How To Use Social Media To Improve Your Career Prospects
Social Media continues to evolve and has become far more than just a platform to connect. It has become a major influencer for business for both the employer and the employee. How you use social media has great implications for your future job and career prospects. Increasingly, employers are turning to social media to screen candidates before hiring – to determine whether they are a right fit for the position. Below are four tips for how you can use your social media networks to give your career a competitive edge.
1.) Build Your Personal Brand
One of the greatest elements of social media is that it allows you to curate an online image that reflects only what you want to show. It is only natural that persons would want to highlight their positive attributes and achievements via these platforms. When potential recruiters review your social media profile, they are trying to see if the information on your cover letter and cv/resume matches who you really are. Use your social media platforms to portray an image of an individual with expertise in a particular field, the right attitude towards work, social values and a keen intellect. Keep your public profiles as professional as possible. Your profile picture should depict you as approachable and professional at the same time. Refrain from posting embarrassing or inappropriate photos. What you post should not be at odds with the requirements of the types of jobs you aim to apply for. Always put your best foot forward online!
2.) Show Your Expertise and Interests
There will always be other persons with your similar level of education, work experience and job-related skills. Use social media to help to set yourself apart from your competitor. Demonstrate that you possess a wide array of interests and key qualities that would make you a great addition to any organisation. Don’t be hesitant to post status updates and photos that display what you love doing in your free time. This may include interests such as cooking, traveling or sports. These show that you’re well rounded and can balance work and life. If you are a great writer, publish a blog or personal articles on topics you are passionate about to your LinkedIn and Facebook pages. Are you involved in several community and academic groups? Post photos of your activities and participation in these organisations. Be sure to use your social platforms to highlight your expertise, gifts and talents.
3.) Stay Active and Be a Resource
Having an excellent social media profile displaying your expertise and interests is just the first step. Ensure that you are constantly active on your profiles engaging with others, posting quality content and sharing your insight and opinions on the latest trends and news within your industry of choice. Be a thought leader and offer exciting perspectives to the conversation. Follow companies of interest to you. Read through the posts they share to help you get a sense of their company culture. It will help you in responding to interview questions if they invite you for one. Many companies also post their job vacancies on their social media accounts. Leverage yourself by building your brand and staying active. Social media can be an effective job-searching tool if you use it right.
4.) Don’t Get Too Personal
Social media has given us a platform and the power to easily express our opinions, thoughts and feelings. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Recruiters will judge you by what you post. Hence, avoid becoming too controversial online, long rants, over posting, trolling or sharing too much intimate details of your personal life, especially on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. Save the arguments, rants and controversial opinions for offline.
By Sherise Brooks
