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How Social Media Can Help Your Job Hunt

In the age of the Internet, your online presence can hold as much importance as your resume, your cover letter, and even your interview. While your skills and qualifications will always be a significant factor, your digital profile is there to assist your potential employer in developing a more well-rounded vision of you as a candidate. A 2017 survey by CareerBuilder showed that a whopping 70% of employers use social media to screen potential candidates.

Social media helps potential employers discern how you present yourself and if you are a good fit for their company. However, don’t fall into the all-too-familiar trap of thinking that employers are only looking at your LinkedIn profile; Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and even Instagram are all fair game too. Here are our top tips on how to use social media to your benefit during your job hunt.

Review your social media privacy settings

Reviewing your privacy settings on your social media profile may seem obvious, but you may be surprised by how many people overlook this crucial step. As a general rule, if you share content publicly, make sure it’s painting you in a positive light. Hide anything that runs the risk of being viewed as unprofessional. While there’s nothing wrong with posting entertaining photos of you enjoying a night out and drinks with friends, these images are probably best for your friends’ eyes only.

However, don’t go too far by completely deleting your social media profiles; research shows that 57% of potential employers are less likely to interview candidates if they can’t be found online.

Display your achievements and opinions

Don’t focus solely on censoring your social media presence; you should also use it to display your achievements and opinions on issues relevant to your industry. Use LinkedIn and Twitter to follow pages and join groups that are ‘related to your industry’. Don’t be afraid to contribute to conversations that will broaden your knowledge, create new contacts, and essentially help you get your name out there. This will also enable you to stay in the loop about new job opportunities and exciting developments in your industry.

Network network network!

Social media allows you to easily connect with like-minded people, not just socially but professionally. Long gone are the days of social media purely being used to communicate with your friends and post photos; today, social media is an incredibly powerful networking tool. After all, it’s no secret that who you know plays a significant role in being alerted of job vacancies, so take the time to network and use these connections. You can even ask people who you know to write a recommendation or endorse your skills on LinkedIn, as this is a simple yet effective way of adding credibility to your online resume.

Don’t be afraid to show your personality on social media

Lastly, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through! Your social media profiles don’t have to display only your career-related interests and achievements; your hobbies and extracurricular activities deserve attention as well. This shows your potential employer that you are a well-rounded individual with a wide range of interests, whether that be social netball, playing the piano, or photography.

Receive expert advice and tips from Allstar Recruitment

Allstar Recruitment is a national agency with offices in Perth, Joondalup, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. Our Perth recruitment agency has years of experience in research capabilities, targeted marketing, and interview techniques that achieve exceptional results.

If you believe that you have competitive skills and experience, our expert team at Allstar Recruitment will be eager to discuss with you what you want from your career. We will then provide expert interview tips and look for a position that will benefit both yourself and the company in the long run. You will even be paired with a consultant who will handle any questions or queries that may arise throughout the duration of the role and beyond. To get in touch with Perth’s leading recruitment agency, contact Allstar Recruitment on 1300 4 STAFF (1300 478 233) or [email protected].