Today, Millennials make up the greater part of the workforce. With the world moving towards a digital economy, there is a massive change in talent acquisition. Social media has numerous recruiting strategies and is a cost-effective way to encourage job seekers to search for jobs. You don’t need to be an avid social media user for a job search. However, you should be able to understand and follow social media trends to land a dream job for yourself.
Why use social media for job search
The growing popularity of social media has altered how employees communicate and how they go about the job hunt. Besides communication, social media provides a platform to demonstrate your skills and abilities to your potential employers. Therefore, incorporating social media in job search helps more than that. Here’s how it impacts your career growth;
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It builds your personality and promotes you
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Provides ways to connect with recruiters and network with peers
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Ensures your online presence by boosting your visibility to hiring managers
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Helps you interact with employers whom you want to work with
Simply put, your lack of social media presence can cause you to miss out on major work opportunities.
How social media affects your job search
Today, companies with a strong online presence are likely to receive more job applications than their counterparts. Online company culture helps attract a talented pool of employees and fill vacant posts. So if you’re using social media to find a job, you must have a professional profile that makes a great impression on the recruiters. Here’s how you can use social media for job hunting like a pro.
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Acknowledge your accomplishments
Once your social media profile is active, let your skills exhibit your potential in you. For instance, if you’ve recently received a new work certificate, add it to social media tools like LinkedIn or share it on Twitter. Also, if you’ve finished a career-related project, share some pictures on Instagram for the world to acknowledge such accomplishments. Social media for job seekers is the best way to connect with firms or highlight your important skills and experiences that are specifically looked upon by hiring managers.
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Keep it low
You wouldn’t want to broadcast your job search to everyone out there, especially if you’re currently employed and planning to switch. Keep a low profile with current co-workers on social media and make sure to set up privacy settings so that your colleagues and employer don’t hear that you are seeking a new job.
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Create your portfolio
Research depicts that before shortlisting candidates for interviews, most companies do online digging to know what career path they follow. Therefore, it is best that you create an impressive portfolio that not only showcases your work but also portrays your achievement and awards. A few recommendations from previous employers or industry specialists add to your credibility. It gives a nice impression of yours and makes you stand out among other candidates. Working on a personal portfolio also shows how motivated and hardworking you are. You can also add your work samples to the portfolio and post them on your LinkedIn profile.
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Do some research
Before going straight to the interview, you can check the company profile by visiting their website. You can also check the social media pages of interested companies to view their work culture. You can read blog posts of the companies and view their tweets online. There’s a lot to learn from the social media pages of a company, even more than their official webpage. If you’re called in for an interview, you’ll have more updated information about the company than other candidates.
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Utilise networking
Social media gives you leverage as a networking tool. It not only helps boost your profile but also creates significant connections virtually. However, it’s not about just making connections. In fact, you need to have a strong network to help you in your job search. You can also ask for recommendations from those in your network. It adds to your credibility; a strong recommendation can even help you secure a job. Try to help those in your network to get the favor returned in the future. Make sure to comment or like their post and appreciate their achievements.
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Enhance your knowledge
Social media has multiple uses so if you want to use it to increase your knowledge, nothing can stop you from that. You can expand your industry knowledge, for instance, Twitter is an amazing platform to get up-to-date information and news about different companies and industries. Use keywords or a specific job title and see what shows in your search bar. Regularly visit your social media profile to get the latest news about different job openings.
Frequently asked questions
How can social media help you with your job search?
Social media is a powerful tool for job seekers. Besides networking, it helps in researching potential employers. With your proactive approach, social media also helps you become more visible in front of recruiters or hiring managers. You can also demonstrate your technical skills to the recruiters.
What is the downside of using social media during your job search?
In the times when everyone is connected on social media, your activity on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, etc. creates an impression of yours. Your social media profile builds up your personality in advance so recruiters can judge you based on that personality. Many candidates are often deprived of getting their dream job due to this reason.
Is your social media presence hurting your job search?
We often hear that we need to carefully post things on our social media accounts but today, many employers prefer candidates who have a social media presence. Since social media portrays you as a brand, you must balance it personally and professionally to improve your online image so that it attracts recruiters.
How does social media have an impact on the hiring process?
Today, recruitment mostly takes place through social media. Companies posting jobs on their social media pages see a higher turnout of applications. Recruitment ads placed on social media platforms are visible all across the globe. Companies search for a talented pool of candidates who are a perfect fit for the company. Besides talent acquisition, the hiring process shortens through social media.
What are the pros and cons of using social media to recruit employees?
A few benefits of social media are;
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Helps in verifying the professional experience of employees
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Background check of employees is fast and convenient
Social media cons include;
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It lacks reliability
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Un level field to judge candidates
