5 Ways You Should Be Using Social Media to Get a Job

Strategies for how to get a job using social media fall into two major categories: personal branding and networking.

• Personal branding refers to the image you create for yourself, such as a “dedicated professional with a track record of leading high-profile initiatives.” A career-focused profile will support a strong, positive personal brand.
• Networking is how you interact with others in your field as well as potential employers.  For example, you could start by engaging with a few well-regarded professional groups or using industry-specific hashtags to join an existing conversation.

Your online presence plays a key role in your chances of getting hired. Use the following social media tips for job seekers to ensure that employers are impressed when they search your name.

1. Polish your Profile

Before you start using your accounts to connect with potential employers, it's important to optimize your profile for success. This means taking on one of the most widely known tasks successful job seekers need to do: social media clean-up. This doesn't just entail going through your old posts and pictures to clear out controversial topics and risqué photos. To fully manage your reputation on social media, clean up comments you've made on other people's posts, unfollow anyone with a tendency to make particularly indecent tweets, and wipe out any crass language or swear words you may have used across all platforms.

You also want to be sure that your profiles are current. The relationship between social media and your career should be clear. If you received an award or recognition, take a celebratory selfie. If you were put in charge of an important project, post about it. This is a great way to use your social media profile(s) to complement your resume.

2. Be Visible

One of the most essential social media tips for job seekers is to make sure recruiters can find your cyber footprint. Using social media to get a job is impossible if employers can't locate or read your profiles. Make your real name (or something similar) your screenname so that hiring managers can run a Google search and find your information without unnecessary guesswork. You might also try reading up on some basic SEO practices to ensure that you keep your profile at the top of the page of search results.

Furthermore, always set the privacy setting to "public" on posts about your career. This helps to ensure all your hard work doesn't go to waste. If you've put in the effort to put your professional accomplishments online, don't let recruiters overlook it!

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3. Build Connections

The founding objective of social media is to help people network with one another. Successful job seekers know to take advantage of this and leverage these platforms to grow their professional relationships. Touch base with old associates, contact people you met at conferences and events, and even reach out to industry experts you admire. Just make sure to send a personalized message when you do, explaining who you are and your purpose for getting in touch.

These connections could turn into job references or job referrals, so put some effort into maintaining the relationship. For more advice, check out our networking tips section.

4. Engage your industry

Become a voice in your industry's conversation by joining discussions in related groups and pages. Employers want to know you are dedicated to your occupation: that's where social media and your career goals collide. By demonstrating an interest in staying up-to-date regarding current events, issues, and advances in your profession, you show that you will make a reliable and committed employee.

While recycling experts' posts and redistributing interesting articles are great ways to demonstrate your continued learning and development, make sure you also give your own opinions and thoughts on different important subjects affecting your sector. Not sure where to start? Run a hashtag search for some of the buzzwords you included in your resume to satisfy the applicant tracking system (ATS). Check out what other people are saying about these hot topics for some ideas.

5. Express your interest in employers

If you've done your research, you should have a list of top employers you'd like to work for. One great strategy for how to get a job using social media draws on that list, helping you stand out from the pack with your online engagement. Follow the companies you most want to work for, add them to lists and groups, like their posts, and retweet their content. By making your interest clear and public, you show that you're more invested in these organizations than other, less vocal applicants.

While engaging with potential employers online is a great way to demonstrate your desire to work for them, be careful not to go overboard. Don't use social media as a method of professional communication. When following up on an application or sending a thank you message after an interview, for example, stick to e-mail and phone calls.

Using social media to get a job isn't a "set-and-forget" type of endeavor. You need to be an active participant and post updates regularly to ensure a strong presence and demonstrate your dedication to your profession. If you remain consistent, however, your commitment will give you a leg-up on the competition so that you're ready whenever you find an opening for your dream job!