LinkedIn and Looking for Work

You should know that aside from exchanging memes with your friends or sharing cute pet photos on your timeline, Social Media is a very powerful tool that can aid you in your job search and can also be an avenue for you to create revenue! It is a good place to build and strengthen networks that might even land you an interview in that company you are currently targeting.

Unlucky with your job hunt? Social Media is your best friend!

Finding a job, especially at this time when the news about a global pandemic is rampant, can be quite challenging. Hundreds of millions of workers worldwide suffered the loss of their livelihood amid the COVID-19 crisis, and almost half of the worlds’ workforce is currently feeling the heavy blow as the jobs in the informal sector, which are quite unstable, are on the brink of ceasing to exist. LinkedIn and looking for work have become more intertwined than ever, as the spread of the virus also paved the way to make almost everything automated, including job search.

The rise in the unemployment rate increases the competition among professionals, who are contending against each other for the limited jobs in the market. LinkedIn and looking for work have become essential tools in this digital era. So, if you are feeling like you’re running out of luck as you’re submitting resumes out to apply for several job openings, why don’t you stop for a while and take some time to review your Social Media profile! Building a positive and professional online presence can help you stand out from the crowd of applicants.

What is Online Presence and why do we need to create an effective one to build our careers?

When we surf the internet, we often read or hear people say the term ‘online presence’ but what is really the meaning of it and why is it important for us to even consider it? Online Presence is the internet activity, including the posts and content which a user, a person or an organisation, creates. LinkedIn and looking for work are pivotal aspects of this, as a person’s online presence through the use of social media makes it easier for recruitment agencies to filter out candidates. So, aside from preparing the perfect resume and cover letter to support your job search, you must also spend some time to review your virtual identity and here are the reasons why.

1. Almost every candidate is on Social Media.

Recruiters knew that every ideal candidate for their company is on Social Media. LinkedIn alone has 722 million members worldwide and people are forming communities and groups on Facebook that narrow job searches to local hiring and ideal roles. LinkedIn and looking for work strategies are critical for Millennials and the new generation of job seekers who are also active on Twitter and other social network sites. Wherever they look, Social Media is an incredible platform to identify and recruit talented individuals to work for their companies.

2. Higher quality candidates

Most people found on social media are tech-savvy which is a fundamental requirement to land any job in today’s marketplace. Additionally, they are likely to already be in the know regarding emerging business trends, adding to the skills they bring to the table. What’s more, if you choose to use your employees to announce new openings at your company via social media, chances are that the people you will hire will not only stay longer at your company, but they will also be more productive than those you would hire through other platforms.

3. Reduce the cost of hire.

Recruiting can be a very expensive undertaking. Social recruiting is cheaper but can still cost significant amounts of money. All the same, the value a company gets from the hires you find via social networking platforms makes this approach extremely cheap. Without a doubt, recruitment costs via social media are almost always, lower than those of other methods. LinkedIn and looking for work have revolutionized recruitment, making a simple Facebook ad, for instance, get you over two times more visibility than the traditional recruitment methods like classified ads in the dailies and job boards.

4. Targets the vacancies.

Social recruitment comes with an incredible ability to laser-target certain groups of people for the available vacancies. On LinkedIn, as an example, you can share job postings in certain industry-specific groups. On this platform alone, there are thousands of groups of professionals in practically every industry you can imagine: from engineers to HR workers, to writers, to finance experts. The use of Twitter hashtags also makes for clever recruitment and job search method.

5. Screening of candidates.

It is now an open secret that employers use social media to get an in-depth understanding of the people they have hired at their companies. Many people see social media platforms as free spaces where they can express their frustrations, talk about their causes and share their experiences as they go through the days of their lives. What you might not know is that potential employers also check out candidates on social media.

Social networking sites give them a deeper view of who you, an aspirant, really are. It gives them insights into your personality, even allowing them to figure out what your ambitions are and what they can expect once they hire you to work in their business.

6. Shortens hiring time.

The traditional methods of recruitment generally take longer than social media recruitment methods. This means that when an organisation has an open position that they need to fill in the shortest time possible, social media is the platform to consider. Social networking sites do not only make it easy and fast to communicate with candidates, it also allows them to respond faster. As a result, excellent work relationships often emerge.

What’s more, recruiting in a talent pool that has people who share common values, interests and work styles with the hiring manager or company often accelerates the speed of finding the ideal person for the job. This is great news for both the hiring party and the candidates hoping to get an opportunity to work within an organization.

LinkedIn and Looking For Work: The Cheapest Way to Market Ourselves

CV is normally seen by recruiters as soon as we directly send it to them, but in our era today, you can take advantage of social platforms to increase the visibility of your professional online presence and be seen by hundreds or thousands of recruiters before even sending out your resumes to them. Here are some ways for you to effectively use social media and increase your chances of securing an interview.

Let people know you’re seeking a job.

Use Social media as an opportunity to let people know that you are actively looking for a job. Start by advertising your skills, establishing your brand, and networking with people online. Tell them the role that you are interested in and make sure you use keywords so recruiters can find you. 

Make sure your LinkedIn and other social network profiles are consistent and match your resume. 42% of employers like the idea of being able to validate a candidate's experience by checking him or her out on social media. When employers see how your background information supports your qualifications for the job, you look like the real deal. 

Project a professional image especially on LinkedIn.

What you say in your bio and on social profiles provides hiring managers with a glimpse of your professionalism. 38% per cent of employers were impressed with the professional image presented by a candidate's site. Use a high-quality photo (preferably a headshot) with a neutral background that's free of distractions, such as pets or people. Wear work-appropriate clothes – no prom pictures or beach shots. And pay attention to small details, such as grammar, punctuation, capitalization and spacing.

Use Facebook Lists.

Facebook lists are a way to build your social network beyond just your family and friends. You can add professional contacts without worrying about them seeing personal things you post.

To create a list, just go to ‘Account,’ then ‘Friends.’ Then you’ll see an option to create a new list. Make sure you set custom privacy settings to keep people from seeing your regular updates.

Facebook lists will broaden your reach beyond your current social network. With that said, you shouldn’t disregard your current group of friends. A Facebook friend of yours may know someone who’s hiring in your industry. Getting a recommendation from a current employee is an easy way to get your shoe in the door.

Join industry conversations on Twitter.

You say you have excellent communication skills, but how can you further offer proof? Thirty-seven per cent of employers said social network profiles and status updates offered evidence of great communication skills. As with your profile, punctuation, spelling, and grammar are important in tweets, too. And remember to behave appropriately online. Avoid arguments, profanity, and negative rants.

Twitter, in particular, is a great platform to start building a network of influencers in your industry. Find and follow people who work in your area so you can join in conversations and make yourself known.

This increases your chances to find a new job through referrals, rather than applying. The last thing you need is to have your application one in a stack of hundreds.

You can also join general job hunt conversations on Twitter to help you find leads. Use hashtags like #careerchat or #jobhuntchat.

Look professional in search.

Have you ever Googled your name before? You might not like what comes up.

“If your online footprint is a problem for your job search, then a LinkedIn profile will be the solution,” said social media agency CEO, Giovanbattista Cimmino. “Create a complete profile on LinkedIn, filling out your employment information and putting up a professional photo. LinkedIn ranks very well in search results, so your profile will move up to the top of results.”

This benefit can go beyond just LinkedIn. Associate your name with other social accounts as well so they rank in search.

Add your social profiles to your resume or website.

Whether you have a personal website or just a physical resume, you should include links to your social profiles as part of your contact information. Having an active social presence can make you look appealing to potential employers in a lot of ways. First, your website is a great place to flaunt your qualifications and certifications whether that’s a leadership degree, a fellowship, or some other bragging rights like authoring a book or keynoting a popular conference. Second, your social profiles serve as “social proof” for your value and integrity as a person. Think of them as informal recommendations.

“When hiring for a position, I like to look at the social media profiles of candidates I’m considering before making them an offer,” said Matthew Van Niekerk, CEO of DataBroker DAO. “Having open social profiles displayed for your potential employer to see shows you have nothing to hide. They can get a peek at your personal life without asking you to probe questions during an interview.”

Follow the hashtags.

Some businesses regularly advertise their job openings on Twitter. You don’t want to miss out on these opportunities.

Luckily, it’s really easy to search for and follow popular job opening hashtags that employers use to find applicants. Here are a few popular ones:

#JobSearch

#JobHunt

#NowHiring

#Hiring

#Resume

#JobOpening

#TweetMyJobs

These are just a few of the many ways you can take advantage of your social network in your job search. As social networks update their features and new groups and hashtags emerge, pay attention to reap the benefits and find your dream job with social media.

Post great references.

Thirty per cent of companies liked seeing references posted about a candidate, according to the 2014 survey. Unsolicited or nonreciprocal recommendations are powerful. LinkedIn allows you to display recommendations within your profile, so be sure to ask a boss or happy customer to write one for you. You can make it even easier for them when you provide suggestions or key points you believe are worth mentioning.

Display awards and accolades.

In your cover letter or resume, you may have said you were a top performer or gained recognition for your stellar accomplishments. In the 2014 survey, 31% of employers found proof of such recognition online and said it worked in the candidates' favour. Snap a photo or grab a screenshot to capture your success. Then share it for all to see and embed it in your LinkedIn profile.

Interact with the potential employer.

Companies with social media accounts want to engage in conversation. Twenty-four per cent of the employers in last year's survey said they liked it when a candidate interacted with one of their social media accounts. Check the company's website to see which social networks are listed, especially the accounts related to careers. Always be positive and complimentary, and ask questions beyond: "Did you get my application?"

Start using Linkedin and Looking For Work Strategies!

Have you been wanting to land a job or even improve your career but don’t know how? Do you want to take advantage of social media but don’t know where or how to start? Start-up your own social media account and learn to use it strategically. The answer is not by creating and simply using social media, the key is to utilise it smartly and effectively. Don’t look at is as a source of fun but look at it as something tied to your identity, like a CV. Build a strong presence on the internet that would be irresistible for hiring manages and pique the interest of recruiters. So, make sure that your online attendance should be as perfect as your resume or cover letter.

Try these steps and don’t hesitate to leave us a comment or send us an email about your feedback or even questions. We can also help you craft the perfect resume, CV, Cover Letter, LinkedIn Profile, and Selection Criteria that can help you land on an interview quicker. We can offer to review your resume for you for free, provide some feedback, and recommend the packages that suit you. So, what are you waiting for? Email your resume to info@theperfectresume.com.au.

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