Using Social Media to Find That Job

Social media has completely revolutionized the way we search for jobs. Instead of buying the Sunday paper and circling any advertisement that sounds promising, it's now possible to find a new job by using Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media networks. Although the objective is the same, there are a few things you need to know about using social media for your job search.

If you plan to use social media to find a new job, set your Facebook profile to private before you send out your first application. Many employers now use social media to decide whether a particular applicant is worthy of an interview. You don't want a hiring manager to see a photo of you drinking or read a post you wrote when you were angry and needed to let off some steam. If you do not set your profile to private, at least remove any inappropriate photos and keep your posts free of profanity.

Don't be afraid to tell people you are searching for a job — unless you don't want your current employer to know about it, of course. It's possible one of your friends or relatives knows someone who hires people in your field. If someone is kind enough to set up a meeting with a new contact, take it seriously. Dress as you would for a job interview, show up on time and ask intelligent questions.

If you are looking for a job, don't assume hiring managers have all the power. Sure, they have the power to hire you, but you need to take control of your destiny by doing as much research as possible during your job search. Use social media to connect with hiring managers and research local companies in your industry. If you are willing to move to another city or state for a new job, use social media to find information about companies in other regions. Being thorough now can save you a lot of aggravation later.

You need to make it easy for hiring managers to find you on social media. Eliminate confusion by adding a high-quality photo to every account. Make sure your profile contains your city and industry or job title at a minimum. To make it even easier for hiring managers or recruiters to find you, list all the educational institutions you have attended. If a hiring manager receives your resume and wants to know more about you, having all this information available makes it easier to confirm you are the right person.

Social media has completely changed the way we do business. Instead of spending hours browsing the newspaper, all you have to do is sign up with several social networks. Each network makes it much easier to identify job opportunities and connect with decision-makers in your industry.

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