Gaining an Edge on Social Media #JobSearchTips

You’ve heard over and over that finding a job in today’s world is all about who you know.  In order to “know people”, you have to network.  Thanks to the abundance of social media platforms, the ability to network lies right at your fingertips.  By creating a professional LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter account, you provide yourself the opportunity to connect and communicate with thousands of relevant professionals that can help you advance your career.  By understanding how to navigate social media you can reach out to professionals, engage with potential employers, and communicate with relevant influencers.  Here are a few ways how to do so.

IMPORTANT! Before You Start Networking.
Before you begin to reach out to people via social media, make sure that you do a read through of all your social media profiles.  Clean up your profiles and get rid of anything that you wouldn’t want a potential employer to see.  This means deleting inappropriate photos and making sure your profiles portray you in a positive light.  If your status updates and tweets make you seem consistently negative, you aren’t doing yourself any favors.  You want your public updates to send messages of productivity and optimism, rather than showing that you’re stressed and unmotivated.

Target Your Search.
You won’t get anywhere by posting a Facebook status that says, “I want a job. Who can help me?” Blasting a generic message like this is the equivalent of shouting it in the stands at a Browns game.  You may get one or two Likes from friends, but you’re not speaking to anyone in particular.  It’s a waste of time.  Instead, make a list of people with experience, contacts, or knowledge of your industry.  Once you have compiled this list, you can seek help from those people.

Start Tweeting.
Although LinkedIn is usually the first platform that comes to mind when talking about professional networking, Twitter is the easiest platform to make new connections.  The great thing about Twitter is that you can strike up a conversation with just about anyone.  It’s one of few places where it’s socially acceptable to talk to a complete stranger.  Twitter users rarely have their profiles set to private, and most users will welcome your tweets. Start by following the people on the list you created.  If they say something you find valuable respond or favorite it.  Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and ask if they have any tips for you.  You never know what doors a simple tweet may open up.

Become a Follower.
On LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter follow and like companies you’d like to work for.  More and more companies are now recruiting via social media.  They post information about their presence at career fairs and share information about open positions.  Don’t be afraid to reply to their posts and ask for more information regarding job openings.  This shows companies that you’re proactive and tech savvy.  It’s also a great way to become connected with recruiters and start a relationship that can potentially lead to an interview and then a job.  If you’ve already developed a relationship with the hiring manager, you’ll have an edge on the candidates that haven’t.

Share Relevant Information.
The best way to communicate with relevant influencers in your industry is to start by sharing their content.  If a company you would love to work for posts a great article about what they’re currently working on or industry news, share it with your networks.  Not only does this show your connections that you’re reading and sharing relevant content, it’ll show the poster that you care about what they’re saying.  You want potential employers to see that you’ll add value to the organization by being an advocate for the brand.  The more you post relevant content, the more relevant you’ll become.  Another great way to engage in conversation is to take part in industry tweet chats.   Twitter tweet chats are arranged in advance and include a formal agenda with a speaker to guide the discussion on the topic between participants.

 

Start your social media job search by following leading staffing agencies and recruiters in your area.  If you’re looking for a job in the Greater Cleveland area, make sure you follow @AreaTemps on Twitter. The recruiters at Area Temps will keep you up to date on career tips and tricks and share rewarding job opportunities.

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