How to Use Social Media to Land Your Next Job

A SHRM survey found that 82 percent of human resources professionals use social media to recruit “passive” jobseekers — otherwise known as people not actively looking for a job. That’s good news for those actually on the hunt. You increase the chances of being hired by just opening a social media account. 

But social media can be fickle. One misstep, and you could find yourself out of the running for a job. If you plan on going social with your job search, you must position yourself to not only stand out but make an impression that really counts. And here are the best ways to start:

1. Update social accounts. This should go without saying, but review all your social profiles. Make sure everything is up-to-date. If your LinkedIn profile is left incomplete, for example, it could be reason enough to get rejected from a job opportunity.
2. Sync your profiles. Compare the information on your resume with that on LinkedIn. Like an incomplete profile, inconsistencies could result in a big fat rejection.
3. Proof your posts. Treat your posts like you would your resume and proof them. Use proper spelling and grammar. Something as innocuous as “waz,” “Ima,” or “da” could leave a hiring manager questioning whether you’ve mastered English 101.
4. Check yourself(ie). First impressions count, even digital ones. Ditch the selfie for a more professional profile picture. You may even want to hire a photographer to snap a headshot, and then use that same picture as your profile image on all accounts.
5. Scrub your social footprint. Take a long hard look at your accounts. Get rid of any salacious pictures, foul language, and defamatory statements. You should also eighty-six those political rants. An employer may think twice about hiring you if you’re too vocal one way or another.

And I know what you’re thinking: “What if I just set my accounts to private?” That’s also a no-no. You’re actually giving the impression that you’ve got something to hide, and a hiring manager may not want to chance the secrecy.

6. Connect, connect, connect. You’ve already connected with friends and family — as well as a few former colleagues — but have you done enough to network with other professionals in your industry? LinkedIn’s Groups can help.

Check the directory for a Group in your industry. Join one and start making introductions. Get involved in conversations. Throw out a kernel of advice or two. Building a little social capital can go a long way to strengthening your network.

7. Get social. If you’re not active on social platforms, you could be missing out on potential job opportunities. Follow companies in your industry on LinkedIn and Twitter. That way, you’ll get notifications about new job openings.

“Like” companies in your industry on Facebook, and then take part in conversations about new products or developments. It’s one of the easier ways to raise your social profile and demonstrate your expertise to a potential employer.