In today’s digital world, it’s impossible to escape social media even in the job search. As a job seeker, social networks are one of your most valuable assets.
While you should still rely on job search sites, like JobTonic.in, to find opportunities, you should also take advantage of social media’s ability to expand your network and land a new job.
The question is: how do you do that? It’s not as complicated as you might think. Here are some tips:
Tell People You’re Looking
Whether you use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or all three, it’s important to let your friends and contacts know that you’re looking for a job. Be specific about what type of job you’re looking for, too.
Even if no one in your network knows of any openings, they’ll be sure to keep you in mind if a position opens up. They may even let you know about the opportunity before it even reaches the job boards.
Keep Your Facebook Profile Private
Today’s employers are searching Google and Facebook to check out potential candidates. You probably don’t want potential employers reading through your personal updates, so change your account’s privacy settings to ensure that only your friends can see your posts.
Research Hiring Managers
Before you even submit a resume, take the time to look up the hiring manger on Twitter and LinkedIn. These two social networks are potential gold mines of information.
By learning a little more about the hiring manager, you can tailor your cover letter to their needs and find some common ground during an interview.
Link to Your Social Profiles on Your Resume
Don’t forget to include a link to your LinkedIn and Twitter profiles on your resume (skip the link to your Facebook profile – that’s private).
This will give the employer more ways to get in touch with you and get to know you. It also shows that you’re social media-savvy, which is a trait most employers are looking for.
Create Intentional Connections
In the job world, it’s more about who you know than what you know. Don’t just rely on the connections you already have. Find out who you need to connect with in order to land the job you want.
Grow your LinkedIn network until that person becomes at least a third-degree connection. Try to get them to follow you on Twitter by retweeting or replying to their tweets.
Twitter is an excellent way to connect with professionals in your field who may not have given you the time of day otherwise.
Clean Up Your Google Results
What pops up when you Google your name? If you don’t like the results, there’s a good chance your employer won’t either. Start out by creating a LinkedIn profile (if you haven’t already done so) and make sure it’s complete.
Be active on the site, and it will help push your profile to the top of the results when people search for your name. So, when a potential employer Googles you, they’ll find your LinkedIn profile first.
