As job seekers, should you use your social media accounts to land that dream job?
Let’s face it. Your dream job is hard to come by these days. The world of work is evolving, and so are the hiring priorities of many companies and hiring managers. You need to stay above the fray and not let your resume sink into a pile of paperwork from other job seekers.
So how do you ensure your resume truly stands out?
Social Media As Resume
Job seekers are using their social media accounts as a substitute for their resumes. In a world where everything is migrating to digital, job candidates feel that the traditional resume is no longer enough to showcase themselves to potential employers.
Candidates let their social media profiles on LinkedIn, Medium, Facebook, or Instagram showcase their skills, qualifications, and credentials to a hiring manager.
Looking at the data that’s out there, this does make a lot of sense.
Fifty-seven percent of job seekers use social media to look for jobs. This percentage rises sharply to 73 percent within the 18 to 34 age range. Moreover, 84 percent of companies have started recruiting via social media, while 67 percent of employers use social media to get to know more about a prospective candidate.
Furthermore, a whopping 74 percent of the 94 percent of hiring managers who use social media in their hiring process managed to hire a suitable candidate through a social media platform.
Given the ubiquity of social media as a vital platform in the hiring process, job candidates still fail to maximise the potential of their social media profile in their job search.
As a job seeker, what should your social media content entail? What social media account or platform is most suitable for your career? What appropriate social media links should you provide? How do you showcase your work experience to a potential employer? What kind of social media presence must you strive to maintain? What is social media profile attractive to a prospective employer?
Furthermore, does the resume still play a vital role in today’s job market?
Advantages Of Using A Social Media Account In Your Job Search
Utilising social media sites in your job search increases your visibility in the job market. Because your social media profile can be seen publicly, this allows you to network with professionals coming from various sectors – including CEOs and hiring managers. Other advantages of using a social media account in your job search are;
Networking: Social media platforms can help you connect with people in your industry, including hiring managers and recruiters. This can help you learn about job openings before they are publicly advertised.
Personal Branding: Social media can be a great tool for building a personal brand. You can use it to showcase your expertise in a particular field and demonstrate your thought leadership.
Research: Social media can help you research potential employers and learn about the company culture, values, and mission.
Recruiting: Some employers use social media to actively recruit candidates. They may post job openings on their company page, or look for potential hires on platforms like LinkedIn.
It’s important to keep in mind that social media can also be a double-edged sword, so it’s crucial to be mindful of what you post and ensure that your profile is professional and appropriate.
Aside from these, using social media to reach out to potential employers is increases your accessibility. You can apply for advertised jobs quickly and much more efficiently.
Disadvantages Of Using Social Media In Your Job Search
Whether via LinkedIn, Medium, Facebook, or Instagram, utilising your social media channels in looking for a job has disadvantages.
Privacy concerns: Social media platforms collect a lot of personal information, and not all of it is relevant to your job search. This can raise concerns about privacy and security.
Discrimination: Some employers may use information found on social media to discriminate against candidates based on factors such as age, race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Unprofessional content: Social media can be a double-edged sword. Posting unprofessional content or making negative comments about previous employers can harm your chances of getting a job.
Outdated information: Social media profiles can quickly become outdated. It’s important to regularly update your profile to ensure that the information is accurate and relevant.
Distraction: Social media can be a major distraction, especially during a job search. It’s important to use social media strategically and not let it consume too much of your time.
Dependence on social media: Relying too heavily on social media can limit the job search to only those jobs that are posted on social media platforms and not on other job portals.
It’s important to remember that not all employers will check your social media profiles, but if they do, it’s important to make sure that your profiles are professional, up-to-date, and appropriate for a job search.
Getting That Dream Job Through Social Media
Are you looking into maximising your social media channels to land that dream job? Here are some marketing strategies that could help you reach that goal:
Showcase your communication skills – Keep in mind that first impressions do last. Very much like the traditional resume, your social media accounts must be clear and concise, yet must be very informative. It should showcase the best version of you!
Have a professional profile picture – One of the best career advices you can ever receive is to ensure that you always look like the best version of yourself when looking for a job. It all starts with how your picture looks in your social media profile and your resume.
Have an attractive headline – Similar to the traditional resume, identify a concise social media/resume objective. It is also highly recommended to be more creative in telling a potential employer what you are looking for and the job description you want.
Describe your work experience – This is part and parcel of showcasing your communication skills. Even before the interview, make your social media profile speak volumes to a prospective employer or recruiter. Let them know clearly what you have done and what you can contribute to the company – even before any formal interview.
Be active on your social media platforms – A recruiter can easily see if your social media profile is updated or stale. Hence, be active on your social media platform by joining groups, getting updated testimonials and recommendations from former colleagues, and researching how other professionals in your sector are marketing themselves online.
Keep your resume updated and ready for submission – For many recruiters, your social media profile is but an initial step to jumpstart your actual application. If they are indeed interested, the recruiter will ask for your updated resume. Most of the time, your resume still reaches the hiring manager and the C-suite executives – when you reach the latter steps in the hiring process.
LAND THAT DREAM JOB WITH FOX SEARCH GROUP
Now that you have your resume prepared and your social media platforms updated, expand your wings and land that dream job with the help of the Fox Search Group. A reputable staffing firm with a long history of success while remaining anchored on diversity and inclusivity, collaborating with us gets you much closer to your dream job.