4 ways to make the most of social media in your job search.
Social media is one of the most important platforms candidates can use in their job search. It helps job seekers gain insight into company news, how companies communicate to the public, employee sentiment and culture, and even open roles. Social media also provides job seekers a powerful and influential platform to network, have their voices heard and directly apply for jobs. Take a look below at how to make the most of social media in your job search.
1. understand which social media channels companies use.
Let’s face it. There are a wide variety of social media channels out there and not all of them are ideal for businesses or job-seeking purposes.
By far, LinkedIn is the number one professional networking social media channel that connects companies, clients, recruiters and candidates. It allows you to create a professional profile that lists your experience, gives you the ability to expand your professional network and lets you apply for jobs. If there is one social media platform you must be on during your job search, it’s LinkedIn.
YouTube offers companies a chance to showcase their services, products and company culture in video format. YouTube is a great way to get entertaining, digestible summaries on various topics from the company.
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are other common social media channels where companies frequently showcase their offerings, news, culture and open jobs. Although mainly a review site, Glassdoor does function as an interactive platform for candidates and companies to have open dialogues about what it’s like to work there, while allowing company newsfeed updates and listings of open jobs.
Less common are Pinterest and Snapchat although depending on the company’s strategy, you may want to check these out too. It’s also important to remember what market you’re looking for a job in. For example, WeChat and Weibo are vital social media channels in the Greater China region while VK is popular in the Russian-speaking world. Even some industries have specific platforms that function for social networking, such as GitHub for programmers.
2. know where to look for the right info.
Many companies differentiate their social media channels depending on the audiences they are targeting. Oftentimes, what comes to mind first are a company’s corporate social channels. The content on these channels typically targets potential customers, clients and journalists, and is used mainly to share company news, offers, thought leadership and other content for these audiences. Types of information you’d likely find on a company’s corporate social channels include new product releases, quarterly results, case studies, messages from the CEO, press releases and more.
Employer brand social channels, on the other hand, emphasize what working at the company is like. On these social channels, you’ll have a sneak peek into the company culture, team activities and events, employee testimonials and career opportunities.
At Randstad Sourceright, our @rsrglobal Instagram page is an example of an employer brand social channel. Not all companies have dedicated employer brand social channels so it’s a good idea to do your research, so you’ll be more likely to find the information you’re seeking. Both types of information will come in handy when networking with recruiters or hiring managers before or during your application or interview process.
3. network and stay up-to-date with company news.
One of the main reasons social media has become so successful is through its content sharing, voice of the individual and networking capabilities. Social media provides you with a platform to connect and open conversations with recruiters, hiring managers and other representatives of the companies you’re interested in. Companies also encourage their employees to share open job opportunities and referrals with their social networks.
When connecting with people to expand your network, it’s best practice to include a personalized message. Look to create meaningful connections with people in your industry or in the companies you’re looking to apply to, rather than connecting with as many people as possible.
LinkedIn remains the best platform to connect with people professionally; attempting to connect with recruiters or hiring managers over Facebook or other channels may be perceived as too personal and invasive. Ask existing people in your network to endorse your profile and provide you with written recommendations that will give you more credibility.
4. during applications and interviews.
Just as you’re using social media to look for jobs and research companies, recruiters and hiring managers are doing the same to you. Remember to go through your own social media profiles and delete any regrettable posts and pictures that may portray you negatively. This includes public posts that may be deemed inappropriate or offensive. You can always set your profiles to private and deactivate profiles you don’t use anymore.
When you land an interview, make sure you refer to your observations from the company’s recent posts. This shows that you have done your research and are already engaged with the company news and culture.
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