If you are tired of the same old routine of searching for jobs, applying and then not hearing anything back, try some of these new social media tricks.
Break out of job-seeker-mode and be one of the first in your industry to embrace social media tools and become a sought-after resource. Along the way, you may just meet some interesting people!
All you need to do is enhance how you use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat to steal the show within your career niche.
7 Social Media Tricks For Your Career and Job Search
The key is knowing what social media platforms are on the rise and how to use them to advance your career.
1. Add Bling to LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile can support embedded files and media. This means that you can upload PowerPoint, Excel and Word files under a job in your “Experience” section.
One idea is to show samples of your work to prove you have the necessary skills for future jobs.
Better yet, add video or pictures to your Featured section (previously Summary) to highlight your career successes.
Adding media content to your profile will instantly catch someone’s eye and help differentiate you from similar professionals.
Learn how to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Media Rich.
2. Complete Your Facebook Bio
If you haven’t done it yet, now is the time. Beef up your Facebook profile by adding work history, interests and skills. This might just help you show up in a hiring professional’s search results or gain the attention of one of your Facebook friends.
Consider it an opportunity to publicize your marketable assets and hirable qualities. Though many consider Facebook to be a personal networking site, that hasn’t stopped recruiters from using it to source talent.
Here are more tips to help prepare your Facebook profile to highlight your career.
3. Try a Twitter Chat
Twitter chats attract people who are interested in learning and chatting about topics ranging from advertising to wine. Twitter chats are online Q&A sessions and usually include a hashtag keyword to indicate the discussion thread.
Investigate the many Twitter chats on TweetReports schedule to find the one that’s right for you.
The best way to get started with a Twitter chat is to watch what happens during one by following the hashtag on Twitter. Observe the format and what people are saying. Learn more about Twitter Chats here.
Once you’ve gotten the hang of it and understand how that chat works, jump in by sharing your own thoughts or share a tweeted response you like.
Be sure to follow up after the Twitter chat with people you interacted with during the chat. This is how you build your network and expand your potential reach about who you are and what you do.
4. Join or Host a Live Stream Event
Live streaming events are filmed in real-time. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all offer them.
These applications allow both live video and a chat function so you can interact with people.
Participants can ask questions or share comments in the dialog box. You can also see the profiles of people watching the event and some you may be interested in following.
As with Twitter chats, watch and observe the format of the livestream show and discussions before jumping in. Check out my previously recorded job search LIVE here.
To spread the word about your expertise or show that you’re in-the-know, you could host your own talk show or interview industry influencers. LinkedIn and Facebook both offer live video broadcasts. Learn more here: Use Video To Amplify Your Personal Brand
5. Share Photos on Instagram
You may already have a personal Instagram account, but have you thought about how you can use your account to share personal and professional content? When sharing a photo or video, add your thoughts and several hashtags to lure the right audience.
You could also tag company accounts you are following in your posts. You may decide to create a campaign in which you share visuals from your portfolio with the hashtag #HireMe.
Instagram can be a brand-building tool for people interested in managing their career trajectory. You can share photos of you speaking at events, winning awards, volunteering or participating in company events. These images provide a glimpse of what’s important to you and help you stand out.
For more Instagram tips check out How To Use Instagram for Job Search
6. Tell Your Story on Snapchat
This application is known for its disappearing messages. Given its fast growth among younger users, this picture and video sharing application is becoming popular among businesses and marketing professionals.
Not all messages instantly self-destruct. The Snapchat Stories feature will allow a series of snaps to last for 24 hours.
As an active job seeker, you can use it to talk about your qualifications for a job after you’ve applied, share a day-in-the-life of what you do at work or use it as a video blogging platform to talk about issues in your field of work.
You can deliver instant news from a conference or event you attend. If you are already using Snapchat, you may have even more creative ideas on how to use Snapchat for your job search.
Here’s an example of how one job seeker used SnapChat.
Evaluate Your Results
Try testing your personal branding awareness campaign across different social media platforms to see which gain the most attention, generate discussion and new followers.
There are additional benefits to being active on social media, such as:
- create searchable online content
- build a reputation for being a subject matter expert or thought leader
- develop new social media skills.
You’ll win points for creativity and ingenuity if you tailor your message to your ideal employer.
A version of this post originally appeared on US News & World Report
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
