Job hunters should use social media to have a great online presence and have an advantage over other job seekers. Potential employees can learn more about your skills through social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and hopefully they will discover skill sets that match their company’s needs.
Social media sites also allow you to connect with friends that work in companies you are interested in. In addition, these sites let you discover job openings that might be interesting.
Since online social networking is such as vital tool in today’s job market, Kerry Hannon, a contributor from Forbes.com, shares the following don’ts when it comes to using social media for job hunting.
1. Don’t put up ill-advised posts
This may be obvious, but when you scroll down your Twitter or Facebook feeds, you’ll see people putting up “foolish” posts all the time. You should avoid posting inappropriate posts, including racist jokes and the like. Similarly, don’t use the public social media to make negative remarks against your previous boss or employer.
(The Younique Gold Tribe (CC) via Flickr)
2. Don’t be ignorant about your already existing internet profile.
This is so that you can remove any unwanted picture or comment about you, or plan ahead in case a potential employer inquires.
More than just an exercise of vanity, the first thing you can do is to Google your name. Then, go to your Facebook account and remove any unwanted pictures. You can also go to Twitter and review all the tweets you made and the tweets mentioning your name.
3. Don’t miss having a profile in LinkedIn
Every job hunter should have a LinkedIn profile. Businesses usually go to this social media site if they want to fill up jobs. Also, LinkedIn is the place where users can build their vast professional networks, even connecting with people from their younger years.
This aspect of networking, connecting with others, is very important in today’s market. When employers know you, there’s a greater chance they will hire you.
Furthermore, as an older applicant, when you show employers that you have an e-profile in LinkedIn, they become less worried about the possibility that you may not be as technology savvy as younger applicants.
But it isn’t enough that you have a LinkedIn profile. Make it an active profile by constantly updating it with stories that are relevant to your specialization and field of expertise. Be sure that you are using your LinkedIn profile to connect with as many significant people as you can. By doing so, you increase your chances of getting a job interview, having a new client, etc.
4. Don’t share too much information
If you share everything in your social media profiles, spending too much time on these sites, this makes people think that you aren’t using your time efficiently. Besides, practically no one is interested in knowing everything that you have done for the day, as they have their own matters to attend to.
5. Don’t forget to share the most important information
Aside from having a social media presence, it may also be necessary, depending on your profession, to host your own website or maintain a blog.
To maintain your social media presence, you can hire managers to keep your social sites professional and even personal, adhering to your preferences and how far you are willing to go in terms of engaging with your audience.
The stuff you post in your social media accounts let others know who you are. It’s not just about the work-related stuff that companies are interested in; they also assess whether you fit in the culture of the company. As such, your posts in Google Plus, LinkedIn, Twitter and other sites can be about a variety of categories, from your favorite sports team to news about how great your city is, among others.
By sharing your hobbies and interests, you open avenues for people who are interested in the things you find pleasing, and that connection can lead to new clients or job opportunities.
6. Don’t neglect web tools that help you know more about your potential employers
It is very easy to know a lot about companies and individuals by just following their tweets. You should use Twitter for this purpose, and also to be up-to-date with their accomplishments and the latest developments and news in your industry of interest.
The power of social media networking is that you don’t have to wait to get the approval of companies and individuals so that you can follow them. If you want to know more about your employers, all you have to do is Google them, their company and their clients.
7. Don’t be shy about sharing your achievements
There is a proper way of sharing all of your accomplishments in social media sites. In LinkedIn, for example, there are sections in your page where you need to put all of your achievements in, including your recognitions, awards, speaking engagements, etc. It is also okay to ask your important contacts to give you recommendations in LinkedIn.
