Ignoring social media in your job search can be detrimental to landing a new job. Not only is it important to get active on these platforms, but you may also need to step outside of your comfort zone in order to really stand out to potential employers. Check out what some experts had to say about this topic below.
What’s the best example you’ve seen of a job seeker utilizing social media in their job search?
Be Bold By Reaching Out to the Right People Online
A candidate who has created a unified and searchable online presence and who uses social media to reach out directly to potential employers is a great example to follow. By mentioning hiring managers on Twitter to learn about open positions, and sharing links to relevant work samples, candidates show initiative and display passion for their industry.
– Sudy Bharadwaj, Jackalope Jobs
Job Search Social Media Done Right: Emily Hankinson
Before graduating in 2012, Emily Hankinson was active on Twitter, Twitter chats, Facebook, and LinkedIn. She made it clear she’s bright, articulate, maintains a positive attitude, is more than willing to help others by blogging a variety of places, including YouTern.com. Her own blog was a consistently excellent resource for job search, networking, and social media tips. The hard work paid off…a few weeks after graduation, she is the newest Account Executive at boutique agency 22Squared.
– Mark Babbitt, YouTern
Utilizing Video to Show Off Skills and Connect Faster
Job seekers utilizing social media to distribute their video resumes are showing off their tech-savvy and communication skills. By using social media to provide employers with shortlinks to their video resumes, they’re showing they understand the new expanding world of social media and it’s ability to connect people faster. By recording a video resume, candidates are showing off communication skills, passion for the company, and personality.
– Josh Tolan, Spark Hire
Creativity Wins The Race
When the bulletin board-esque Pinterest first gained traction, job seekers found a new social media modem to help them get hired. Pinners posted their resume to Pinterest as a portfolio, creating a specific bulletin board to showcase their work. This is especially effective in graphic design portfolios, but anyone with an online portfolio can pin their work. While Pinterest is just one example, it demonstrates the true crux of getting hired: creativity is key. Find a new outlet or a new way to showcase your work and catch the eye of hiring managers.
– Afifa Siddiqui, Careerleaf
What is Google Telling Your Potential Employer About You?
Think of your social media use in this way: If you have positively enlightening profiles and an active blog, you can add 10-20 percent value to your online and personal brand. I have a friend who’s online brand increased substantially, validated by an old employer subscribing to his blog and considering him an “expert” in their field.
– Mark Anthony Dyson, Competitive Resumes
Innovate Traditional Practices
The best example I’ve seen of a job seeker utilizing social media was when a job applicant simply went out of his way to tweet at the HR director for a marketing department. He thanked her for her time and expressed his excitement for the opportunity. Not only did this act as a follow up (always recommended), it showed his understanding of the importance of social media.
– Ryan O’Connell, Digital Talent Agents
Twitter Connects
I once picked up an ongoing writing gig from Twitter. Before I moved from Pennsylvania to Brisbane, Australia, I was working on my freelance career and album reviews. I found an outlet called Scenewave (scenewave.com) based in Brisbane, and started tweeting some sweet-nothings and music critique their way. Eventually, I got in touch with one of the leads, got to Brisbane, got a few pints with the team, and the rest is history.
– Adam Itkoff, Fueled
Unite Your Social & Professional Self: Update Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn with Professional Information
Maintaining an up-to-date online presence is critical to professional success, especially for job seekers. Both recruiters and job seekers are heavily crediting networks like Facebook and LinkedIn for employment/candidate opportunities. With technology and social networking rapidly evolving, those who have actively engaged through Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Twitter are quickly finding themselves ahead of the competition.
– Dan Finnigan, Jobvite
Use Social to Get the Latest Company Information
It’s extremely impressive to a recruiter when they see that you’ve engaged with their company on social sites and shows your dedication to working for them. When you’re in an interview, think of how you can impress the hiring manager by spouting off news about the company that was released within the past couple days…or even hours! Twitter also allows job seekers to follow job search feeds and recruiters in your industry. This gives you real time updates on new jobs and you’re able to pounce on that opportunity you’ve been looking for.
– Jayme Pretzloff, Wixon Jewelers
Going Above and Beyond to Aid Their Own Cause
Someone we’ve recently interviewed started off by sending e-mails to everyone in his LinkedIn network, where one contact responded to him regarding news that our company might be hiring. He then contacted us out of the blue, without us ever having put out ads stating available positions. Lo and behold, we interviewed him and are now in negotiations about the peculiars of the job we wish to hire him for.
– Ian Aronovich, GovernmentAuctions.org
Guest Expert:
Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for job search and human resources technologies. She is also the instructor of Find Me A Job: How To Score A Job Before Your Friends, author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships (2011) and #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.