In today’s competitive, fast paced, technology-driven society, not being connected on social media—especially when job seeking—is like accessing the web without wi-fi. Social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, are prime resources for connecting, networking, and getting professionally noticed. While 94% of recruiters are active on LinkedIn, only 36% of job seekers are. If you don’t fall into that dismally small percentage of active users, then you’re doing yourself an immense disservice. Prepping what you presume to be a stellar resume and cover letter, and networking through your college alumni association just won’t cut it these days. Jobs aren’t going to fall into your lap; you have to do the leg work. That means more than just mass printing copies of your generic resume and cover letter. It means making professional connections, sharing and seeking professional opportunities, and getting publicly posted professional referrals.
Social media provides an extensive platform for job seekers. Everything is accessible with the touch of a button or the click of a mouse. It enables you to search thousands of job postings, vet prospective employers, explore networking opportunities, stay on top of industry buzz, and actively engage professional connections. Most importantly, when used smartly, it puts you on recruiter radar! Social media can be accessed anytime from anywhere—mobile, desktop, laptop, iPad, netbooks—you get the point. So, now is the time to ask yourself: Do I want to be able to be accessed anytime from anywhere? If you didn’t answer with an astounding, “YES!” then you’re not serious about getting the job that you say you want.
But, with social media, comes the need for privacy control and self-filtering; this plays heavily into personal branding. Sure, those pictures of you shot-gunning beers and doing keg stands were so totally awesome in your college days, but now you have to post with your future in mind. Clean up your profile before going public! Get rid of all questionable pictures, profanity-ridden status updates, and inappropriate wall posts. Most importantly, be smart about what you do decide to post moving forward. Keep the settings for your more personal profiles, like Facebook, private from the public eye unless you’re confident you can keep it professional. If you’re thinking that this doesn’t apply to you, consider this: 42% of recruiters have reconsidered a candidate based on content viewed in a social profile, leading to both positive and negative re-assessments. This advice is not to be taken lightly—discretion, discretion, discretion!
Ultimately, keeping up with technological advances and trendy social media can not only place you in the candidate pool, but also help you stay relevant. When all is said and done, social media just may be the leverage you need to secure a job.
Tara Fox is a Project Support Specialist at entreQuest and works closely with all eQ team members to provide employees and clients with remarkable experiences.
