Using Social Media to Find a Job

Most people view social media as a personal activity. We creep on Facebook and tweet all day, often for entertainment purposes or to connect with friends and family. But social media is quickly becoming integrated into our professional lives more than ever. Here are some tips on how to use social media to increase your chances of finding a job:

1.       Use social media as a job resource

There are an increasing number of jobs being posted to social media sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. New search engines like TwitJobSearch and TweetMyJobs let you search Twitter for job postings related to the criteria you're looking for. Following companies you're interested in, agencies and job boards is also a great way to get up-to-date information on possible opportunities.

2.       Use your network

You have a great network of friends, family, acquaintances, classmates, and coworkers at your disposal. Every person that you're connected to on social media sites is a potential connection to a job. Status updates and tweets let your connections know that you're looking for a job and what you're looking for. Messaging contacts is an easy way to do research on their industry or workplace and keeps you in their mind when opportunities come their way. And don't be afraid to ask someone if it's okay to send them your resume or to keep you informed of employment opportunities at their workplace.

3.       Use your brand

It is important to remember that anything you write online can be made public.  (e.g. a petition I signed online when I was 12 is still accessible when I Google my full name). Tailor your content to match the environment of the job you're looking for. If you know you'll be in a professional setting then ditch the email you made when you were 16 and keep your content professional-sounding. Posting and reblogging content related to your field shows that you're actually interested in what you do. Tailoring your content doesn't mean you have to forsake your personal voice, and incorporating a professional image is a good way to show employers you are serious.

4.       Broaden your research

Many companies and organizations have multiple social media accounts. The information may be mirrored in all communication outlets, but researching their accounts will help you get a broad picture of their business. Using LinkedIn to research who works at that company and what groups they may be linked to will also help you connect and approach potential employers.

Social media is great for job searching because it gives you access to more jobs and more opportunities to connect with people who have the power to tell you about hidden jobs. If you use your social media accounts smartly you can create a public persona that is interesting, involved in your field, and attractive to potential employers.