Social media is not only a great way to connect with friends and family, it can also be a great way to land your next job. However, this is something that requires work and professionalism. The following are just seven tips for using social media to find a job.
Be Professional
One of the biggest mistakes people make when using social media outlets is to act unprofessionally. Whether it’s posting dirty jokes, risky pictures, or political views, you need to be careful. While you may not think something is a big deal, a company that is looking to hire you might be extremely turned off.
Don’t Be Afraid to Show Your Personality
While you want to be professional, that doesn’t mean you should be bland. You should let your personality show through. Let your sense of humor shine through. Show that you’re a caring person who loves their family and pets. Just be real.
Be Honest About Your Current Employment Situation
You need to be honest about whether or not you’re employed. While you may think that an employer would be turned off by your employment situation, it can show a lot about your character. For example, if you’re employed, potential employers will like the fact that you mentioned that upfront because it means you’ll be honest with them in the future.
Spread the Word
You need to let everyone know that you’re looking for a job. Ask your friends and family to spread the word with their online friends and employers. The more people who know you need a job, the less time it will take to find employment.
Network, Network, Network
You need to mingle with as many people as possible online. Make new friends. Seek out the Facebook pages of potential employers. Follow company CEOs on Twitter, etc.
Connect
It’s important to connect with as many people as possible through social media. For example, you might become friends with employees at a company you want to work for or you might chat with employers in forums. Regardless, you need to connect and form relationships to prove that you’re not only a great employee, but a great person.
Get Creative
Last, but not least, social media gives you the ability to be extremely creative. For example, why not create a video resume that you could upload to YouTube or share on Facebook? This could be something that other people could share to help get you noticed. The key when creating a video is to think outside the box. Don’t be bland, but don’t be over-the-top either.
Social media has opened so many great doors for those looking for work. Whether you use social networking sites to connect with potential employers or upload a video resume to YouTube, you can stand out to employers.
About the Author: Marcel Bigg works in the NYC offices of a major human resources firm. He enjoys reviewing the new, creative methods for applying for work some of his applicants have come up with – from social media campaigns to videos and more creative resumes!