Social media is more popular than ever. In fact, a 2017 study found that more than 80% of adults in the US had a profile on one or more social media platforms. Not only does social media make it easy to stay in touch with friends and family members but it also makes it easier to keep up with what is happening in the world. Apart from that, social media can also be used for another purpose – helping you to find a job.
Social networking affects modern-day job searches in a number of different ways. For one thing, employers often check out a candidate’s social media presence before deciding whether or not to hire them. In a way, this acts like a quick-and-dirty background check, alerting them to any potential problems based on the information that the candidate has posted on their social media accounts.
Social media also provides employers with a simple way to discover potential candidates for open positions. Oftentimes, it is easier for them to search through social media profiles to find candidates that are a good fit than it is to post a job listing.
When it comes to finding employment, LinkedIn is by far the most effective social network. If you are only going to set up an employment profile on one social media platform, this should be the one.
More and more recruiters are turning to social media as a way of finding qualified candidates. Job boards are quickly becoming a thing of the past, with employers preferring to find new employees through the use of social media.
From a recruiting standpoint, LinkedIn is by far the industry leader. Even though Facebook has more users, the content on LinkedIn is generally geared more toward employment. As a result, it is a far more effective tool for employers to use when they are searching for potential candidates.
Interestingly, a 2013 survey done by Jobvite.com found that out of the 800 employers that were surveyed, 94% of them said that they were planning on incorporating social media in their recruiting process.
Social media plays several different roles in the hiring process. For one thing, it gives recruiters a chance to learn more about you before they meet you in person. Based on the information that you have shared through your public profiles, they can get a better idea of whether or not you are a good fit for their company.
When evaluating your use of social media, employers can learn a lot about you including the following:
- Your ability to communicate effectively while using proper grammar and spelling.
- The type of work that you have done in the past.
- Your educational background.
- Your knowledge of your field.
- Your use of alcohol, drugs, or profanity.
- Your hobbies outside of work.
Popular Social Media Platforms
Social networking provides a way for people to communicate with one another and to share information using modern technology. One of the reasons why it is so popular is because it makes it easy to share your ideas and to interact with others.
The following section takes a closer look at some of the most popular social media platforms that are used by employers when looking for candidates.
The vast majority of employers prefer LinkedIn over other social media platforms when searching for potential employees. This is largely due to the fact that LinkedIn centers around professional information. Members upload their work history along with other details about places they volunteer or relevant experience that they have. They can also network with other professionals in their industry.
As of 2017, close to 500 million people from 200 different countries have profiles on LinkedIn. Because the site itself is business-oriented, it is a great place for employers to find qualified candidates for job openings.
One of the world’s most popular social networks, Facebook has a tremendous number of users. Part of its popularity comes from the fact that it makes it so easy for people to communicate with their friends through the platform. As an added bonus, people can join groups that are related to topics that interest them. They can also add information about their work history and education to their profiles.
From an employment standpoint, Facebook can be somewhat problematic. If your user profile is not set to private, employers can look at all of your activities – some of which you may not want them to see. Most experts recommend keeping your personal profile private. If you want to use Facebook for your job search, create a separate profile that is geared toward showcasing your best features for employers.
Twitter is designed to make it easy for people to share brief messages. There is a strict character limit in place that keeps people from getting too wordy with their posts. Each post is known as a tweet. Anyone who follows your account on Twitter will instantly see your tweets as you post them. As of 2017, there were more than 320 million people actively using Twitter. When used correctly, it can help you find a job.
Blogs
Although they technically aren’t considered social media, blogs can also be a great tool to use when searching for a job. By following blogs that are related to your industry, you can network with other people who share similar interests.
Over time, if you post intelligent comments, you may get noticed by a potential employer. The comment section on most blogs is quite active, giving you an opportunity to interact with others who are interested in the content of the blog. You never know when one of these connections could lead to an employment opportunity.