Job Hunting & The Social Beast

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Man Streaming Media With Cloud Server InformaticsWith the rise of social media, jobseekers now have to pay attention to more than just their resumes. Ninety-two percent of companies use social media for recruiting. Creating a personal brand isn’t just toner and paper in today’s technology. An active and robust LinkedIn profile is a good tool for jobseekers, but recruiters are active on other platforms as well. Recruiters use multiple platforms to create their own hiring brand. Depending on the industry, it may be necessary to have other active social media accounts.

Twitter

The company recently changed the format. They say it will be easier to “express yourself through a new and improved web profile.” The header photo and profile photo are bigger in the new design, so use the space wisely. Repurpose content posted to Facebook or used in a blog and Tweet it using hashtags to increase its search capability. Connect with like-minded people through Tweet Chat webinars or stand-alone Tweet Chats.

  • Tweets should be no longer than 100 characters.
  • 55 percent of recruiters use Twitter 
  • Jobseekers primarily use Twitter for advice, expertise, and support
  • Use the bio section to clearly describe your expertise

Facebook

Facebook is a good way to share published articles. Copy the link, or use a bit.ly, and paste it into the “status” section with a brief description of the article. Be sure to keep it shorter than 40 characters. Pay extra attention to photos. Why are pictures so important? Facebook users upload an average of 350 million photos daily.

  • One out of three employers rejected candidates last year based on a post on a social profile.
  • 65 percent of recruiters use Facebook
  • 76 percent of social jobseekers found employment through Facebook

Email

Recruiters and hiring managers alike get bombarded with emails every day. An email might pass under the radar if it doesn’t have a subject line that grabs attention. Keep subject lines concise. They should be no longerthan 28-39 characters. Any longer and the email program might not be able to display the entire subject line. Keeping the email subject line mobile and desktop friendly will increase the chances someone will read the email.

  • Most inboxes only show the first 60 characters; mobile devices only display 25-30 characters
  • When emailing a recruiter, provide a short paragraph why you are applying for the job, your qualifications, and mention the company’s name twice.

Google+

It is the baby of social media, but that doesn’t mean it is irrelevant. It is the second largest social media platform. It is important to manage connections and join specific communities. Draw in potential employers and other connections by creating a visually stimulating experience with the header photo. Posting on a regular basis using six words, 60 characters, to socialize past and current articles. The ideal length for a Google+ post is under 60 characters and six words long.

  • Recruiters are still getting the hang of Google+. Only 18 percent use the social platform.
  • Job referrals fuel Google+ accounts for jobseekers

Blogs

If it takes longer than 7 minutes to read, it’s too long. Keep it to 1,600 words or less. B2B marketing uses content marketing, that doesn’t mean personal branding can’t benefit from it. Create a personal blog or even guest post on another established blog.

  • Blogs like Tumblr are used by Millennials (18-34)
  • Blogs use hashtags too; they increase SEO

LinkedIn

This is the clear favorite among recruiters. Ninety-four percent of recruiters will use LinkedIn as a way to find potential candidates. Make the profile professional and be active. The platform has a resume builder and can help update an old one. Using LinkedIn alone may not get the attention a jobseeker needs. Two or more social media platforms are best when it comes to a job search.

  • Use keywords to describe your skills
  • Add media files to the summary and experiences 
  • LinkedIn can build a resume in 10 seconds with the resume builder

A deeper understanding of a candidate could determine a cultural fit or miss. Heather R. Huhman says, “Your personal brand relies on many factors, but digital presence is probably the biggest.” Take the time to put some professional effort into your social media outlets. Use professional pictures, hashtags, relevant keywords, and keep it short and sweet. Most importantly, make connections with other professionals in niche fields.

What have you done to create your personal brand using social media?

By Sarah Duke