It’s the 4th of January and I can’t help but wonder how many people have already broken their New Year’s Resolutions. I’ve been bombarded with Facebook posts proudly boasting “A new year, a new me”, and can’t walk down the street without having a gym membership leaflet thrust eagerly in my face – I’m hardly one to talk, as my “Dry January” came to an embarrassingly abrupt end on the evening of Saturday 2nd. Despite these flimsy promises we insist on making to ourselves every year, there is one change that I’m sure a lot of us could make in order to reach job search enlightenment.
Two words – Social Media.
Make 2016 the year of Social Recruiting. I think it’s safe to say there’s not many people out there that are fully taking advantage of the wonders that Social Media can offer. Social networks are a goldmine at your fingertips, perfect for engaging with the people and businesses that can help to make your job search plain sailing.
Research has shown that in 2014, 73% of 18 to 34 year-olds found their last job through Social Media. Social sites can be used to get yourself noticed, or to engage with hiring managers and prospective employers. 95% of businesses post their latest jobs on Twitter and 48% also advertise on Facebook. Having a credible and active presence on Social sites is one of the most valuable tools for improving your job search.
Reaching out on Social Media is far easier than traditional methods such as email or over the phone. You can mention someone in a tweet by simply using @ and their name (or “handle”). For more information on how to engage with people via Twitter to improve the reach and impact of your interactions, see this Cheat Sheet. Similarly with LinkedIn, you can search for specific people, companies or jobs and connect with networks accordingly.
There are a wealth of alternative platforms to showcase your profile, particularly in the technology space, with sites such as GitHub and Stack Overflow often being favoured by developers, over the big players like LinkedIn and Twitter .
Consider how different networks can be used in different ways – for example the way you should present yourself on LinkedIn in a professional capacity is a far cry from how to engage with people from your personal Facebook account. This goes for content as well, don’t be tempted to post a picture of your latest Pinterest baking fail on LinkedIn – that stuff is reserved for the likes of Facebook and Twitter. 93% of hiring managers in the US searched for applicants on social sites so make sure if you’re visible to people you’re not connected with, that your photos and posts aren’t inappropriate.
Social Media is something that needs to be nurtured and maintained, you may have a LinkedIn account but if you’ve only got a few connections, and your profile isn’t kept up to date, then there’s no way it’s being used to its full potential. Posting or sharing interesting and relevant content is a great way to highlight your profile to potential employers and recruiters.
So use this New Year as an opportunity to kick-start your Social Media presence. Make sure you have well-presented and up to date information on relevant platforms to showcase your experience, connect to the appropriate networks and engage with exciting content! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and to like our Facebook page!
Source: Infographic from http://www.careerglider.com/
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Thinking about your next move? Visit www.burnssheehan.co.uk to browse our current vacancies and check out our blog for career advice and the latest tech industry insights.
