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Using Social Media for Your Job Search: Tips and Tricks

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Social media is one of the products of the internet that has allowed billions of people around the world to connect with each other.

As we already use social media for communication, it makes sense to expand its functionality to include searching for jobs.

Almost everyone has a social media page, which means you can have the opportunity to have a chat even with the CEO of a major company.

This and many other reasons are why social media is regarded as a good tool for searching for jobs, and in this article, we provide tips and tricks you can use to achieve success doing this.

Top Social Media Job Search Tips

If you’re looking to enter the job market or switch jobs, then you’ll want to consider these tips on ways social media can help you out:

  • Create A Profile
  • Connect With People
  • Be Active In Your Niche Discussion Groups
  • Do Research Into Potential Employers' Profile

1.    Create A Profile

Before you can even begin using social media for your job search, you must first have a social media handle. Thankfully, most social media platforms have optimized their registration process to a few simple clicks that can take as little as a few minutes. After registering, you’ll want to provide sufficient information about yourself that doesn’t reveal any serious personal information but is still informative enough for a potential employer.

You can include information like the school you attended and your likes and interests. Attaching a profile image of yourself is also important, as it can help distinguish you from the crowd. Once you’re done with your profile, you can browse it using an incognito window. This will give you an idea of how others will view your page.

2.    Connect With People

When you feel satisfied with your profile, you can begin connecting with people. You don’t necessarily have to follow online hiring managers, but having them as contacts can be a good idea. If you’re connecting with an individual for the first time, introduce yourself and mention your intention for connecting. Some people are careful of accepting unknown invites. So, whether you’re using LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, establish common ground before sending out that connection request.

3.    Be Active In Your Niche Discussion Groups

Online discussion forums are common ways people worldwide can get help when they’re stuck with certain challenges. If you’re very talented, these discussion forums can, aside from being used to help others, help you develop a presence online. When you become an authority on a certain topic or niche, your reputation can help hiring managers looking for someone in your field to consider your application more favorably. In addition, a good online reputation will tell any manager that you’re very knowledgeable in your field and have good communication skills, which are two essential traits in a workplace.

4.    Do Research Into Potential Employers' Profile

After researching the top companies you’ll be applying to, you can do some investigative work by learning more about hiring managers. Most people today have a social media page that they update regularly. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a specific account and learn about one or two interests you and the hiring manager have in common. This can be used as an icebreaker during your first interview. For instance, if you and a particular recruiter went to the same school, you can use your shared experiences to establish a basis for reaching out.

Conclusion

Job search is no easy task. One can face many rejections and be unable to find the desired job for months. However, with social media, you can reach out to almost anyone, and the information you learn can prove useful. Hopefully, the points shared in this article will help you better utilize social media as you search for your next job.

Author’s Bio

Merissa Moore is a freelance writer and social media expert. As she frequently uses social media to learn about online writing companies as part of her cooperation with Trusted Essay Reviews, Merissa is familiar with the many positives social media platforms offer. In her free time, Merissa enjoys singing and reading.