10 Sep Increasing your job opportunities with social media

We don’t tend to think about social media as a way to find new job opportunities, but it can actually be a highly effective way to get your profile out to the masses, which gives you a greater chance of securing a new role. You don’t need to be particularly advanced in your knowledge of social media to be successful using this approach, basic knowledge will be sufficient. These are some ways to find new job opportunities using social media.

Share Your Portfolio

A great way to enhance your job search is to create a portfolio and share it on social media. You may want to go one step further and create your own WordPress website, which you can do quickly and easily, and it can have a massive impact. This is particularly relevant for roles within journalism, graphic design, photography, and similar professions where having supporting evidence of your work can give you greater credibility and helps you to make an impact and impress employers. Many employers ask to see portfolios these days, so you can be one step ahead if you already have this in place.

Search for Jobs

You can also use social media to actively search for jobs. Professional social media platforms like LinkedIn often advertise jobs, and if you search using hashtags, such as #openforwork #jobopportunities #recruiting, and similar, you may find that job opportunities have been posted on their company pages.

Join Relevant Groups

There are many groups you can join on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, which are relevant to your industry, and these can be a highly effective way to find new opportunities. You can join discussions, let members know you are available for work, and generally put yourself out there to relevant industry leaders.

Build a Strong Profile

Creating a strong profile can be a good way to get attention from recruiters, especially those who are headhunting for new vacancies. Your profile on LinkedIn, for instance, should have a summary of your key skills and experience, as well as the information from your CV. This will give recruiters a better understanding of whether you will be a good fit for their role, and they will be more likely to contact you. It is important to build a strong profile on your social media platforms, with any key information which might be attractive to an employer.

Keep it Clean

If you are active on social media, it can be like a minefield, and it can be difficult not to get involved in heated discussions or even full-blown arguments. If you are looking for a new role though, it is a good idea to give your social media a bit of housekeeping and delete any comments you have made which might not be too favourable with employers. Employers often check social media to get an idea of the kind of person you are, so it is worth making sure there is nothing their which might put them off, or cause embarrassment. Keeping your personal social media private is a good option, as it means prospective employers can’t snoop.

Take if Offline

Social media can be a great way to make contacts, but there is nothing like a face-to-face discussion. A good way to explore new job opportunities is to make your connections, and then request an in-person meeting. It can be easy to forget someone you have briefly spoken to on social media, it’s much more difficult to forget someone you have met face-to-face. This means that you will be etched in their mind, whenever new opportunities arise. It also ensures you keep in regular contact with other people, which will build your confidence while you look for a job.

Keep it Positive

Although you don’t want to be posting positive quotes every minute of the day, it is a good idea to make sure your social media profiles create the impression that you are the kind of person an employer wants to hire. Negativity will drive potential employers away. After all, who wants to hire someone who’s going to bring everyone else down? Let employers know that you are knowledgeable and passionate about the industry you want to work in, without coming across as too desperate at the same time.

Reach Out

If you find someone interesting who you would like to learn from, have a conversation with, or work with, don’t be afraid to reach out. This is the beauty of social media. You can speak to whoever you want and make connections which would never have been possible before. Most people are happy to help, and if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Social media can be a great place to explore new opportunities, and if you can get your profile up-to-date and engage with others, it can open new doors to exciting roles that you might never have considered before.