How to Use Social Media to Get a Job
Introduction
Are you on any social media account? If so, how do you spend your time on these online platforms? Most of us use social media to share our cute selfies, show off cool pictures of the foods we are eating, or even keep tabs on our exes or crushes.
Yet, social media has more to offer than give you a platform for updating people about your life. When used wisely, social media can even help you land your dream job. The online platforms help increase your online presence, hence putting you in a better position for recruitment agencies to notice your talents.
We live in a very competitive world where even graduates and professors lack jobs.
Therefore, it is high time you got creative and used every opportunity to find
yourself a job. And social media provides a perfect opportunity for you to land
yourself a well-paying job. But how exactly do online social platforms promote
employment?
Five creative ways on how you can use social media to get a
job
When searching for a job opportunity, the first thing you should do is create a social media page or portfolio website. The portfolio and social media pages’ primary purpose should be to showcase your skills, experience, and past works.
For example, say you want to become a journalist. You can create a blog or website that showcases some of your best-written articles. You do not need to create a complicated blog; even an essential website built in less than 30 minutes can do a lot to market you online. Furthermore, you can go ahead to create a YouTube video where you clearly explain your skills. When you share your online portfolio on social media, you will increase your chances of meeting potential employers. An online portfolio or CV gives you an excellent first impression since employers and recruitment agencies will be impressed by your skills.
2. Make Use of the Privacy Settings Offered
It is no secret that most recruitment agencies first look at the social media accounts of potential candidates before calling them for an interview. And there is nothing worse than being called to a job interview, only to realize that the interviewers saw an uncouth picture of you. Therefore, if there are any pictures or posts on your social media accounts that you wouldn’t want your potential employers to see, hide these using the privacy settings offered. However, this does not mean that you keep every single post and picture hidden.
In fact, hiding everything on your social media account can do worse than not hiding anything. How so? Well, remember that social media now makes a significant part of our lives. Therefore, hiding everything on your online account can be viewed as a negative by potential employers. Such may cause the employers and recruitment agencies to feel as if you are hiding something important, something which could even affect businesses and companies.
Hence, while you are recommended to use the privacy settings provided, ensure that you leave a considerable amount of information. Recruitment agencies and potential employers should be able to learn something about you from your social media. Also, ensure that people can always see your contact information, such that you can be easily accessed when a potential employer wants to contact you.
3. Engage in Social Media Discussions
It is true that following different companies and liking their posts can sometimes provide an opportunity to get a job. However, this happens very rarely. Therefore, you need to do more than just follow and like all the posts of a company.
For example, there are numerous discussions about industries that are held on social media accounts. Engaging in these debates can put you in a better position to get a job than simply following companies.
You can set your Google settings such that you always get alerts when these
debates come up. Also, search for key topics on Facebook and LinkedIn and specific hashtags on Twitter that will bring up the most relevant discussions for your preferred industries. Before engaging in these discussions, make sure that you do thorough research. Only when you comment on detailed and accurate stuff will you be able to impress others, including potential employees and recruitment agencies.
Also, remember to keep your comments articulate, considerate of others, and
grammatically correct.
4. Let Others See Your Personality on Social Media
As a job seeker, you should use social media to develop and promote yourself as an online brand. However, this does not mean that you focus too much on yourself, such that you do away with your personality and every sense of humour you have.
While it is important to stay professional on your social media accounts, you should also showcase some aspects of your personality. Let other people see the exciting person that you are. Showcase interesting personality traits that would make others want to spend time with you.
When employers or recruitment agencies are looking for candidates, they consider those who are capable and well-rounded, and likable. Therefore, in addition to sharing your professional skills on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms, also show a bit on your life when you are outside of work.
5. Avoid Showing Desperation on Social Media
Of course, using social media to get a job is a rational move. However, you don’t want to appear too desperate for a job. Therefore, avoid regular posts that scream please hire me on your social media platforms. Such desperate pleas reflect you negatively and may even drown out all potential discussions that you might have had before. Instead of showing desperation, showcase yourself as a knowledgeable and proactive person. Post creative ideas and projects that your preferred companies would be interested in. Such creative ways will be more effective at helping you open many doors of opportunities.
Conclusion
Indeed, social media is much more than just a platform for mindless scrolling.
Therefore, rather than spend countless hours finding that perfect picture to post online, try out the above five tips on using social media. Who knows? You could find yourself working in your dream company and living the life you never thought you would be able to afford!
