Everyone’s talking about using social media for job-hunting. But how,
exactly, should you do that? Here are 10 smart and strategic ways to
network your way into a job using three popular online tools: Facebook,
Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Whether on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, let
your friends and followers know that you’re looking for a job. Even
better, tell them what type of job you’re looking for. They may not know
of any openings right now, but if they know you’re available, they’ll
think of you when a position opens up. That will help you hear about
openings before they’re listed on popular job boards.
Facebook may be for fun, but don’t make the
mistake of overlooking your network there, especially if you already
have hundreds of friends. Facebook can sometimes be more useful for job
hunting than LinkedIn, because friends who know you personally have more
of a stake in helping you. They want you to succeed—so use that to your
advantage.
Make sure your Facebook profile is private.
Much of your Facebook profile is public by
default, and you probably don’t want a potential employer browsing your
personal updates. Under Account, then Privacy Settings, choose “Friends
Only.” That way, an employer who Googles you won’t be able to see the
details of your profile, your photos, or your personal status updates.
Find information about hiring managers.
Before you submit your resume, look up the
hiring manager on LinkedIn and Twitter. (If he’s smart, he’ll make his
Facebook profile private.) LinkedIn profiles and Twitter feeds are gold
mines of information on individuals. Knowing more about the person who’s
hiring can help you tailor your cover letter to their needs and
desires.
Hyperlink your resume.
Add the URL for your Twitter handle and LinkedIn
profile to your contact information on your resume. (But don’t add your
Facebook profile, since that’s private.) Not only does this offer the
employer another way of getting in touch with you and seeing how you
interact online, it also shows that you’re social media-savvy, a skill
valued by many employers.
10 Smart Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search
Facebook’s list feature allows you to continue
building your network without worrying about professional contacts
seeing your personal updates. Under Account, then Friends, create a new
list, and customize your privacy settings so professional friends can
only see what you want them to see. That way your close friends can
still keep up with your photos and personal updates.
It’s all about who you know, right? Don’t just
use the connections you already have. Figure out who you need to know to
land a certain job—likely the hiring manager—and make that connection,
whether by getting them to follow you on Twitter by retweeting their
tweets, or growing your LinkedIn network until they become a
third-degree connection. Twitter in particular offers opportunity to
connect with professionals who might not otherwise give you the time of
day.
If don’t like what pops up when you Google
yourself (because you know an employer will Google you), create a
LinkedIn profile. Fill out your profile completely and become active on
the network. That will help push your profile to the top of Google’s
search results, which means a potential employer will see what you want
them to see.
Look for chats that revolve around your
industry, or better yet, the industry you want to work in. Joining
online conversations helps you keep up-to-date on the industry, meet
helpful contacts, and showcase your expertise in your field. You may
also want to network with other job seekers through weekly conversations
like #jobhuntchat or #careerchat.
All three of these networks are great places to
find advice on job-hunting and mingle with other job seekers. Join
LinkedIn groups that focus on job search. Follow career experts on
Twitter, and “like” their pages on Facebook. That way you’ll get tips
for your search even when you’re not looking for them. You can find U.S.
News Careers on Facebook and on Twitter.
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