Can Social Media Really Help you Land a Job?

Most of us use some form of social media whether it's Facebook, Twitter or YouTube -- but how many of us are utilizing the power of social media platforms to find jobs or advance our careers?

While there aren’t any magic bullets in a job search, having a strong presence on social media can positively impact your face-to-face networking activities, as well as help you connect with people and tap into the hidden job market of positions that are only advertised through word of mouth. 

If you still have doubts about the effectiveness of this new job search tool, check out this infographic by MBA Online. Approximately 18,400,000 Americans said that Facebook got them their current job.

Time to brush up on your modern job hunting skills!

Here are four tips to help you use social media to your advantage. 

1. BUILD YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

Marketing yourself on social media means having the ability to position yourself as an influencer and expert in your field. A great way to impress potential employers is to have your own blog, Facebook page or Twitter account where you discuss the industry you are most interested in. If you take the time to make your content memorable, it will get shared and spread throughout various social media networks. 

Writing consistently can be very challenging, but it is essential to provide regular updates if you want the networking benefit of a blog.

And if you want to find out how you are perceived online, consider using a social media monitoring website like Reppler or Klout. These tools will give you an idea of your level of influence and image consistency. 

2. CREATE A POSITIVE IMAGE

When searching for a job on social media, it’s a good idea to be consistent in presenting yourself, personal brand, accomplishments, and employment history across your various network profiles and on your résumé.

Inconsistencies to watch out for are saying you do one thing on your résumé and something else on your LinkedIn profile. It’s also a good idea to use one good profile picture across your social media accounts because people will remember you more easily.

And keep an eye on your “personal profile”. Facebook is often used by recruiters to screen their interviewees, so delete any posts, photos or videos that you might not want a potential employer to see.  

3. CAPITALIZE ON LINKEDIN

A great profile on LinkedIn is the natural first step for your social media job hunting. So many people don’t use LinkedIn to the best of their ability and fail to complete their entire profile.

Update your CV with your latest experiences and don’t forget to complete the “skills section”. This will increase your chances of showing up in relevant searches and will help categorize your experience for anyone who happens to scan your profile.

Another good idea is to get recommendations. The best way to get them? Write one for someone else, people more often than not, obey the law of reciprocity, give them something and they'll want to give you something in return (LinkedIn even helps you out by asking them if they would like to return the favour).

4. BE PROACTIVE AND TAKE SOME RISKS 

If you want to use social media to your advantage, you will need to pursue and network with people who are more influential than you are. Talk, listen and learn from them. As a job seeker, it is very rare that you would ever get the opportunity to directly engage high-ranking executives and industry influencers, so take advantage of it while you can.

Twitter is the best example. It allows you to connect with people you don’t know based on common interests. What a great way to do some networking!

Don’t be shy, it’s all about taking risks every now and then!

Social Media Should Supplement Traditional Career-Building

After all these tips, bear in mind that one of the main functions of social media is to build your connections. You have to remember to take your networking offline and meet face-to-face, too. That's where the real magic happens. Attend Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter meet-ups, check out industry-related conferences, or just invite someone out for coffee.

Because to really get ahead, experts advise that you unplug yourself now and again. ;-)

We’d like to hear your thoughts! How are you using social media to help advance your career? What’s worked for you? What hasn’t?