a young graduate. All you need to do is master the art of hashtagging and start expressing your own voice. Once you start interacting with people you share interests with, you can get connected to potential employers in no time.

There is a tricky part in Twitter communication: you need to make a balance between informal and professional. No matter how difficult it is to convey a message through a limited number of characters, you should never use text speak if you want to make a decent impression.

Don’t underestimate Facebook

Searching for a graduate job is much easier when you have Facebook on your side. All you need to do is like the pages of companies you would like to work for. That will keep you updated with their activities, so you’ll have the needed base of information when you present yourself at an interview. You’ll already know the values the company stands for, so you’ll show how interested you are to work for them.

Since a great number of companies inform their Facebook followers about open positions, this social media platform should not be underestimated as a job searching tool. There is another useful aspect you should pay attention to: some companies are not worthy of your application; you’ll easily identify those after seeing their activity on Facebook.

Remember: you have to be careful about the content you share publicly if you want to be attractive for potential employers. If they are interested enough to visit your profile, the last thing they would like to see is a photo of your last drinking party.

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are not the only platforms you can benefit from

Using solely LinkedIn as a tool for job hunting may seem a bit too corporate for a young graduate. There are many ways to make the process more fun. For example, a YouTube video upload is a great way to present your skills and sparkly personality to recruiters. Tell them why you are the right person for a particular job and show how you can think outside the box. Don’t forget to include a link to the video on your LinkedIn profile.

Another great way of making yourself presentable is developing your own website or blog. This will help you present your ambitions and show how serious you are about exploring the particular niche. This site will serve as a professional platform that makes you stand out among other job hunters.

Maybe you’re not a camera person or you don’t have impressive IT skills to create a mind-blowing website. Don’t worry; there are still plenty of ways to show what you’re good at. All you need to do is identify your skills and strengths, and think of a way to present them via social media. You can easily grab the attention of a prospective employer if you choose the right platform and combine your creativity and professionalism!

Author’s bio:

Melinda Osteen is a writer and an editor who features the latest writing and studying trends in her articles and intends to share her knowledges with young specialists. She works as a writing expert and an editor at Papersgear writing service.