Feature: Using Social Media in your Job Search

The majority of us use social media to connect with friends but did you know that 75 per cent of companies are using, or planning to use, social media sites for recruiting? LinkedIn and Twitter are two of the most popular sites for networking and finding career opportunities but if you’re unsure of how to make the most of the platforms, here are some top tips from St Mary’s University, Twickenham. First of all, tidy your digital footprint It’s been said time and time again that embarrassing photos and vulgar posts can lead to being fired, but such is the popularity of social media that it can actually stop you from getting hired! As Facebook is the most personal of social media accounts, it’s best to change your privacy settings so that your profile does not show up in search results but be mindful of your profile picture as that will still be seen. Find out more on how to job proof your Facebook page here. Tweeting anything in the heat of the moment that can be deemed offensive is also a no no so think before you tweet! So now that you’ve set up your professional account, what do you do? Network! If you don’t know where to start you can join career-related groups to find out what is going on in your industry, just to keep yourself updated in your field. If you are bold enough (and you’ll have to take this step at some point), engage with the companies you are following – ask questions, get involved in debates, retweet, like or share posts that inspire you. Keep in mind that you are networking on a professional level so if you are going to contact an employee of a company you want to work for, the Guardian suggests you explain who you are and let the employer know what's in it for them. SIMMSpace offers more advice on how to use LinkedIn and Twitter effectively. Check in frequently It is important that you check your accounts often, even if it’s only to review updates. For all you know, the job that you were hoping to apply for may be withdrawn or an employee from the company you are interested in may be giving insider tips on how to ace a job interview. LinkedIn in particular is a great source of industry knowledge while job boards tweet new positions on a regular basis. Tweeting your own relevant comments also shows that you are enthusiastic about your career while you can find out more about a company’s history and audience via its Facebook pages. Additional tips to boost your online profile • Use conservative shots for your profile pictures – no club scenes or selfies! • Update your achievements regularly and highlight transferable key skills i.e. communication skills • Use your name as your Twitter handle if you will be using your account professionally – just as with your email address, an employer will not be impressed with @hotpants92 • Make your skills prominent – use your skills to describe yourself in the headline and bio sections of your accounts • Think about creating a blog – it’s a great way to share your knowledge and thoughts on what’s going on in your industry while building a network of like-minded people, and you can always link back to it on all your social media platforms • Clean your digital footprint! This cannot be stressed enough as hiring companies will do an online search on candidates. In an incognito window, Google your name and see what results appear. If there’s too many links to embarrassing Facebook pictures or Twitter posts where you moan about your job, it’s time to change your privacy settings