Social media has evolved over the years and gradually metamorphosed into a strategy that goes beyond mere sharing of pictures and content on the internet. If used strategically, social networking sites can help you land your dream job and meet your professional goals. According to the Randstad employer branding survey, 66 per cent of jobseekers in India use social networking sites to look for jobs, the most common media being Facebook (66 per cent), followed by LinkedIn (59 per cent), Google-plus (46 per cent), and Twitter (25 per cent). These statistics are an indication of the growing importance of social media in marketing the most important brand necessary to help advance your career – brand “You”.
Checking fit
Social networking sites provide employers a glimpse of who you really are outside the confines of your resume. Employers look at social media profiles to screen potential candidates over all phases of the selection process. Companies nowadays use social media to assess individual character and personality traits and check if there is a good cultural and organisational fit.
Digital footprint and personal visibility
Social media has blurred the lines between personal and professional identities and has made it all the more important for jobseekers to be aware of their digital footprint. It is vital to analyse the various aspects of your digital presence that include what other people share about you, posts where you’re mentioned, your images on social media, updates from groups you belong to, and also what you share about yourself, your profile and status messages, photos and videos, comments and blog posts.
Build a professional identity
You need to build your professional identity online in such a way that the higher your personal brand recognition the more likely you are to land a job, when potential recruiters search for and connect with you. Your digital footprint is the first tool that helps recruiters gauge the value of your personal brand.
Hop onto the bandwagon
As a jobseeker, you must realise you are a brand and create a powerful brand that resonates with your core competencies and attracts potential employers. Create a strong profile that highlights your knowledge and skills and ensure it has great, error-free content that encourages people to talk about and connect with you. The next step in grooming your social media profile is to choose a photo that portays you as a professional. You want to project yourself as a serious professional so it is important to clear out any inappropriate photos or videos from your profile.
Further, in your pursuit to amplify your online presence, be sure to contribute to discussions, ask questions within the industry forums you are part of, and post relevant comments.
Recruiters are ubiquitous on social media, where they keep scouting for top talent and it is critical to develop a solid relationship with them. While recruiters post job openings on social media platforms, remember that though they may not be hiring managers, building good relationships with them can connect you to the right people inside a company.
Social media is an indispensable tool for organisations to reach out to potential candidates and in order to entice recruiters you need to highlight your value across all your online profiles and communicate to the world what sets you apart from others.
How to use
Facebook is the most used platform by people of all ages, gender, and education. Through Facebook, you can follow recruitment companies and potential employers. Use the right privacy settings on your Facebook profile to determine how much information you wish to reveal to the general public. Likewise, LinkedIn is a great tool to connect with a wider global professional network. Upload your latest resume, update your profile regularly, and follow companies you’d like to work for, participate in relevant discussions on group forums, and network with like-minded people. LinkedIn can help establish you as a serious professional and enable potential employers to consider you for a particular role.
Use LinkedIn’s unique feature – the ‘Ask for recommendation’ section to send requests to your former managers, clients and colleagues asking them to give written references about your talent and work ethic.
Apart from these, your Google-Plus profile can help establish your credibility as someone who is abreast of the latest developments in the business world. What you share on your profile feeds Google with valuable information about you and helps recruiters get useful insights into your professional life. Having a strong Google-Plus profile also helps increase your SEO ranking, thereby providing increased visibility to recruitment agencies and potential employers.
Critical role
If used wisely, social media can play a critical role in your job hunt and give you a competitive edge over other job-seekers. The more active you are online and the more valuable content you share, the more attention you are likely to get. It is important to determine your professional goals and revamp your online profiles to stay ahead of competition.