Social Media Tips to Get You Hired

Michaela Coll
Posted by


You just applied to a job that piques your interest, or you’re currently in the process of searching for one. Waiting on that response from a potential employer can be nail biting. Searching for a job within your industry can be tiring when you think about how many other people are applying to that same position. 

You may think to yourself, what can I do to make myself stand out and get me hired? 

Look to social media as your friend here. 

1. Update your social media profiles. Double check your LinkedIn to make sure you have your work, education, and skills current. Remember if you’ve ever created websites under your own name that may pop up when an employer searches you on Google and either polish them up or take them down. Unfinished websites may give the appearance that you have a hard time finishing projects or give up easily. Eliminating unfinished work is also a good way to highlight portfolios and websites you have completed. 

2. Update your privacy settings or delete unsavory content. If you have photos of yourself that may portray a party animal, reckless behavior, or posts with profanity even if they were from years ago, you should probably delete those or update your privacy settings to share with close friends and family so if employers look you up, they don’t make quick assumptions about who you are and what you’re like. Many employers look up candidates on social media during the hiring process and you don’t want to be passed over because of the social media content you post. 

3. Professional headshots. Make sure your professional accounts contain an image that reflects an individual who looks composed and engaged. Employers don’t want to see grainy images. 

4. Join groups that are relevant to your industry. By joining career groups relevant to your industry, you can remain updated on the current culture and engage with others within that community by responding professionally to discussions. You may even engage in debates people pose within that group pertaining to a hot topic within your industry. This not only will impress potential employers who peruse your social medias but will allow you to have more knowledge of the industry when you’re interviewed so you can stand out. 

5. Be yourself. Don’t get too concerned about how the world perceives your social media content because you still want to show the world your personality. There’s a lot a person can learn about you from seeing what you share about yourself, like your sense of humor or style. At the end of the day, employers do want to hire people who have their own sense of self and personality. 

6. Reach out to hiring managers through your social media account after you apply with a positive message of thanks. A great thing about job websites today is that in many instances you can see who the hiring manager is if they are listed under the job posting, or you can look it up. By sending a short and simple message to the hiring manager thanking them for their time and expressing your interest in hearing back, you put yourself in their line of vision more than other candidates applying for the same position. 

Social media can be a great friend during the job application process. We now have ways of making ourselves stand out more in the hiring process than in the past, especially with the help of these tips. 

Comment

Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.

  • Okeowo M.
    Okeowo M.

    Yes I like it

  • Sandra W.
    Sandra W.

    This is great

Jobs to Watch