In today’s world, we are always hearing about the link between hiring and social media sites; and generally speaking, it is a harmful connection to the job seeker. People do not get hired due to all sorts of reasons, from posting inappropriate photos, such as party pictures, to writing bad commentary that can be easily accessed by hiring companies; thusly negatively impact their decision to employ you. But, what about the positive impacts of social media? Can you use it to your benefit? Yes, you can.
There are actually many opportunities for job seekers to utilize social media to increase their chances of landing that dream job. First you will want to sift through your social media pages to delete and untag yourself in any and all incriminating photos (think like your Grandma on this). Remove comments and images with strong belief statements; such as religion and politics. Also make sure that all of your information is up-to-date and accurate. Once you have your pages neutralized, it is time to proactively promote yourself for the position you are actively seeking. First, search social media sites for the company that you applied to, and like their pages, follow their blogs and read their posts to educate yourself and show that you are interested. Engage in online communities and groups to show where your passion is. Also, unite with your professional connections via LinkedIn and let them know you are looking for a new job and ask for endorsements in your career field.
After you have done the updating, ask a peer to review your sites for any red flags. By implementing these changes, you will be able to use the power of social media to your benefit.
