Leveraging Social Media for an Effective Job Search
Did you know that 5.07 billion people use social media worldwide? That’s 63% of the global population! In the United States, this number increases to 72.2%, with 246 million people using at least one social media platform.
Social media has become a significant part of everyone’s lives. From having only 5% of U.S. adults active on social media back in 2005 to having over 70% of U.S. adults active today, social media has seen a significant increase in activity over the last 20 years. Today, individuals are making six figures being social media influencers just by posting daily on these platforms. Now, not only can you make money off of social media, but you may be able to find your next job using it.
Twenty years ago, job seekers relied on Craigslist, newspapers, and in-person visits to find employment opportunities. Today, platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter have revolutionized the job search process, rendering traditional methods like Craigslist and newspapers nearly obsolete.
In recent years, social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn have challenged traditional job boards by becoming key players in local job searches. If you went on Facebook a few years ago, you could find more than 100 job openings posted. However, in February 2023, Facebook discontinued its job board, allowing other platforms like LinkedIn to strengthen their dual role as both a social media platform and a job search site.
But job postings aren’t the only way social media can aid your job search. Here are other ways these platforms can help you find your future career:
Advertising Yourself
One of the primary reasons to use social media for job hunting is to showcase yourself to potential employers. As we look ahead, traditional resumes may become obsolete or undergo significant changes in the next 10 to 20 years.
To prepare, take the time to refine your social media profiles for prospective employers. Remove any outdated or inappropriate photos and posts, and most importantly, update your LinkedIn page. LinkedIn is the premier platform for job seekers, with over 90% of recruiters using it daily to source candidates.
While only 55% of recruiters use Facebook for candidate sourcing, many will review your Facebook profile when considering you for a position. They do this to ensure you’re a good fit for their company culture. Therefore, if you’re on the job hunt, make sure to enhance your Facebook profile as well.
Creating Your Network
Social media is an excellent tool for expanding your network. Platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) offer unparalleled opportunities to get your name out there and connect with others.
Before social media, there wasn’t an easy way to contact someone in a company without meeting them in person or coming across their email online. Now, contacting anyone is just a click away.
To build your network effectively, we recommend connecting with professionals in your field. For example, if you’re a Marketing Coordinator in Providence, connect with other Marketing Coordinators and Marketing Managers in the area. However, don’t immediately ask for a job after connecting. Instead, take the time to learn about them, their career paths, and more. Building genuine relationships can open up more opportunities for you.
Once you’ve established a rapport through consistent communication, feel free to share your elevator pitch. For more tips on perfecting your pitch, check out our blog post, “How to Master your Elevator Pitch.”
Finding More Jobs to Apply to
As said before, many of these social media platforms opened their own job boards for job seekers to find jobs. Initially, these job boards weren’t too successful in gaining traction. However, due to Indeed and ZipRecruiter raising costs to post jobs, these social media platforms have become the free alternative to recruit talent.
Show Your Worth
While it may feel like an invasion of privacy, some companies still habitually review your social media accounts to determine if you’re a good fit. In these cases, it’s essential to present yourself in the best light.
Start by removing any photos of partying or other unprofessional content and replace them with more professional or family-friendly posts. On LinkedIn, avoid sharing content that you would typically post on Facebook. LinkedIn is a professional platform, so ensure your photos depict you in professional attire and your language is appropriate for the workplace.
Highlight your recent accomplishments, whether it’s a promotion at your current job or an award from school. Sharing these achievements can significantly boost your visibility and demonstrate your value to potential employers. The more you engage on social media, the greater the chance someone will recognize your worth.
Conclusion
Enhancing your social media profiles can greatly benefit your job search. To illustrate its impact, a study found that 122 million people received an interview through LinkedIn, with 35.5 million being hired by someone they connected with on the site. As social media becomes the dominant method for job hunting, it’s wise to optimize your accounts sooner rather than later.
These numbers are expected to grow in the next few years, making social media an increasingly essential tool for job seekers. Staying updated on emerging platforms can give you a competitive edge over others.
Remember this the next time you post on social media: According to a CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers screen candidates’ social media profiles before hiring. Even more striking, 54% of employers have decided not to hire a candidate based on content found on their social media profiles.
Source: Inc.com
For more information or to look for job opportunities in your area, check out our website at www.citypersonnel.net or call 401.331.2311.
