Almost everyone has a social media account of some kind, and almost everyone has actively searched for a job at some point in their adult life. But did you know that 92% of companies use social media for recruiting?
So why do only 48% of job seekers actively use social media as a tool in their job search?
We hear a lot of negativity about social media when it comes to jobs. In any situation, it helps to be mindful of who might be looking at your page and how you feel about what they can see about you.
However, with just under half of job seekers using social media to get a job, 52% of people miss out on potential opportunities because they haven’t logged onto LinkedIn. Yet, recruiters use LinkedIn daily as a key tool in their candidate search, so why don’t you?
Waiting for someone to read your resume on a job board is a long process. So why don’t you double up your chances and take advantage of the other 52% waiting by bringing the recruiter directly to your social media profile?
Read on to discover top tips on sure-fire ways social media works for you during your job search.
Link yourself IN
With 2 million users worldwide, LinkedIn is a social media platform built primarily for professional use. It is used to grow businesses, get professionals networking, and most importantly, help people get jobs.
Recruiters and companies alike use LinkedIn daily to promote vacancies or upcoming projects. They have recruiters actively searching social media for people with the skills they need. If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, get one!
Create your personal brand
How do you want to be perceived by your professional network on social media? This is the first thing people will see on your profile, so you should use this as an opportunity to show off what you bring to the table.
Do you have offshore experience and want to work in the oil & gas industry? Then, add it to your write-up in the About section of your profile!
What to include in your profile
Profile picture
Put a face to the profile with a semi-professional head and shoulders image. Tip! While you might have a great picture of yourself on a night out, make sure to crop out the beer bottle in your hand.
Your write-up in the About section of your profile
Include a brief, professional summary about who you are and what drives you. Passionate about maintaining relationships, or have a lot of experience in contracts and procedures? Tell your reader in 2 – 3 concise paragraphs.
Your history
The most viewed sections of your profile will be the ‘Experience’ and ‘Education’ sections.
This is your chance to add all relevant past roles and education you’ve had and to talk about what you did. Use it as your opportunity to give a taster as to why an employer should consider you.
Tip! Don’t copy this straight from your resume in case you need to send your resume to a recruiter who messages you about a job.
LinkedIn recommendations for others
Crafting a great message could help you in the long run. If you provide an excellent LinkedIn recommendation, the chances are high that you will get one in return. It will help you improve your LinkedIn profile and boost your creditability.
Keep strengthening your profile
Your LinkedIn profile holds a lot of weight. It is an integral part of your business and job search toolkit. So important that your LinkedIn profile makes a strong first impression on everyone you connect with.
The more effort you put in, the more you will get out of it.
Looking for even more tips to elevate your profile? Click this link to discover 17 easy ways to strengthen your LinkedIn profile
Add your contacts
LinkedIn is a social networking site, so the purpose is to network.
Don’t be afraid to add people you know and people you don’t, provided they are in the same industry, company, or disciple you want to be connected with. Even if you know the person, it is good to add a note on your connection request introducing yourself.
You can also follow company pages where you will see any posts they make, which may include information on your next job.
Start searching
LinkedIn allows users to visit their pages and search for jobs posted on the site.
You can also stay ahead of the curve by setting up job alerts to email you when a job you’re searching for has been posted. You could start off by following Energy Resourcing.
Share with your network
The best way to get your name out there will be to start talking to your network.
If you’re unsure what to talk about, start by sharing articles about relevant industry news – this can let your network know what you’re interested in. Like other social networking sites, you can also like, comment and share others’ posts.
You can also dare to be original and share your own blog or views on something. Even simply posting to say you’re available for work will open you up to opportunities that you might not have had without it.
Tips for posting on LinkedIn
Always post with an image or video
Images take up more room on a screen, are bright and are therefore much more likely to grab someone’s attention over a post with just text.
Remember your end goal
Don’t know if something is appropriate to post? Ask yourself if you’d be embarrassed to have it on the front page of a newspaper. If the answer is yes, don’t share it online.
We wish you good luck with your job search and your online presence. In the meantime, you can check out some of our newest jobs here.
