When social media was created, the intention is to connect with your loved ones. However, it has become much more than that. Nowadays, it can be used for other important things such as getting your dream job.

Almost half of the world's population has a social media account. There's also a rapid growth in companies establishing their online presence via social media. Needless to say, the world is going modern now, and it's time to step up your game when it's time to look for a job.

In this post, we'll provide 7 useful ways social media can help you get a job. From optimizing your LinkedIn accounts to finding job listings via Facebook. We will also provide a few tips on optimizing your social media presence to help you further get the job you want.

Why Is Social Media Important In Getting A Job?

In the age of information, it's a huge mistake if you do not utilize social media to help you get a job. These websites provide an easy way of getting information about new job listings, company details, and even trends in your field of expertise.

In the next section, the different ways to improve your chances of getting a job through social media will be discussed.

Ways Social Media Can Help You Get A Job

1. Job Search

Gone are the days where you need to browse the newspaper to see if there are job openings. Companies have moved online because it's cheap (often free) and easily accessible.

Facebook, with over 2.74 billion active users, even has a section dedicated to job hunters. It's easy to browse job listings near you in this section. You can even customize the search with your desired salary, so you don't have to waste your time scrolling through job listings below your pay grade.

2. Online Visibility

If you have solid experience, sometimes, people will seek you instead. With the help of websites such as LinkedIn, employers can browse potential candidates and extend an invitation for an interview.

Having professional websites also allow the HR department to check your working experience and educational background. You can also showcase some of your works and create an online portfolio.

Meanwhile, someone who has zero online visibility can be a red flag for the interviewers. It might mean that you are hiding something or you are not social media savvy. Worse, it might also indicate that you have nothing to offer. This is especially true if you don't have a LinkedIn account where companies can easily check your background.

3. Online Persona

HR department understands that there is much more to a job candidate than what's on the resume. This is why interviews are used to gauge your personality. But they can also utilize social media to allow them to see what's beyond the resume.

An insight into your characteristics is an important aspect of checking if you are fit for the company. If you have a public profile on any social media, make sure that you always appear professional and pleasing.

For some more niche fields, having an online persona is highly important. For example, some people would like to hire someone who has a lot of followers as it can act as free marketing on their end.

There are many jobs where an impressive follower count is important. A retail company would like someone popular to be their ambassador. The number of quality connections you have on LinkedIn can also impress your employer.

4. Connections and Network

While your experience and talent are far more important, it also helps to flaunt who you know in the business. If you personally know a lot of experts in the industry, it gives a positive impression to the company you are applying to.

Who you know in the industry shows how well you are connected. It can also give an insight into your personality and dedication to work.

5. Research

When you apply for a job you like, you can easily impress your interviewer with your knowledge about the company. Most important information about a company can easily be found on their social media.

Learn about their company culture and values. Everything you can learn from their social media can be important. The size of their company can show how much dedication they ask from their employees.

6. Community

It helps to be active in these communities. Aside from connecting with employers, you can also find a community of people in the same industry. There's plenty of groups out there dedicated to helping each other with getting new jobs.

If you've watched movies, you know that people go to events and parties to meet people who can help them get into a job they want. With social media, you can do this in the comfort of your own home! You can gain new networks with just a simple message to people you are in a group with. Just make sure that you don't appear to be spam by sending messages to people you barely communicated with before.

7. Online Portfolio

Are you in an industry where an online portfolio is important? Showcase them on your social media! This is perfect for digital artists, video editors, bloggers, and people who do similar work.

If people are impressed with your work, they might share it in their profiles. Someone in a company might like what they see and decide to contact you to hire you to be their employee. This is a free marketing tool on your side that you can easily utilize to your advantage.

Conclusion

Now that you've learned the most important ways to use your social media to find a job, it's time to put the tips we provided to use. This is a free and easy way for you to have an advantage over other people applying for the same position. It's time to pay attention to your social media accounts and secure your dream job!