How to Leverage Social Media to Enhance Your Job Search and Land Your Dream Job
Social media platforms have become integral to connecting with everyone around the world. But for a long time, it was only used for personal and leisurely use. But Social Media has evolved into so much more. Employers now use these platforms, for example, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to do their research, marketing and most importantly, RECRUITING! Using Social Media is an excellent opportunity to impress so many amazing brands out there and get ahead of every other graduate!
Build Your Personal Brand
Creating an impactful and inciteful professional profile within Social Media that represents a complete picture of you can open a whole new perspective about you that wouldn’t be able to be seen on a resume.
Online reputation has become and will continue to be a vital asset or even your biggest weakness. Companies now hire not only on CVs and cover letters but the information they find online. 75% of internal recruiters are required to search for job applicants online, and interestingly, 70% of internal and external recruiters have rejected candidates based on information they found online. This highlights that it’s essential to build a profile that demonstrates confidence, reliability and proactivity. Recruiters may take one look at your Social Media accounts, specifically LinkedIn, and judge if you’re worth a call to discuss the role.
Join groups related to your work and industry
Websites like The Student Room or Social Media Groups across Facebook and LinkedIn are fantastic places to learn about your ideal industry and what other graduates have done to secure their first role in sales. It becomes much easier to secure your first job when you learn from fellow graduates and understand their path to success.
LinkedIn Searches
One trick that not many graduates will know about is “Boolean Searches” on LinkedIn. Within the search box at the top of LinkedIn, type specific phrases that recruiters or recruitment agencies use within their profiles or posts. This includes “hiring”, “new opportunities”, or even “graduate recruitment opportunities”. The more you do it, the more you’ll find certain phrases that work best for you and connect you with the right people! BUT REMEMBER! Put everything you type into speech bubbles, like the phrases above.
Research employers’ profiles
You’ve secured a job interview at a fantastic job company, amazing! Now it’s time to do some research. This includes their company social media sites, USPs, and who will be interviewing you. Understanding who they are, what they do and how they are successful gives you the best chance to leave a strong impression. More than 50% of employers will not hire candidates if they present no knowledge of the company. Arriving without preparation leaves you vulnerable and allows the interviewer to make a straightforward decision on whether to hire you or not.
