Employers and recruitment agencies actively use social media to source suitable candidates online. This is why you need to make sure your profiles are updated and, most of all, professional.
Social media has increasingly become one of the most preferred and popular means of job search. Utilising the power of social media helps potential candidates in more ways than one. Not only does it open doors to new opportunities, but social media also helps build your social brand to position yourself as a great candidate.
According to recent HR Magazine, 73% of millennials found their last position directly through a social media platform according to HR Magazine.
As opposed to sending CVs to recruiters via email, social media platforms offer greater online visibility to your professional profile and help you connect with people in a wide range of sectors. The key, however, is to understand the social media nuances in your job search and leverage it to maximise your chances of securing a job.
Below we have collated some top tips on how you can utilise a range of social media platforms to help your job hunt
LinkedIn offers a free, basic membership to anyone who wants to create and maintain a professional profile online.
The popular professional networking site is reportedly being used by over 61 million people looking for jobs every week. Whether it’s about building a strong professional network, looking for a job, scouting for internship opportunities, or learning a new course, LinkedIn is helpful in more ways than you think.
Here is what you can do:
Create a strong professional profile and include all your relevant skills, education, and work experience.
Connect with your past employers or colleagues and ask them to write a reference for you. These can prove invaluable to potential employers looking at your profile.
Subscribe to LinkedIn newsletters of some of the recruiters from the companies you want to work for and keep yourself updated with the latest news in your chosen industry.
Join LinkedIn groups related to your industry and stay up-to-date.
Bonus Tip:
Pop your account on “Open to Work” mode to let employers know you are in search of a new role.
Facebook is currently the biggest social networking site with 11.2 million active users for the 25-34 year old age group in the UK alone, making it one of the most popular jobs searching social sites.
Here is what you can do:
Join local Facebook groups in your area and network with members. Keep an eye out for any local networking or recruitment events taking place and attend those as and when you can.
Link your Facebook profile with your LinkedIn profile and make sure that the information regarding your experience and education is consistent on both platforms.
Connect and communicate with employers and stay up-to-date with what’s happening in your industry. Keep an eye out for any job postings on company pages.
Even though Instagram is a more visual-centric platform, you will be surprised to know how it can be leveraged for a job search.
Here is what you can do:
You can use Instagram to get to know about a company’s culture, what goes on behind the scenes in their day-to-day operations, how they celebrate their colleagues, and a lot more informal information that wouldn’t usually be available on LinkedIn.
Engage with their social presence, participate in polls and contests, like and comment on their posts, basically anything that catches their attention and shows that you are interested.
Search for relevant hashtags like #jobs #vacancies and shortlist companies based on jobs that you are interested in.
Bonus Tip:
Consider creating a separate account specifically for job searches and keep it public to reach out to employers.
The popular microblogging site has some great job search benefits that can be used by candidates.
Here is what you can do:
Follow companies and experts in your preferred sector and stay up to date with the latest news, company insights, and industry trends.
Retweet, like, and comment on posts that you find are relevant to your job search. Engaging with them is a great way to stay on their radar and stand a chance for being a potential candidate.
Include an appropriate bio that describes your skills, or your industry of choice, along with a link to your LinkedIn profile or your CV.
Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X offer valuable resources for job seekers in their pursuit of finding their ideal job. These platforms enable individuals to connect with potential employers, explore job listings, and stay updated on industry trends.
Additionally, Challenge-trg Recruitment acknowledges the importance of utilising social media to reach out to job seekers and effectively promote job opportunities. To get the latest updates from social media channels, make sure you give us a follow on our accounts:
