How Is Social Media Changing The Way We Job Hunt?
Social media has grown rapidly in the last 10 years with platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn becoming popular. In 2004, Facebook had only 1 million users but today has over 1 Billion registered users and rising. 72% of internet users also have a social media account making the rise of these platforms undeniable. For millennials, having grown up using these it makes sense to use them to help search for a job.
For those that are job hunting, it is important your social media accounts are a good reflection on you as prospective employers will often check your Facebook account. Ideally set your account to private or friends only, that way any holiday pics or party shots will be kept hidden. Inappropriate photos or long rants and swearing on your accounts will create a bad impression to those that do not know you. If you are looking for work a well-written status update detailing what sort of work you are looking for can get results. Your Facebook friends will see your status and share it with their friends and so on, there is always a possibility that someone will be looking for a new employee.
Searching on social media sites can reveal job opportunities as often smaller companies will advertise on their own pages. If you aspire to work for a particular company, then following their online accounts can give you insider knowledge and help you be first in line if a job opening arises. Social media can be a great way to get in contact with someone you admire or whom has a career you desire to have. If you approach them on Twitter or LinkedIn, you may find they will respond with some helpful advice or even become a mentor. LinkedIn is predominantly used for professional networking but employers will post job advertisements and job seekers can post their CVs. LinkedIn is almost a hybrid of job search and social media as it has become a platform for individuals to showcase their qualifications, achievements and experience. A LinkedIn profile can become an ‘Online CV’ for many and can be an extremely helpful tool when job searching. For those in the creative industry having an Instagram account with examples of your work can be a great showcase.
Having a social media account can be an advantage when on the hunt for a new job but it is important to make sure the image you project on these platforms is a good reflection on you. Whilst social media can help in the search for a job it can be unfruitful and time-consuming. If you are seriously looking for a job, then using a recruitment agency can be the quickest route to success. As social media use continues to grow there is no doubt that it will alter the way people search for a job. Here at Recruit Mint we too have a social media presence with our Facebook page, give us a like and you will be kept updated with our news and job opportunities.
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