The internet has provided us with lots of options when it comes to a job hunt. Gone are the days of looking for an opportunity in the classified section of a newspaper. There are many job sites out there, but social media allows us to connect with recruiters or make the right connection on a personal level.
With so many social media networks available, it seems impossible to be active on each one. Depending on your line of work, some networks may serve your job search better than others.
1. Look for Networks Where Your Colleagues Are Active
There's no point in searching for jobs on a platform that no one in your industry is using. Ask coworkers and management what social media platform they use for industry updates.
Being on a social media network where industry representatives are active and sharing feedback and publishing articles can get you noticed by recruiters. It's also an excellent way to find out about industry networking events.
2. Seek Networks That Have Groups Related to Your Industry
Groups are an excellent way to engage in industry-related conversations and establish yourself as an expert by sharing your knowledge. Facebook and LinkedIn have groups you can join, and on Twitter, you can participate in chats to engage with colleagues.
Groups also allow you to connect with employers, recruiters, and others who can help you with your job search. Industry-related groups can be a great way to connect with colleagues and keep you up to date on industry news and events.
3. Select a Social Network That Secures Your Privacy
You don't want your current employer to find out you're looking for another job before you're ready. Each social media platform has privacy features that allow you to limit who can see your posts.
For example, on Facebook, you can categorize your connections and then set who can see what you post. The feature allows you to connect with coworkers while limiting what posts of yours they can see.
Some social media networks have photo frames indicating that you're seeking employment opportunities. You may want to ensure you've updated your privacy settings before posting anything showing you're seeking new employment opportunities, and avoid using the frames. You also might be interested in learning ways to limit people contacting you on Facebook.
4. Use the Platform You're Most Comfortable With
You don't have to be on all social media networks to succeed in your job search. If you enjoy making videos, you may want to post them on YouTube or TikTok. If the written content is your forte, then you may want to post on LinkedIn, create your own blog, write posts in industry-related groups and white papers, and seek guest blogger opportunities.
You might like to create your own Twitter chat to network with industry colleagues and establish yourself as an expert. Finding a platform you enjoy using is vital, or you won't spend enough time on it to optimize your job search.
5. Choose a Platform You Can Use to Establish Yourself as an Expert
Depending on how you prefer to market yourself, you can use your posts to demonstrate your expertise. You can review the latest technology in your industry, create videos showing how to do particular activities, or write a post describing the steps.
You can comment on someone else's post, providing insights based on your knowledge and experience. If someone asks for advice, you can offer your help or even ask for help yourself. Avoid asking for employment opportunities if you haven't established a rapport. Photographers might be interested in discovering the best Instagram alternatives for photographers.
6. Use a Platform Where You Can Showcase Your Work
Suppose you're a visual artist, graphic artist, or photographer or work in an industry where you create visual items. In that case, you may want to share your work on social media networks that focus on images, like Instagram or Pinterest. Writers can share their work on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other platform where people go for the content they can read.
The goal is to maximize the number of hiring decision makers' eyes that see your work. You may need to find out where recruiters in your industry go when looking for candidates. You may be interested in learning how to boost your career by publishing on LinkedIn.
Tips on Using Social Media Networks in Your Job Hunt
Here are some tips you may want to consider before starting your job search on social media networks:
1. Clean Up Existing Accounts on All Platforms
If you're unsure what social media networks you have an account with, you may want to do a Google search on yourself. Go through all your accounts, whether you're still active on them, and hide or delete any posts that may be questionable. We've all heard stories of posts from years ago, causing someone to lose their job.
Many recruiters are doing their homework on candidates on social media, so you don't want to give them a reason not to consider you. If you want to express yourself freely on your social media accounts, you may want to create a separate profile that reflects your professional interests. You may like to learn how to clean up your social media while job hunting.
2. Celebrate Your Significant Accomplishments
Ensure your LinkedIn profile is current with the certifications you've earned. You may want to take pictures of completed projects and share them with your network. You can also share photos of industry conferences you've attended and courses you're interested in or just enrolled in.
3. Follow Profiles of Companies You Want to Work For
Keep up-to-date on recruitment opportunities by following the companies you've identified as places you'd like to work. You can adjust your settings to receive notifications, including job openings. Following the companies you want to be a part of can inform you about events you can attend and network.
4. Take a Quality Over Quantity Approach
You don't have to be on every social media network platform. You don't need to post multiple times a day, follow thousands of people, or have thousands of followers to succeed in your job search. Focus on where people in your industry are, the companies you'd like to work for, and the connections that can help open doors to your next job opportunity.
Make Your Social Media Network Work for You
There's a lot out there about the negative aspects of social media. The good news is that you can avoid harmful elements and use social media networks to your advantage as long as you remain focused.
When you stay focused on your purpose for interacting on social media, you can avoid falling down the rabbit hole of entertaining videos or getting pulled into a political debate. If Twitter has been getting too toxic for you, you may want to look at ways to reduce the toxicity.