5 ways to use social media to land a new job

Using social media will make your professional profile more visible and increase your chances of getting a job. But looking for a job is a bit like looking for love: the longer you’re on the market, the more people wonder why (even if it’s not always intentional). A long, painful, and public job search makes you less desirable.

Every detail counts when it comes to getting a recruiter to swipe right, from your profile picture to your interactions. In 2021, a survey by Careerarc showed that 92% of employers use social networks to hire talent. So how can you advertise the fact you’re looking for a job without appearing desperate? Here’s what we have in store:

1. Give your LinkedIn tagline some love
2. Use the hidden “Open to Work” function on LinkedIn
3. Share relevant content
4. Join a group
5. Make the most of your DMs

1. Give your LinkedIn tagline some love

Is having “Looking for work” in your tagline good or bad? If you currently have a job, then don’t even think about it and even If you don’t, there are better ways to go about your job search.

Whatever you do, don’t leave your tagline blank! Use a job you’ve had before as inspiration or showcase your professional goals.

Recruiting expert Matthieu Degenève has 4 tagline ideas for when you’re looking for a job.

• The “why” option: Why do you do what you do, and for who? “Logistics professional | Client satisfaction is my no.1 goal”
• The benefits option: What’s your added value? “I help you offer a quick, optimized delivery service”
• The features option: What keywords describe your activity, and which ones can you put together to create a unique value offer? “Logistics | Process optimization | E-commerce | CPFR | Tracking expert”
• The fun option: A bit of humor and sass to spark curiosity. They’ll either love it or hate it. “The postal worker’s best friend”

2. Use the hidden “Open to Work” function on LinkedIn

Although we advise against writing, “Looking for work” in your tagline, since 2017, LinkedIn has a function where you can confidentially show you are open to work. This is particularly useful if you’re currently working in a job you want to leave. Recruiters use this option to filter their searches and maximize their chances of finding people who are open to work. Once this is activated you can also add a message for recruiters and tell them what you are looking for without publicly announcing it to your whole network.

3. Share relevant content

Social media is a personal branding tool so it’s the best place to share content when looking for work. It’s the easiest way to get potential recruiters to notice you, without being given the third degree by your current employer, if you have one. Your online activity is the storefront for your skills in a particular industry or profession.

If you’re ready to be visible, give your opinion on key subjects and the issues facing your industry, it’s a good way to boost your job search. Share articles, tweets, and podcasts, or better still, produce your own content.

The big social media sites like LinkedIn are obviously valuable but consider investing in more specialist social media too, something directly linked to your industry. For example, a developer could offer content on GitHub to get their name out to other coders. Or a graphic designer might showcase their creations on Dribble.

4. Join a group

Sign up for groups that discuss relevant topics for your profession or industry. It’s a good way of staying up to date, but also could hold great opportunities. Helene Cavalli, Vice-President of Marketing at Lee Hecht Harrison explains: “Having a profile and scrolling through your news feed won’t cut it. You’re just a lurker, someone who has an online profile but doesn’t engage with anyone. You have to give to receive. Share with your network, join in group discussions, showcase your expertise, and direct people to articles.** You have to work at it. You might feel uncomfortable opening up, but now isn’t the time to be shy.”

5. Make the most of your DMs

Don’t be afraid to approach people. When you contact recruiters or HR managers directly, you can be honest about what you’re looking for and ask to set up a call to discuss an offer you’re interested in. What’s the worst that can happen? You get redirected to their standard application system. Another approach is to contact the manager of a team you want to work for. Explain why you’re interested in what they do and that you’re looking for new opportunities. Ask them if you can have a chat about their career. If you send a personal, relevant message, there aren’t many people who’ll say no to a twenty-minute chat.

Recruiters’ behaviors are fairly predictable; they like job seekers who know how to stand out without looking desperate. By having a coherent online presence and creating value for your network, they’ll be more inclined to follow you, take an interest, and see you as a worthy candidate.

Translated by Debbie Garrick

Photo: Welcome to the Jungle

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