Social Media in the Job Search

When starting the arduous process of looking for a job, most people do not think to look on social media sites. Many job seekers flock to sites like Indeed.com, Monster, and others, but neglect to look for job openings on LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Twitter (yes, companies do post job openings on Twitter sometimes).

In fact, the majority job openings are not publicly advertised. Yes, you read that right, most jobs are not advertised to the public, meaning that job seekers who don’t broaden their search beyond wanted ads are stuck applying for the same jobs hundreds of other applicants are also looking at. Only applying to advertised jobs means competing in a stiff race.

Meanwhile, job recruiters are relying on social media more and more. A study by Jobvite (here’s the study) found that 92% of recruiters use some form of social media in looking for candidates. Unsurprisingly, 87% use LinkedIn, but 47% also use Twitter, and 3% even use Snapchat.

It has, therefore, become increasingly important to present yourself well on social media. With potential employers examining everything from your Facebook profile to your Snapchat Story, presenting a good face online is crucial. Here are three quick tips on improving your social media presence now:

  1. Be cautious about photos. A picture is worth a thousand words, and you want those words to be as flattering as possible. Don’t post photos of excessive alcohol consumption or drug usage. Instead, post photos showing pastimes you enjoy, or vacations you’ve taken; things that will describe your personality without damaging it.
  2. Be conscious of grammar. In our increasingly global world, being able to communicate well and with few errors is a highly valued skill. Try not to post things riddled with grammar or spelling errors; just quickly read through things before you post them to make sure there are correct.
  3. Don’t complain. This one is actually more influential than you’d think. If someone takes a look at your Facebook profile and sees post after post of complaints, they will be disinclined to hire you because it appears that you lack positivity. Everyone has a bad day now and then, and occasionally griping is to be expected. Just avoid doing it publicly, if you can.

The biggest tip when cultivating a social media presence is this: use your common sense. Don’t say or do anything on the internet that you wouldn’t do in real life, and try to put on your best public face. After all, the internet is a part of real life, it just has more cats in boxes.

If you’re thinking of making a career change, but aren’t certain where to start, consider emailing us at info@careersolutionsgroup.net. We can help you navigate the waters of job seeking, both online and off.

By: Julia Pillard, Career Solutions Group