Every day there are more reasons to think twice about our presence on social media, and recent outages at Facebook and Instagram also send a cautious reminder to small businesses about the dangers of relying solely on social media for customer outreach and engagement. As a Recruiter- I don’t even want to think about what I would do if I couldn’t use LinkedIn to find candidates! But like most things, the answer may not be cutting something out completely, but using social media for job searching with intention and moderation.
In terms of social media and job hunting, a 2018 CareerBuilder survey estimates that 70% of employers look candidates up on social networking sites before making a hiring decision, and 47% of employers are less likely to call candidates who have no social media presence. More and more, employers are using social media for recruitment. If you have absolutely no presence on the internet, it may look like you either have something to hide, or nothing to show for your accomplishments, and either one of those conclusions is going to send a negative message.
Recruiting and Social Media: How Social Media Can Help You Find a Job
- Pick the right platform for the job you seek. If you are looking for a job as a Social Media Coordinator, you will obviously need to be a lot savvier on multiple apps. You will want to generate an impressive network of connections and show that you know how to communicate with content that is professional, knowledgeable, and applicable to your chosen field.
- If you are uncomfortable with using social media to find a job, build a website or blog to highlight your unique expertise and skills. This will provide valuable information to a potential employer with a social media recruitment strategy about what you have to offer, without having to worry about a friend tagging you in a photo from college.
- Check your social media privacy settings before you start your job hunt. Take the time to audit your social pages, and make sure that everything that is publicly visible is something you would feel comfortable showing a potential employer. This is an important step for anyone using social media for job searching.
- When using social media to find a job, build your network and connect with people relevant to your profession! But that doesn’t mean sending a connection request to everyone is the best idea. When you are connecting with a professional online, think about how you can help them or how they can help you. Is there a common denominator between the two of you- a shared connection, a shared interest, a shared past/future employer? Those shared values are going to make your connections, online and in person, mean that much more beyond just social media and job hunting.
For more information about social media for job seekers and how to improve your LinkedIn presence for job networking, check out our blog here!
