Did you know that social media can be a powerful job search tool?

With an increasing number of employers using social media as a recruitment tool, it’s a great way to connect with employers. You can connect with opportunities you didn’t know existed and may never have discovered any other way.

The tenth in our job search series explains how can you harness the power of social media (and avoid the pitfalls) to help you find the job you want.

Your profile

Before you begin your social media job search, you need to ensure your profile will help, not hinder, your efforts.

The platforms most often used by employers to find staff are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you don’t already have a profile on at least one of these platforms, you should consider setting one up. Be aware that different jobs may be advertised on each platform.

Make sure your profile includes your complete employment history, education, as well as any skills and abilities related to the job you want. Remember to update it on a regular basis and be selective with what you post.

Imagine your potential new boss looking over your profile. Is there anything you would rather they didn’t see? Not all potential employers will search you on social media, but you should assume that they will. Go through and remove any posts or pictures that could hinder your employment opportunities.

Search for existing vacancies

You can use inbuilt social media tools to search for existing vacancies.

To search for jobs on LinkedIn, click the ‘Jobs’ icon, then type what you’re looking for in the search box. You can narrow your search results by using the filters near the top of the window. To learn more about a particular job, click the job title. You can also browse for job titles and locations with the top search boxes and create a ‘search alert’ so LinkedIn can send you details of jobs that match your search.

Joining local Facebook job groups are a good way for you to view jobs postings in your area. Employers will often join a Facebook job group to promote job vacancies. If you’re in the group, you can make comments and ask the employer questions about their posted jobs. The posts will include how to apply. To search jobs groups in your area, use the Facebook search bar and type for eg: ‘Jobs in Sydney’ for a list of related groups.  

To search for jobs on Twitter, type the word ‘jobs’ in the search bar. Press ‘search’ on your keyboard. Change to the ‘People’ tab and you should be able to find some good job-related accounts that you are able to follow. You can also filter your search with the two dots in the right top corner to find accounts near your location.

Many employers post job vacancies which include hashtags related to the position or general job search. Use the search bar on LindkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to search hashtags such as, #jobsinsydney #jobsearch #recruitment #nowhiring #recruiting #jobs #employment #workwithus #work or # something specific to the role you are looking for.

Connect with employers

LinkedIn
Use LinkedIn to connect with people and businesses working in the field you would like to work. Using these networks to find out about jobs that aren’t advertised can give you an advantage in your job search. Join groups through the discovery page to find extra job search resources and connect with potential employers.

One of the best things about LinkedIn is that employers often come looking for you. It’s really important that your profile is up-to-date and is a good representation of who you are and what you can offer. What’s on your profile can determine whether or not an employer will contact you about a job.

Facebook
Most companies and organisations have their own Facebook page, so it’s a good idea to follow those that you are interested in working for. This will allow you to see any job opportunities that the companies post on their page.

Twitter
Twitter gives you the ability to connect with anyone else who uses the site, no matter how hard-to-reach they may be on other platforms. Follow businesses you’d like to work for. Once you follow a few, Twitter will automatically recommend similar profiles.

You could also participate in Twitter chats. A Twitter chat is a virtual meet-up of people with similar interests. #JobHuntChat is a good one for pro tips on resumes, job interviews and networking.

Reminder

When using social media as a job search tool, remember to keep your posts and account profiles work-appropriate.

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We are only a phone call or email away. Our staff are more than happy to help you set up and use social media as an effective part of your job search.