Using Social Media to Market Yourself

There are few things more daunting than looking for a new job after working for the same company for over 30 years (yes, me!).  There is the obvious fact that you are typically much older than many of the other job seekers that you will be competing against.  Additionally, while you were tolling away in your comfort zone, the world of job searching has changed dramatically.  No longer do you pound the pavement, filling out paper applications, hoping doors won’t be slammed in your face.  You now get to apply to as many jobs as you want, from the comfort of your home, hoping that your resume will somehow magically rise to the top of what is often (usually) hundreds of other eager job seekers with perfect, JobScanned, resumes.  Moreover, you are now expected to market yourself on social media as though you are the hottest new gadget or luxury car, or in this case the smartest, most innovative, committed, resourceful employee, brimming with initiative and enthusiasm.  So how does one use social media to market themselves for a new job?  As a newly minted HR professional, let me tell you a bit of what I learned along the way.

LinkedIn

Today, more than ever, recruiters use LinkedIn to scour the human capital being held captive at another employer.  Recruiters certainly assess skills, knowledge, and abilities, but they’re also looking at geographic location, years of experience, and education.  Yet, it is very important to go beyond the facts and set up a profile that showcases a bit of who you are as a person, what you care about, who you follow, as fitting in with the company’s culture can be as important as the experience that you have.

LinkedIn is your opportunity to sell yourself, sharing who you are, where you’ve been, why you’re successful, who you know, and how professional you look.  Yes, you need to post a picture of yourself, smiling warmly, looking professional.  Or you can do what I did and cut your spouse out of the picture you had taken at a Red Sox game and post that!

Twitter

With nearly 700,000 users as of Sept. 2016, Twitter is another networking opportunity for those wishing to connect with people in their field or in a field that they’re hoping to break into.  Companies often Tweet about job openings and/or what is new in the industry.  Moreover, it is usually easy to join in conversations that are happening on Twitter.  Additionally, following people, who are in the field, is a terrific way to get your name recognized, especially if you are actively adding content to their conversation or starting relevant conversations of your own.  Using Twitter as a tool for branding yourself while looking for a new career is a wise choice in this technology dependent, social media driven society.

Do you think potential employers would hire you after looking at your social media profile and posts?

If you’re starting your job search, start here first to ensure you’re branding yourself properly so you will be recognized and sought after by recruiters and potential employers.

LinkedIn Profile Checklist

Build Your Brand on LinkedIn

Twitter Profile Checklist

Twitter Tips for Beginners

Share how your experience with these social media sites helped you in your job search!