Using Social Media for a Job Search
Why you should?
- Proof
Social media such as Linkedin gives proof to your potential employer that you are who you say you are and that your skills are reflected in your profile. When recruiters and hiring managers are looking at your profile and they see you have engineers, managers, accountants in your network it gives them confidence that more than likely you are a good candidate.
2. Weeding out
Companies leverage Social media to determine whether you have views or beliefs that may not be in line with their organization. It is a way to further weed out the unqualified candidates. Nowadays, being the right candidate is more than just having the right skills but also being a cultural fit for the organization.
3. Networking
Platforms like Linkedin are great for networking with people in the same industry or people you went to college with. Most hiring managers will look into their network before hiring someone who is outside. When recruiters are looking to fill a position they usually post within their network. Being well networked means you get to see job posts before they are made public.
4. Intel Gathering
As a job searcher, one of the things you want to do is look at other people’s profiles who have attained the position you are applying for and seeing what their qualifications are. Usually that will be a great pointer on what skillsets you need. For example, if you are applying for Senior Network Engineer position at Facebook, the best thing is to look at profiles of similar people with such positions in other companies. One can even post in reddit and ask what questions and scenarios would the interviewers ask for a Facebook position etc. The more you know the more prepared. You can also research the employer and learn about the hiring manager via linkedin or twitter. The more you know about the company and what they do the better you will be at asking intelligent questions about your position. Employers want you to show them you have a general interest and enthusiasm about their company.
List of Social Media to use
- Linkedin (best for job searches, networking and displaying your skillset)
- Facebook (some employers may want to see if you are good cultural fit. It is good for networking)
- Reddit (it good for researching about jobs – what skillset, great place for forums & discussions; can get good advice)
- Quora (great place to get questions answered)
- Instagram (for creative jobs, this is a good place to showcase your skills)
- Twitter (great for networking and researching your potential employer/client)
Follow Rinmac on social media for more good content, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram.
