Is Social Media important when looking for a new job? How do we make it work for us, rather than against us?

Looking for a new job can sometimes feel like a job in itself. It takes a great deal of time and can be quite daunting putting yourself out there, especially when you are often rejected! What role does Social Media play in your job search? The answer is that it plays a very large role. It can help you find opportunities, and it also helps the “opportunities” find out about you, therefore ensuring your online presence represents you professionally is of the utmost importance. So, what do need in order to use social media to help you land your next job? Let’s take a look:

Who do you know?

In the past, the only way you knew about any potential jobs was through your network of contacts in your industry, recruiters, and possibly by reading the newspaper. However, this has changed.  In today’s world, your professional network remains as important, but the way you manage it has changed. No longer do you keep a book of business cards, access to social media now helps you keep in touch with your network regularly, and in turn helps you grow and maintain this network more efficiently and effectively. It is important to manage your network as this will help you when you are looking for your next career move. 

Build your online presence.

Before I discuss your professional online presence, let’s take some time to discuss your personal online presence. How hard is it to “stalk” someone on Facebook? Not hard. How hard is it for a recruiter or a potential boss to stalk you on Facebook? Super easy. How do you think the photos of you at Friday night’s party look, especially the one where you are passed out in the corner? Not so good. What image do they put across about you? Not a good one. Think carefully about what is on your personal social media profile as this reflects directly on you – it is showing the world who you are and when you are actively looking for a new job, you want to the world to see you in your best possible light.

With regards to Linked In, many recruiters and industry professionals use LinkedIn as a way to network, stay in touch and share business related ideas and advice. LinkedIn is often a recruiter’s first port of call so having an up to date, completed profile plays a crucial part in you being contacted or not. Your LinkedIn profile is your CV, and you want your CV to represent you properly. 

So what should be on your Profile?

To get yourself noticed, there are a few fundamentals that you can do:

– Always have a photo of yourself, preferably in a professional environment, not on the beach or at that Friday night party…

– Complete as much information as possible about your current role and recent job history, including achievements and where you were able to add value.

– Detail your education history, particularly any awards or scholarships that you won.

– Ask for recommendations from clients and line managers to endorse the good work that you do. Think quality, not quantity – a couple of recommendations from your manager or a satisfied client are far more valuable than several endorsements from the colleagues you eat lunch with once a month.

– If there are forums or message boards within your professional networking site of choice, ensure that you contribute where appropriate so that you are viewed as an expert within your field. It’s your skills that count too

While online professional networking is never going to replace the fundamental steps involved in getting yourself a new role, it’s definitely something that can make the whole process a little easier and quicker.  Be honest about the image you are putting out there – it may be tempting to wow recruiters and hiring managers with your achievements and accolades, but if they’re not entirely truthful you can end up in a sticky situation in the long run.

Landing your ideal role is still about the skills and track record you have, how you interview and the cultural fit for a new organisation. But often, having the opportunity to consider a new role is all about who you know, so use online networks to reinforce existing industry relationships, build new ones and get yourself noticed.