Social media is more than just a tool for interacting with friends and family online. In fact, it’s one of the most important tools you can use to a land a job.
If you haven’t spent time building your online brand, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to get noticed by employers. According to the 2014 Jobvite Job Seeker Nation Survey, 93 percent of recruiters look at social profiles when researching candidates.
For job seekers looking to stand out online and land a job fast, here is your ultimate guide for a successful social job search:
LinkedIn:
If you want to get noticed by employers, you need to be active on LinkedIn. According to Jobvite, 94 percent of recruiters are active on LinkedIn, whereas only 36 percent of job seekers use the platform.
Here are some tips to maximize your LinkedIn profile:
Include a professional headshot, concise yet catchy headline, and a summary filled with keywords that relate to your experience.
Publish LinkedIn posts to maximize your authority and credibility in your industry.
Upload your resume and some of the best work from your portfolio.
Facebook:
Facebook is more than just a networking site to connect with friends and family — it can also help you land a job. In fact, 76 percent of professionals found their best job through Facebook.
Here are some tips to maximize your Facebook profile:
Use the bookmarking feature to save job postings and articles.
Follow employers and interact with their Facebook pages.
Join career-related Facebook groups to interact with professionals and recruiters.
Post relevant content about your industry to spark conversations with professionals in your field.
Twitter:
Did you know Twitter is the most popular platform for asking for help and advice? Use your Twitter account as an opportunity to develop as a professional and position yourself as an expert in your industry.
Here are some tips to maximize your Twitter profile:
Write a Twitter bio that captures your resume and personality, while relating to your target audience. Your bio should include keywords and hashtags that describe your professional experience and passions.
Follow conversations online by using hashtags and participating in Twitter chats such as #JobHuntChat or #InternPro.
Interact with employers, recruiters, and professionals in your field by sparking conversations and asking questions.
Share content that pertains to your industry that your audience would find useful.
Google+:
Google+ is a great way to establish your online brand and connect with employers, In fact, 37 percent of job seekers use Google+ to research employers and their company cultures.
Here are some tips to maximize your Google+ profile:
When creating your Google+ profile, use relevant keywords to boost your visibility in Google searches.
Use Circles and Hangouts to connect with employers and influential people in your industry.
Share content that reflects your brand and ask questions about your industry to spark conversations with followers.
Pinterest:
Pinterest is an excellent platform for building your online brand and finding inspiration for your job search.
Here are some tips to maximize your Pinterest profile:
Create a resume board that links to your previous employers and the best pieces from your portfolio.
Follow brands and companies you’d love to work for and pin their content to your profile.
Pin images and articles that capture your personality and be sure to describe each pin.
Instagram:
Instagram remains to be a platform that is growing for job seekers. According to Jobvite, only 16 percent of job seekers use Instagram to research employers.
Here are some tips to maximize your Instagram profile:
Follow employers and brands you’d love to work for and comments and like on their photos.
Post photos from your portfolio, industry conferences you attend, company tours, and videos that illustrate your skills.
Use hashtags to network with people in your field and engage in conversations.
Once you’ve learned which platforms are the best fit for your job search, it’s important to make sure they’re consistent with each other.
There are a variety of ways to create a consistent online brand. Be sure to use the same account name for each profile, a professional email, and create a color scheme to use consistently across platforms. These details will help you stand out to recruiters and employers, and help you create a more memorable online brand.
What tips do you have for creating a successful social job search?
Val Matta is the vice president of business development at CareerShift, a comprehensive job hunting and career management solution for companies, outplacement firms, job seekers and university career centers. Connect with Val and CareerShift on LinkedIn.