It can be discouraging to apply for employment and see that your emails have been flat-out ignored. While the typical CV send-off can line up job offers for seasoned experts, the odds are low for fresh graduates.
Instead of settling for a job you don’t actually enjoy, you should use social media strategies to separate yourself from the competition.
The 7 Strategies To Landing Interviews On Autopilot
With the job market being bigger than ever, applying and waiting almost never gets you noticed by prospective employers. You need to make sure you’re using social media to build your industry knowledge and open doors to new opportunities.
If you’re serious about being recruited, you need to follow these strategies down to every fine detail – and you’ll be on your way to becoming an interview magnet.
1. Build A Personal Brand
Most companies will go through your social media when you apply for a job online, so your personal branding must leave a lasting impression. By building profiles that reflect your lifestyle outside of work, you could have the upper hand over other applicants who keep their profiles private.
What details you include in your profiles gives employers a snapshot of who you are as a person, which could help them determine if you’re a good match for their company.
To tidy your online presence:
- Turn your profiles on public and set a professional example. Use your full name, a high-quality picture, and post a few videos or photos showcasing your skills or hobbies.
- Delete any posts that could hurt your chances of getting a job, such as wild pictures from your weekend getaway or posts with controversial comments.
- Align your profile with the information in your resume. If you state that you’re interested in the industry, post some related content to show your enthusiasm.
2. Network Through LinkedIn
LinkedIn is unmatched when it comes to online networking. A well-written, well-organised profile could help you make valuable connections, which in turn could lead to unexpected job openings.
Some LinkedIn employers may overlook your qualifications if you lack relevant job experience. Even though this is the harsh reality for most fresh graduates, using groups and private messaging to communicate with market professionals could help you get exclusive industry information and gain access to new opportunities.
3. Find A Career Through Twitter
You may be less inclined to look for employment on Twitter – yet it’s gradually becoming a hotspot for businesses.
Commenting on tweets from corporate professionals may help you stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, increasing the odds of them taking note of your profile.
You should also keep an eye out for industry changes and retweet anything that piques your interest. The ‘retweet with quote’ feature on Twitter lets you share content while adding your own thoughts, which can help show your passion for the industry to prospective employers.
4. Join Facebook Groups
While Facebook is often used to find jobs through the posts of employers, Joining Facebook groups can also help you create beneficial social networks.
For example. Joining a data analyst group would give you access to knowledge from already employed analysts, networking opportunities, and even job openings.
Contributing to conversations might help you learn from those who work in the field you’re interested in entering. You could pick up useful information or tips that you can use when applying for positions.
5. Answer Questions On Quora And Reddit
For professionals in any industry, forums like Quora and Reddit can be rich sources of information. While you can use these platforms to grow your business expertise, you can also use them to promote yourself as a leading figure.
By devoting time to learning and answering questions about your desired industry, you could create a lasting impression on industry experts. This could lead them to contact you about job openings.
These websites are where people go to get answers, and you may learn that others have posed questions that might be useful to you on your path to employment.
6. Take Advantage Of Tools
Social management tools aren’t only for marketing and social media pros. There are several free tools available to help you spend less time looking for work and more time celebrating your new job.
By using software like Hootsuite to use a filtered feed for hashtags related to your market, you could get first dibs on opportunities that people are yet to find.
7. Get Together For A Coffee
If you strike up a meaningful conversation with an industry related professional you met online, it’s in your best interest to continue the conversation in person.
Because social media changes so frequently, it’s easy to forget about someone who has impressed you. That’s why offering to get together for a coffee is a great way to build a long-lasting connection.
Tips For Successful Online Networking
Do:
- Use a variety of different social media platforms
- Use your full name
- Check if your account is public or private (public is always more appealing to employers)
- Share information, ideas, and resources on your accounts
- Keep up-to-date.
- Network: It’s social media, so speak to people!
- Have conversations with industry related professionals
Don’t:
- Only talk about your job search.
- Forget that employers can and do Google you.
- Expect a job offer right away.
- Have inappropriate content on your social media
Go Out And There And Get Connecting!
When you’re up against qualified individuals, it’s easy to think you’re at the bottom of the list when it comes to their ‘’ideal candidate.’’ But don’t be disheartened, this is a chance to reinvent your online presence and get the first pick on fresh job opportunities.
Building an inside understanding of a company will help you align with their views on employers, and your attention to detail will set you apart from the competition.
