Three Advantages Of Looking For A Job Through Social Networks

I know. You are sick of throwing resumes without success. You have even thought of giving it a spin, filling it with color and drawings. But … What if the answer is not just how, but where? That Social Networks are already part of our lives is a fact. We no longer only use them to socialize. Now we entertain, inform and communicate through them. They are an extension of our lives and a showcase of who we are. So BEWARE, maybe some selector is watching you while I tell you this. 

It is not strange to find companies that post images advertising a job offer or groups like on Facebook in which the CV is requested directly. This is a double-edged sword: it is easy to access these offers, and it is also quick and easy to order them, but you must take care of the social network image that you use to apply for said offer.   

Don’t panic (yet) though, the preferred social network for companies to search for suitable job candidates is LinkedIn. Of course, do not lose track of Twitter, as it can be used to check your network of followers and social influence, as well as to know what you think. Many comments on news, events and even make recommendations. 

I leave you some clues about these platforms so you can see how you can give them a spin and turn them into your best showcase.

LinkedIn: ranks first as the professional social network par excellence with nearly 400 million users worldwide. It is one of the top search sites for recruiters. This is where you should take more excellent care of your profile since it works as an online CV. And it is that since its birth back in 2003, LinkedIn has done nothing but grow and connect more companies with candidates from the sector they are looking for every day. It even goes further since you are exposed to being contacted even if you are currently working by having an active profile on this professional social network.  

In addition to offering complete information, you must be active on the Internet, both by updating your profile based on your new skills acquired and by sharing relevant professional content about the sector or sectors of your work environment.

Share content from third parties and your own, as it is a way to show your skills and knowledge. Join groups related to your sector and actively participate in debates of interest. It is the way to expand your network of contacts. Some tips in this regard:

1. Share only relevant content from a professional point of view. Emotional phrases, funny announcements, and jokes are not the material you are expected to publish unless they are directly related to your work (coach, publicist, and cartoonist, respectively, for example. )
2. Do not use it to meet people without any professional interest. There are other options on the net for this, and it is usually reported, which will negatively affect your brand on the net.
3. When you contact someone, do not use the predefined message that it offers by default. Spend a few minutes and express yourself, be yourself, differentiate yourself.
4. Think carefully if each of the profiles that you accept within your network interests you. By applying a professional filter, LinkedIn becomes an excellent content curation and professional update tool.

Twitter: Despite not being a professional network in itself, it can offer you job opportunities if you know where and how to look for them. If you decide to incorporate this tool into your job search, use it professionally. Follow the people or companies you consider relevant in your job searches, such as companies you would like to work for, “influencers” in the sector, or job offer websites. I also recommend that you include profiles focused on career guidance in your networking.

Since you are using it as a professional network, link it with your LinkedIn account and, as you do with it, share content and comment on topics of interest. Increase your visibility and improve your brand.

From there, there are many other networks, and you must be the one to decide whether or not you are interested in integrating them into your job search. Keep in mind that the more you include, the more time you will need to invest in them, in addition to the ones you keep for your personal use. Using one network or another can largely depend on the type of job you are looking for and the audience (recruiters) you are targeting. 

Instagram, for example, can be an excellent complementary network for you, especially if you dedicate yourself to design, photography, Digital Marketing, or advertising.

In short, the most important thing is that you clean your profiles, decide the networks that you are interested in moving according to the sector and the recipients, and then feed them, showing the world how good a professional you are and how you are up to date with the industry.

You know where now I’m going to leave you three super advantages so that you can make the final leap to use social networks to search for a job :  

1- Networking

Social Networks will allow you to increase your network of professional contacts. Do not be shy and send creative emails with the links to your reference networks. LinkedIn even generates your connection with your name and surname to share your profile easily and quickly.   

In addition, these platforms notify you when your profile receives a visit or what status your job application is in. This speeds up the selection processes, at least on a first level. Therefore, in addition to networking, you will have quick feedback from your application to the offer.  

2- Free

They are free, and you can have your profile ready in a few minutes if you give it your full attention. Get rid of excuses not to start and increase your chances with a detailed and updated profile.  

3- Branding

Social Networks allow you to advertise yourself as if you were a brand. You have a personal brand that you must pamper. Branding, selling yourself, and showing the best of yourself. Keep in mind that everything you get will be made public and can be seen by everyone. Add the merits and give them publicity. How? In 2 easy steps:

STEP 1. Googled yourself – You’d be surprised how many times recruiters “google” the names of candidates. Even if you don’t want to, you will create the first impression about yourself, depending on what you find. Therefore, better control that image. Do not have abandoned profiles; remember that “what is not communicated, is not known.” Be active and show that, even if it is a social network that you use in your spare time, you have good attitudes for the position. 

STEP 2. Take care of and improve your online reputation:  looking back, you will surely remember when you opened your profiles on social networks. In those times, many of us used them exclusively for leisure, without caring too much about the image that others might receive of us. Now, all that has changed, and these platforms have evolved, along with the use we make of them. Nowadays, it is essential to show a healthy and even professional image. Check all your networks, even those you no longer use and close those that don’t interest you. Eliminate compromising information and, above all, correctly configure privacy.

Also Read: Social Ads: 10 Keys And Some Bonuses To Optimize Your Investment