How to use social media in your job search

Social media plays an important role in our daily lives and has totally changed the way we communicate. However, social media is much more than just social. Platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter are ideal tools for looking for a job. Here are our top tips to ensure that you use social media to your benefit in your search for new employment. 

What are the advantages of social media in your job search? 

In today’s labour market it is no longer enough to just send out your CV as an application for a role. Social media has become an important tool recruiters and potential employers use to gather information about a candidate, to get a better idea of who they really are.  

More than 70% of recruiters check candidates’ social media profiles, and almost 60% of them don’t hire someone due to something they found on a social profile. This means using social media properly should be a significant part of your job search strategy. 

So, why not simply avoid being judged on your social media profiles altogether by not signing up in the first place? This might not be such a great idea. If a recruiter or employer can’t find you on social media, you might come across as someone who isn’t up to date in terms of the professional world.  

Instead try to see it this way: social media is an opportunity for you to show who you are and what else you bring to the table beyond your CV. Think of them like calling cards, which are visible for a wide array of professionals, allowing you to:   

• Build your online reputation 
• Identify job opportunities  
• Network with people who can refer you to employers 

Which social media platforms should you use?

LinkedIn

Compared to other social media platforms LinkedIn is THE social network for professionals. Most of the content on here is job-related.  

On LinkedIn you can follow people and connect with other professionals to create a network of contacts in your industry, building your knowledge of your profession and the best employers in your area. Personal referrals are the best advocates of your skills in the job.

Twitter

Twitter doesn’t have a build-in jobs feature, so it might not be an obvious choice for your job search. However, Twitter is a very interesting platform for employers and recruiters to find engaged and ambitious candidates.  

Since the platform is known for only allowing posts with a very limited number of characters, this is the perfect place to show your creativity.  

Additionally, you can link your LinkedIn account to your Twitter profile. With this you give employers (that you might even follow already) easy access to more information about yourself and your work. 

Boost your profile! 

Complete your social media profile: if you want to catch the eye of hiring decision makers, less certainly isn’t more. Include a full, succinct career history and mention any relevant awards and training.  

• Make sure the profile pic that you choose is professional – a smart headshot, not sipping cocktails on the beach 
• Make sure the facts you state on your profile are true, because information in the public domain is easy to verify 
• Stand out by posting interesting content for your network: our online attention span is fleeting, so make sure your posts catch the reader’s attention quickly 
• Format your profile well using paragraphs, subheads and bullet points where possible  
• Repeat the job title/s you’re after throughout your profile so that you stand a better chance of being ranked in search engine results 
• Where possible (and we know this can be tricky if you’re currently employed) make sure that it’s obvious that you’re open to new career opportunities. 

Maximise the success of your job search on social media: Avoid these mistakes 

Poor grammar and spelling: content peppered with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors is one of the biggest taboos, which can ruin your entire social media strategy, because it shows that you don’t have an eye for detail. Just take a few minutes to double check your content for spelling mistakes before you post it or use a free writing assistant. 

Avoid inappropriate content: party photos, offensive comments etc. make you look unprofessional on social media platforms. Even though networks like Facebook are mostly used for personal and LinkedIn for professional life, you should still avoid dubious pictures and questionable comments. Recruiters also browse through these networks to get a full picture.  

Don’t complain about your previous employers: criticising others on an open platform is not beneficial! Also, sharing it with the world on social media only demonstrates a negative and resentful attitude, which is not the impression you want to make to a potential employer.  

Be sure to browse online jobs and apply for roles as well as using social media. 

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