Who’s Afraid of Social Media

. . .for job searches?

Unless you are a teenager (or thereabouts) social media can be scary. We’ve all heard the horror stories (or warned someone) about the guy who loses the job after the potential employer sees the pictures posted of him very drunk at a party. And once something is out there—it's out there forever! But there is a flip side to social media, a well-managed presence can both increase your job opportunities and showcase your achievements.

The most important social media site for professionals is LinkedIn. If you don’t already have an account and a profile, get one set up now! And if you do have one make sure it is set-up to best reflect your skills and achievements. Go beyond just listing your previous employment and get recommendations from people you’ve worked with along with Skills and Endorsements. If you need help both LinkedIn and several other sources offer assistance in getting you set-up.

LinkedIn groups are another way to connect and learn who is hiring. Select groups that reflect your career areas of interest and ones that are for your professional associations. You can actually start to turn these people into contacts that can help lead you to the job you want. Be sure you connect with your existing contacts & associates. Joining groups and following key people in your industry will provide exposure to the latest articles of interest. Commenting on these and sharing an article of interest or writing one is a great way to engage with your industry.

The other thing you’ll notice on LinkedIn is that employers and recruiters are actually posting jobs. You can apply for a job right on LinkedIn! Many other employment sites will use your LinkedIn profile for your resume and application, and you can export your LinkedIn profile to create a resume.

LinkedIn is really a gold mine of resources and information for any job seeker. Just keep your profile updated and solicit those endorsements.

It can be risky to have a Facebook page that a potential employer can see for several reasons. First, it tends to be more personal with photos and comments from friends. If you have an existing Facebook page, I’d suggest you make sure there is nothing posted there that can cause concern for a potential employer. And at the very least turn on the security controls so no one can post to your page without your approval.

You might want to expand your online presence to include Twitter which requires more attention, it is not a ‘set-it and forget-it’ platform. Again, just like on LinkedIn, follow the top influencers in your space, as well as executives you’ve worked with or would like to. Re-tweeting and sharing your own thought leadership pieces as well as others are a must here, so this is why it’s not a passive option.

If you are really feeling adventurous you might want to start your own blog. Commenting on the issues in your industry or field of work can itself be a path to a new job. There is also a chance you’ll get noticed, in a good way, by the leaders in your field. A blog is an excellent way to get not just exposure but showcase your talents and expertise.

If you only have the time and resources for one platform, make it LinkedIn. It will give you the most bang for your buck and it is an excellent resource. Happy job hunting!!

#embracethechange

_______________________________________________________________________

GATE Staffing has more than a decade of experience in technology recruiting and staffing. We can help individuals take the next step in their careers and organizations find the best fit candidates for the team. Give us a call at (877) 369-GATE, drop us an email or visit our website to get started!

We are proud to donate a portion of our revenue for every remote worker we place to the Northwell Health COVID-19 Emergency Fund.