Top 5 Tips to Navigate Social Media During Your Job Search

Friend requests, InMails, tweets, + likes… oh my!

Social media is not just for entertainment anymore… it can make or break your job search. While social media should not be used to make final employment decisions- some hiring managers are seeing it as an extension of the resume- giving a bit more information on you! (Your behavior, candor + judgement).

Most people use social media today to find a job. It is a great way to research a firm, get to know the corporate culture, see open jobs in real time… but be careful- just as you are researching potential hiring managers and reading Glassdoor reviews- they could be looking at you too!  This source of information is not a one-way street!

Here are the TOP 5 tips to navigate social media during your job search:

1)     Keep it professional- Make sure to self edit and think about anything you post or choose to share; ask yourself…"Would I want my Grandma to see this?" Does a selfie in revealing clothes day drinking send the right message to your future boss?

2)     Keep it consistent- On LinkedIn you talk about wanting to get into marketing and your resume objective says you want to be an Executive Assistant- eek, sending a mixed message is not the best approach and likely to confuse potential employers on your true goals and intentions.

3)    Keep it neutral- Be you, but it might not be the best time to post a rant on your former boss, last night's date, or anything else that could be considered controversial.

4)     Think of social media as an outlet for your own personal brand. What would you want your next boss to know about you? Showing you are well rounded and like to hike, run or volunteer etc. could never be poorly received.

5)    Feel free to make your profile private- sometimes less is more!

Easy right? Ready set…friend, InMail, like, tweet + go. BURKE UP. You got this.

Additional Resources:

https://www.themuse.com/advice/45-things-to-do-on-social-media-to-find-jobs