What to Do on Social Media When Job Hunting
Sept. 2022
By NTI
If you haven’t searched for a job in a while, which can be the case for Americans with disabilities, you probably need to brush up on searching for a job using social media.
More and more, job recruiters are looking at an individual’s social media pages to check for any red flags, but they are also looking to get to know you better. Obviously, you want to make sure you are presenting your best self. You should go through your social media page to make sure there is nothing there that could prevent you from finding a job.
“You have to look at this like you are branding yourself as a company does,” said Alan Hubbard, NTI’s Chief Operating Officer. “On social media, you want to present a professional image for recruiters to see.”
First, remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. On your social media pages, you want a professional shot of yourself and not something from your uncle’s birthday.
“The photo of yourself and your other photos reveal a lot about you personally,” said Hubbard “A hiring manager is going to look at your pictures to get to know you better to make a decision on whether to interview you. If you need suggestions on what you want it to look like, check out other professionals in your field. That will give you an indication of what to look like.”
It might be cute to use a nickname, like “Boomer,” but remember this is your personal brand. You want to use your real name so people can find you easily on your social media platform.
With all the social media platforms out there, you could spend a lot of time being on everything out there, but that’s not necessary. Basically, you will be fine by using a LinkedIn account only for professional purposes. Other social media platforms you use, should be kept private to prevent hiring managers from reviewing them.
“You want to research the best practices to use,” said Hubbard. “It is another case where looking at other professional pages can also be a big help.”
A personal website, featuring past work samples, and references, and your information can also be helpful in your job search. If you are looking for a job in a field where you have experience, creating a blog can also be a way to attract the attention of hiring managers.
For LinkedIn, make sure you are connecting with people you know through past jobs, networking, or any groups which focus on your job field. Spend time adding your skills and accomplishments to your profile.
“You need to have a game plan for LinkedIn,” said Hubbard. “It isn’t like Facebook or Twitter, where people are constantly checking the site. You need to have a regular schedule where you are reaching out and sharing information.”
If you choose to use Twitter professionally, it should be approached differently than LinkedIn. You want to share articles considering issues in the field you want to work, make comments and reach out to leaders in your field. You want to actively share other people’s tweets.
“Hiring managers will be looking at whether you are on regularly on Twitter,” said Hubbard. “If you have not posted in a while, that could be a red flag to a hiring manager. They will also be looking to see if you are sharing other people’s articles. You don’t want your Twitter page to be all about you.”
“You also want to be following companies you would like to work at and people who work there. This will be helpful to learn about what is happening there.”
On Facebook, you can ask your friends if they know of any job openings. Having a personal reference for a position can go a long way to getting you the job.
“Your Facebook friends can be very valuable in working for you to get a job,” said Hubbard. “People like helping people get jobs. When you have a job, you want to make sure you are returning the favor for other job seekers.”
NTI helps Americans with disabilities and their caregivers find at-home employment with free training and job placement services. You can register at www.nticentral.org.