There is no doubt that social media can be rewardingly used by job seekers – provided they know the right techniques.
Be it on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, let your friends, fans and followers know that you are a job seeker looking for a suitable opening. In fact, it will be helpful if you can even spell out what type of job you are looking for.
They may not be able to readily help you, but they will surely think of you when the right position becomes available.
The advantage is you will hear about openings before they are listed on job boards. This will brighten your chances of landing in the job.
Facebook is not merely for fun. Try to exploit your network there, especially if you already have a host of friends. Facebook can sometimes be more useful for job hunting than LinkedIn for job hunters.
Before you submit your resume, look up the hiring manager on LinkedIn and Twitter. LinkedIn profiles and Twitter feeds can be highly resourceful for employment seekers.
It would be worthwhile to hyperlink your resume. You may add the URL for your Twitter handle and LinkedIn profile to your contact information on your resume. But avoid adding your Facebook profile, since that is expected to be private.
Searching for jobs in social media sites has yet another advantage. It lets the prospective employer know that you are social media-savvy, a skill specially valued by many employers.
Twitter in particular offers tremendous opportunities to connect with professionals who might not otherwise be accessible to you. Make it as point to join industry chats on twitter.
Joining online conversations facilitates your keeping up-to-date on the industry, get in touch with useful contacts, and showcase your expertise in your field.
Most of the social networks are fabulous places to obtain advice on job-hunting and they allow you to mingle with other job seekers as well.
Remember to join LinkedIn groups that focus on job search. One of the best ways to use LinkedIn is you can search on the company you are interested in and hopefully find people who are connected to other people you know.
Your Turn:
What is your social media marketing strategy for HR? We’d love to hear your thoughts.