We live in the information age where social networks have had a great impact not only on our daily life but also on job offers. Although they were not intended to become job search tools at first, these networks have evolved so much that now they are a part of the so-called Employment 2.0 and there must be a creative director.
Even though the use of social networks when looking for a job has both advantages and disadvantages, it is up to you to assess to what extent you want to link your profile to employment portals and social networks.
The truth is that if you don’t have a profile on social networks, you are practically an invisible person. Having an active email account has become something as basic and essential as getting dressed for work every morning.
The use of social networks to search for jobs has become popular in the 21st century, so it is very important to know how to use them correctly to achieve your goals.
These platforms are useful and make it possible to get a job offer. Knowing how to use them is one big step towards your dream job opportunity. If we know how to correctly show our strengths on social media, we let employers see our potential which highly increases the chances of finding work online.
So, if you want to know the main advantages of using social networks when looking for a job, read on.
Social networks are free:
The first thing you have to take into account, although you already know it, is that social networks are free. At least the ones that we use regularly, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube (this platform works as a social network, as well as a site to host videos).
It is true that when talking about a social network focused on professional issues, LinkedIn is the most popular one. Here you can opt for a premium account that expands job-looking functions, which does involve a monthly cost. In any case, with a basic account, which is the one that most people have, it is more than enough to form a good network of contacts and access published job offers.
You can increase your network of contacts:
With social networks, it is much easier to increase the number of contacts than ever before. Even if you don’t know your new contacts in person, you can get to know them, introduce what interests you in professional terms and, above all, show what you want them to know about you. In many social networks, you can find these contacts through keyword searches. Other people can also find you and reach out to you.
If you are looking for a free database of contacts that could be valuable for your network, Leadar is great for you. This site has over 110 million contacts of US citizens. By using it, you can easily search for business contacts by job title, location, name, social media, company, and much more.
You can create your own personal brand:
Nowadays it is more and more common for people who are looking for a job and those who are not too to have their own web page or a blog. If finding work is not your main priority, at least you can get to know people, in part, through their activity on social networks.
If you’re wondering why you can easily build your personal brand on social media, accessibility is the answer. Everyone can post online. So, if you make your social media posts about showcasing your talents and professional interests, it will be much easier to project something that might be of interest to people who will probably want to hire you in the future.
Social networks can work for you:
Have you ever heard of passive income? It is something that is added to your usual income without requiring continuous active work. Something similar can happen with social networks when you are looking for a job.
If you gradually post something on social media that demonstrates or describes what you are capable of, if you post links that lead to your own page, or even if you have an online resume, you have a chance that someone will find you without you contacting them first.
Of course, keep in mind that to generate passive income you have to invest time and resources first, and for your passive job search to be successful, you will also have to dedicate time to being active online. Do not settle for uploading a summary of your working life to your LinkedIn profile or posting a link to your online resume on your Twitter account. Be constant in this to take advantage of all the advantages the Internet gives you.
Social media is a source of information and possibilities:
When you are looking for a job, surely you search specific portals for this or, if you are more proactive and direct, look for companies that interest you and e-mail them your resume.
They are not bad tactics, and they can give you great results, but they are not the only ones, nor is it recommended that you stick to them exclusively.
To find a good job you have to know how to look for certain opportunities. Today that includes scrutinizing every corner of social networks in-depth, since there is always information that can be of interest and useful to find the job opportunity you were looking for.
And, in addition to being a means of information to find out about job offers and possibilities, it can also serve as a source of inspiration. In social networks, everyone talks about everything and with many people, so such a wide range can hide some brilliant idea that activates your entrepreneurial spark and gives you an alternative that you had not thought of.
As you can see, social networks have their advantages when it comes to finding a job, but you also have to take into account that they can be a double-edged sword. On social media you have to be careful about what you do or say.
If you want to use social networks to find a job and increase your work contacts, you need to have a catching profile and identity that does not alienate recruiters or show them that you are not what they are looking for, but rather attracts them and makes them trust you, your professionalism and your knowledge.