Harnessing Social Media to Find the Perfect Job (Part I of 3)
Landing that dream job or just getting your foot in the door within the industry you’re passionate about just seems more challenging than ever. Competition is fierce, and when you’re competing with countless others who are applying for the same jobs as you, it’s imperative that YOU stand out. One tool that may be overlooked is social media! Utilizing social media to find the perfect job is a great way to stand out against the competition, while also giving you the opportunity to learning more about the companies you’re most interested in and building your network in the process.
Here are the five basic steps you can take to make social media work in your favor while job searching.
1. Create a solid LinkedIn page.
Your LinkedIn profile is basically your landing page for employers, showcasing your successes and career aspirations. You have the ability to attract potential employers and recruiters by making your profile stand out. It might initially seem like a daunting task, but completing your LinkedIn profile with even just the basic information required will help get you on the right path to making those important connections that could potentially lead to an interview.
2. Clean up your social media accounts.
This step particularly pertains to your personal Facebook profile. This might seem like an obvious step in setting yourself up for success, but the truth is, many people neglect to truly take the time to look through their Facebook profiles from the perspective of a potential employer. It might seem like a good idea at the time to post that picture of Friday night’s party that got a little out of control, but does that really add value to your profile? Do you think that picture influences an outsider’s perspective of you positively? Yep, that’s what I thought.
3. Be active on as many social media platforms as possible.
Most of us have a Facebook page, but it’s also important to become active on other social media platforms. Create a Twitter account, even if you’re unfamiliar with the platform. Regardless of whether you share photos online, create an Instagram account. Pinterest might not interest you at the moment, but create an account anyway. You might not be interested in blogging, but start your own Tumblr blog page. Even if you have the barebones of your profile established, it provides you with the opportunity to explore the platform and easily build on the profiles you’ve created when the time comes.
4. Like and follow people and pages relevant to the career path you are pursuing.
Make a list of all the companies you would love to work for. There is no limit to how long your list can be. Search each social media platform for each company on your list and like or follow them. This will allow you to get to know each company on a more personal level and gives you the opportunity to interact with people within the company and connect with others that share common interests and career aspirations.
5. Like and follow key influencers within the industry you’re interested in.
This step requires a bit of research on your end. A simple Google or Bing search can provide you with many of the top influencers who are key players within the industry you’re interested in. You can also find key influencers by doing a little digging on industry specific Facebook or Twitter pages, as well as examining the pages of the companies you’re pursuing.
Incorporate these five basic steps for utilizing social media during your job search into your process and you’ll definitely be ahead of the competition. Check out part 2 of our “Harnessing Social Media to Find the Perfect Job” series to gain a more extensive understanding of the steps you can take to set yourself up for excellence. And happy job hunting!
–Marleen Eitzen Shanks, CEO and Founder, Team Red Dog with guest blogger, Kristen Brewer
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