Make social media work for you: 3 common mistakes that will hurt your job search
Social media is integral to job searching in the digital age. However, if you’re not careful, it can also hinder your chances.
As of February 2022, 84.3% of people in the UK are active on social media.
UK adults spend an average of nearly 2 hours on social platforms every day.
Let’s dive in to how you can not only avoid harming your job prospects with your social media activity but actually enhance them - from using LinkedIn to expand your network and build your personal brand, to following a company on Instagram to gain insight into their company culture.
What not to do
Here are 3 things to keep in mind with your online presence:
Evidence of an active social life and partying with friends won’t cause any harm, but photos of you black-out drunk will. And any mention of illegal substances is an absolute no-go.
Embracing your inner keyboard warrior and getting into heated public arguments may raise concerns about your interpersonal skills and how easy you’d be to work with.
We hope this goes without saying, but never attack individuals or groups, and do not engage in any behaviour that is racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted.
So now we’ve covered what not to do; what can you do to make social media work for you when you’re looking for your next role?
Lock them down
The easiest way to avoid future employers scrutinising your social media accounts is to set your accounts to private. This approach has its advantages in that it doesn’t leave you worrying about that one photo from an ill-advised night out ten years ago resurfacing… but it also cuts you off from all the benefits of using social media well.
Post thoughtfully
Typical everyday posts won’t do you any harm (personally, my Instagram consists mostly of food, friends, and photos of my dog.) But intentional and more in-depth posts that engage critically with issues will demonstrate that you’re intelligent, thoughtful, and able to articulate your views well.
Comment respectfully and constructively
It’s easy to criticise. When you comment on others’ posts and on discussions in groups, focus on being constructive and bringing something of value to the conversation. Whether you’re expressing an opinion, offering a tip, or simply saying thank you for whatever useful content the person posted, be courteous, respectful, and kind.
Share content relevant to your industry
Engaging with what’s going on in your industry is perhaps one of the best ways to impress potential employers with your social media presence. Follow relevant pages, join groups, comment on posts, share news and views, and – unless it’s confidential – talk about what you’ve been working on.
If you’re a children’s social worker, for example, you might share your favourite resources. If you work in the charity sector, you might link to news articles related to the issue your charity focuses on, and so on.
Don’t neglect LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the least popular of the major social networking platforms amongst young people - as of September 2022, only about 17% of 18-24 year olds in the UK have an account.
But if you don’t have a presence on there, you’re missing out on some valuable opportunities. Not only does it act as a sort of online CV, it’s also a place where you can network with people in your sector.
Active use of LinkedIn should be part of your job-hunting strategy. Connect with people you work with or have worked with in the past, join relevant groups, and enjoy all the useful content that is posted every day. You can also set yourself as “open to opportunities” so that recruiters can reach out to you with appropriate positions.
Demonstrate your values
Some people worry that they should be apolitical on social media. But this isn’t the case.
Engaging with current affairs can be a fantastic way to show your values and how you live them.
Of course, think before you post or re-share anything, but be yourself and demonstrate what’s important to you. Many employers will view the willingness to speak up for what you believe in as a very attractive trait in a potential employee.
Follow companies and engage with them
The vast majority of companies have a social media presence. So, if you’ve applied for a job or even think you might like to work with them someday, follow them on social media. Engage with their posts, and tag them if you talk about their products or services.
While the person who runs the social media accounts is unlikely to be the hiring manager, your interviewer probably also follows those accounts. If they recognise your name and are impressed by your comments, they’ll remember you. And if they look up your social media presence later in the recruitment process, they’ll be impressed to see your expressed interest in the company.
Build a brand
At its core, a personal brand is about demonstrating who you are as a person, what you do, and what’s important to you.
Think about what you want to be associated with, and act accordingly. If you want to become known for a particular kind of work or as an expert in a particular subject, build your social media presence around that. Think about the kind of personality you want to convey, and assess whether or not a post contributes to that goal before you hit “submit.”
Don’t ruin your career in 280 characters. Speak to your Sanctuary consultant today for further guidance on your job search.
