Secrets to Job Hunting through Social Media

Secrets to Job Hunting through Social MediaSecrets to Job Hunting through Social MediaYou reject friend requests on Facebook, you think tweeting is for the birds and Pinterest? What is Pinterest anyway? If youre not on board with the latest social media trends, its time to jump on the bandwagon since more and more companies are using social networks as a key recruitment tool. Here are some tips on how to use LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google+ to your advantage in your job search.LinkedIn Recruiters hire candidates through LinkedIn 40% of the time. So, if youre not on LinkedIn, you should be.Complete Your Profile LinkedIn users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to get hits. Update your profile with recent work information and write a catchy summary that focuses on your experience, career goals and interests.Create a Headline Take advantage of the opportunity to create a professional headline. Since users that youre not connected to can only see a shorten ed version of your profile, your headline is an easy way to sum up your professional identity in a short phrase.Get Recommended Beef up your profile with recommendations from your former bosses, colleagues and clients. Recommendations from people who have worked directly with you can carry a lot of weight in your job search since they give employers a rare insight into your professional characteristics.Search for Jobs LinkedIn posts thousands of jobs for each industry category daily. You can set up your search using keykorrekts, titles, company names or locations to find the right job.Message Contacts See if you have any connections at the company youre applying to. Use these inside connections to find the right rolle to contact regarding the job youre interested in. InMail the individual or request an introduction through one of your common contacts.Twitter Theres definitely an art to using Twitter to find a job. Set up a profile that will get Recruiters to notice you. Follow peopl e in your field, participate in job-related chats and use various job-hunting tools.Create an Account Think of a Twitter handle that incorporates your real name or something similar. Twitter profile bios are limited to 160 characters, so make sure you list the type of work youre after along with keywords Recruiters might search for. Also, include a professional photograph.Find People Build new relationships that can lead to your next job. Follow Recruiters, Career Coaches, companies that interest you and industry experts to keep up with hiring trends and get first dibs on new opportunities. Follow Amanda Augustine, Ladders job search expert and career advisor for up-to-the-minute job-search advice.Try Out Job-Hunting Apps Use Twitter add-on apps to search and apply for jobs. For example, TweetMyJobs has 10,000 job channels and adds 50,000 new positions per day. This app will send you daily updates via Twitter or email, too.Follow Job-Search Hashtags Jobs are hot topics on Twitter. T weeters use hashtags, a word or phrase following a with no spaces or punctuation, to discuss job-related tops. Top related hashtags include jobs, jobsearch, career and hire.Facebook With over 845 million users, its safe to say that you should use this opportunity to network yourself to your Facebook friends, but make sure you profile portrays your image in a positive light.Be Smart Have you posted or are you tagged in any questionable pictures? Are your status updates and comments appropriate? Is your info page PG-rated? Clean up your profile before you start to use Facebook on a professional level. Privatize your profie, making your information available only to those you approve of by choosing the Friends Only option in your privacy settings.Update Your Status Update your Facebook status, detailing your current situation and what types of roles youre looking for. Remember that family, friends and old colleagues are there to help youNetwork Does anyone you know work at the company youre trying to break into? Do you have friends in a similar field? Leverage your vast social network to scope out new positions, find referrals and gather career advice.Be Active Facebook groups are similar to those on LinkedIn. Theyre a great place to join in conversations, post links and connect with others. Youll want to network and get noticed by professionals in your industry, so send friend invitations to people youve had a few conversations with. These online relationships could lead to consideration for job opportunities.Search the Marketplace Check out Facebooks marketplace for job listings. You can apply directly to the position or contact the person behind the posting for additional information on the role.Pinterest This pinboard-style photo sharing website allows its users to build theme-based image collections. Doesnt sound like a useful job search tool? Think again. With more than 11 million people and companies wrapped up in the pinning trend, Pinterest is quickly e merging as tool job seekers can use to market themselves and check out potential career opportunities, employers and industries.Optimize Your Profile Adjust your account settings to allow your profile to appear in Google search results. Include keywords in your profile description that match the job you want. Insert a recent photograph along with links to your personal website or LinkedIn profile so potential employers will have easy access to more information about you.Build an Online Resume and Portfolio Collect samples of your work and pin them to boards labeled My Resume or My Portfolio. Create straightforward labels so theyre easy to find.Check Out Career and Company Boards Use the search box to look for information on jobs and careers. The pin boards you find will give you a sense of the companys overall culture. Pin anything that peaks your interest to your very own boards for future reference. These insights can help you develop tailored job applications, letting the employe r know youve done your homework.Follow Experts Follow job websites, outplacement firms, Recruiters and career centers that have boards on Pinterest. Get a conversation started by commenting on their pins. Check out Ladders on Pinterest for even more job search and career advice.Google+ Googles social networking project hit 250 million registered users in June of 2012. With countless techies trying out this relatively new, innovative platform, its a great tool to showcase your expertise and learn from others.Expand Your Circles These are the core of this social networks organization system, giving users control over who can and who cant view their content. Add other users directly to your individual Circles to connect with them. Label them according to various aspects of your personal and professional life, and make sure youre not sharing inappropriate content with your business network.Be Available Let your contacts know that youre looking for work. Mention it in the About section of your profile or post an update that youre looking to take the next step in your career.A lot to take in? Just remember to maintain your accounts and update your profiles daily if possible. But, dont update them so much that your posts become an annoyance to your connections. Happy hunting