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Are You Treating Social Media Like Your Résumé?

This article is more than 5 years old.

Did you know that 92% of recruiters use social media when making hiring decisions?

For anyone who’s actively (or even passively) looking for a new job, that means social media is your new résumé.

If that sentence scares you (don’t be scared; we’re in this together!) - read on for my five tips on how to use social media to land your dream job.

  1. Plan ahead. As a social media consultant for the better part of a decade, I’ve helped some of the biggest brands in the world (Food Network, HGTV, Samsung) develop social media content. One of the most common comments I get (that often holds people back) is: I have no idea what to post. My advice? Create a social media calendar so that you don't ever have to wake up and wonder what to share. The calendar should have weekly or even daily post ideas (Did your mom inspire you to become an author? You may want to flag that for a Book Lover’s Day post – November 3!) You don't have to write out every single post, but baking in ideas can often help alleviate the stress of a blank canvas.
  1. Celebrate your accomplishments. Give people a sense of what your career is all about by sharing your milestone moments. If you're an architect, share a sketch from the project that took 18 months (but is now finally complete)! If you're a copywriter, share the highway billboard where one of your favorite original lines was published. (Word to the wise: There is a fine line between celebrating and boasting, so exercise humility! And don't be afraid to ask someone you trust to eyeball your post before you hit publish.)
  1. Ask for recommendations. Sites like LinkedIn allow you to easily endorse colleagues for everything from great leadership skills to winning business strategies. If you feel especially proud of a project you've completed, don't be afraid to ask a colleague to write you a digital letter of recommendation - for all of the internet to see!
  1. Stay current. You wouldn't go two years without updating your résumé (I hope). Don't go two months - or even two weeks - without updating your social media channels. Remember: If a recruiter can’t find your experience for the last 18 months, it’s the equivalent to an unexplained gap on a résumé.
  1. Proactively reach out. Once your social channels are in a good place, don't be afraid to reach out to folks at your dream companies on sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. A follow or ReTweet can often get you on the radar of someone you admire… And in most cases, a candidate with a professional, built-in social media audience is going to be of additional value to both their colleagues - and company.

Good luck!

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