Use Social Media to get an Interview

By Abby Gutowski

The time between submitting your resume/cover letter and receiving a call for an interview can be extremely long and stressful. Each employer has different selection processes, requirements and formality that you're unable to control. And many are using that time to do some research about you based on your social media profiles. In fact, more than forty-five percent of employers reported in a recent CareerBuilder survey that they use social networking sites to research job candidates, a big jump from 22 percent last year.

Luckily, you now have the power to control your brand online and influence employers’ perceptions of you. For some this is a frightening revelation, but if you use it to your advantage it can reap incredible rewards. How? Make sure your social media channels are cared to properly and represent who you are, or the person you strive to be.

First, get your LinkedIn profile up to par. Start by adding elements of your resume, connecting with influential industry professionals and building your database of referrals. Also, don’t be afraid to be transparent - optimize by adding links to your blog, Twitter profile, social media bio and VisualCV. A well-kept LinkedIn profile that tells everything it can about you tells the employer you’re serious about your job search and provides them with more information needed to separate you from other applicants.

Keep your Twitter profile clean and relevant. Twitter can be a powerful job search tool if you’re smart about how you use it. Many employers will look up your Twitter profile to see if you’re connected to people that matter in your industry, if you’ve ever badmouthed a former or current employer, if you’re a positive person or if you provide relevant content to followers. If employers see that you’re using Twitter to connect and learn, they know they’re more likely to have a worthwhile interview with you.

Don’t hide on Facebook. It’s become a trend for many young professionals to alter their Facebook identities so current and potential employers can’t find them. I’ve seen many variations of this, such as using a middle name instead of your last name, or changing your name altogether. People who think they’re being strategic are really showing employers that they have something to hide. Employers understand that you are human and will probably be going out and having fun, so photographs of you partying will only become problematic if that appears to be the only thing you do. Complement and balance the personal photos by posting news articles or joining groups relevant to your industry.

Be smart and transparent on Facebook and other social media tools to tell a future employer you’re comfortable with how you present yourself. How you’re perceived can help turn your lifeless application into an interview.

Comments

[Peggy McKee]

Abby,

Great topic! Social media is an important part of anyone's job search. There's more help available to jobseekers here: http://job-search-success-secrets.com/products.htm

[Internet Marketing]

Social media marketing proves gaining customers , reaching greater audiences through social communication and interaction .

[curcuma]

Hello
This is really very good post.I have learned so much from this post.You have given very nice information about how we can use social media to get an interview.
I like your three points very much about Face book,Twitter and LinkedIn.Thank you very much for this.