In the past, social media was more known for entertainment purposes and sharing news. But now these platforms, particularly LinkedIn and Twitter, are increasingly recognized as important career tools for both job seekers and job recruiters.
92 percent of recruiters have hired people through LinkedIn, the company reports, while 24 percent have used Facebook and 14 percent Twitter to recruit employees. Further, the expression “It’s about who you know, not what you know” is apparently based in truth; LinkedIn estimates 80 percent of all jobs are filled by “somebody knowing somebody.”
As such, whole strategies revolve around how LinkedIn and Twitter contacts can help with introductions and recommendations to give job seekers an advantage with potential employers.
If that feels like unexplored territory to you, here are five tips for seeking such assistance:
- The more connections you gather on LinkedIn, the more visible you are. Try to expand your numbers by connecting with past and present colleagues, friends, family, neighbors, clients, suppliers, classmates, professors and instructors. Beyond that, consider connecting with influential people you don’t actually know, like recruiters and movers and shakers in your field (etiquette calls for an InMail explaining your interest in connecting with them).
- Learn the name of the interviewer or key manager overseeing any job you’re pursuing, then use LinkedIn’s Advanced People Search or Company Search functions to find them. Harder-to-find contacts may show up on co-workers’ LinkedIn pages under “Viewers of this profile also viewed.” Once you find the key person’s page, look for commonalities. You may have first, second or third-degree connections who could influence the manager to meet, interview or hire you. Perhaps you share an alma mater whose alumni association might arrange a meeting, or maybe you share past work experiences or organizational memberships.
- Follow potential target companies on Twitter. Click on the “Who to Follow” tab for suggestions based on your current list. You can also network with key people via Twitter chat conversations related to your industry. Once you’ve interacted by responding to or sharing someone’s tweets in thoughtful and intelligent ways, you might politely reach out to them to ask about job opportunities.
- When representing yourself professionally through LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, you must maintain up-to-date social media presences that would impress employers. That means no profanity, politically divisive posts, half-crazy rants or bragging about questionable social activities. Incorporate a professional image that makes you look neat, competent and friendly. And consider links leading to your impressive current and past projects, blogs, personal website, etc.
- Adhere to the etiquette involved with job hunting via social media. Badgering contacts is never OK, and hiring managers may well find you invasive if you try to personally connect with them on social media before you’re acquainted. Similarly, friends and family you’ve added as social media contacts may be offended if you only reach out to them when you need something (i.e., a job).
