Many people use social media in their everyday lives to stay connected with friends, get the latest news and (obviously) watch videos of animals doing adorable things. But social media now has another powerful new purpose: helping you land a job.
The majority of recruiters are now using platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to find out what resumes, cover letters and interviews can’t tell them about a candidate (so maybe think twice before tweeting weird, creepy stuff to your celebrity crush). But it doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom — social media can be a powerful tool for self-promotion. Here are five tips to help you nail your online presence to land that next big job.
[See: 10 Ways Social Media Can Help You Land a Job.]
1. Let Social Media Be Your Digital Cover Letter
While employers still assess a candidate’s profile throughout the interview process, social media is becoming a more significant piece of the puzzle as our professional and personal lives continue to merge. Today, hiring managers are less likely to care about your cover letter, but you can be sure they’ll at least check out social channels to determine whether you’re a good culture fit.
Social media is the perfect opportunity to make a strong first impression if you think of it as your digital cover letter. More than just checking for gaps in work history or inappropriate college photos, recruiters are scouring candidates social pages to see whether you care about things that matter to the company.
LinkedIn and Facebook make it easy to list awards you’ve won, charities you’ve participated in and hobbies you’re passionate about. It’s also the perfect place to showcase your own content, share relevant articles and foster connections. Recruiters like to see someone who “likes” their profession and is engaged with industry happenings.
2. Be Frequent With Your Posts
It can be easy to get overwhelmed trying to keep up profiles for LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, Tumblr … you get the point. But the key to nailing your online presence for the job hunt isn’t to have a footprint on every platform, it’s about honing in on those channels that really matter for your profession.
Rather than stretch yourself thin across a dozen different profiles, focus on delivering quality content to the select few that make the most sense for you. If you’re working in a visual field, perhaps an expertly curated feed of colorful Instagram photos can be a difference-maker, while people in industries that deal with management might want to focus on networking and posting their best practices on LinkedIn.
And even if you’re not that regular with unique posts across your channels, your likes, follows and shares can also tell a story about your passions and interests. When used properly, the like and comment buttons are additional tools for demonstrating engagement and expertise with a potential employer.
[See: 25 Best Business Jobs for 2017.]
3. Give Off a Professional Vibe
You might be surprised to find that recruiters are more critical of spelling errors on social media than photos of alcohol consumption. This is because employers are looking at whether you can exhibit good judgment and represent the company well. Show them that you’ve got it all together with a clean, grammatically correct social feed that documents the responsible professional that you (probably) are.
You should also generally try to avoid pessimistic posts or negative rants. It’s certainly OK to be passionate about your causes, but frequent cynicism without offering solutions can turn otherwise interested companies away. Think about it, employers are looking for someone who can solve problems for their company, and so they’re more likely to want candidates who display optimism and a willingness to make things better. No one likes a serial bragger either, so take it easy on those selfies too.
4. Cultivate and Engage Your Target Audience
One way that you can sway a recruiter to your corner through social media is by showing that you can cultivate a following. But you don’t need to have thousands of followers to make a great impression — the quality of your network can be just as important as the number.
Identify the platforms that make sense for your industry, and begin engaging with the audience there to make yourself an expert. This could be as simple as connecting with or following the right people, resharing some related content in your field or jumping in the comments to share insight or best practices.
Make yourself searchable by focusing on keywords and phrases that make it easy to associate you with your desired profession. Do this, and you may find yourself in the same social circles as your favorite companies. You can even engage potential employers directly by reaching out or connecting with them — just don’t be creepy or ask for a job outright!
[See: 7 Excellent Sales and Marketing Jobs for 2017.]
5. Be Authentic
While candidates are looking for companies that are genuine about their mission and culture, companies are assessing candidates along the same lines. Just like any other aspect of the interview process, when it comes to social media, nothing trumps honesty and authenticity.
The same way that you can tell a company is putting on a face when they use stock images on their websites, recruiters can see through phony profiles. If your social media pages are sparse or scrubbed clean, recruiters won’t be able to find those traits they’re looking for to help determine whether you’d be a good fit. Sure, occasionally employers may not see eye to eye with everything on display, but more often than not, showcasing your true personality and passions will be a positive addition to your candidacy.
And who knows, this strategy may just be the tipping point that helps you land your next big gig.
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5 Ways to Elevate Your Social Media Game for Recruiters originally appeared on usnews.com
