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Sandip Samra

August 22nd, 2017

How to use social media to get a job

1 comment

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Sandip Samra

August 22nd, 2017

How to use social media to get a job

1 comment

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

For many of us social media is now part of our daily lives. It’s definitely worth thinking about whether you’re using it to its full capacity in your job search so here are a few things to keep in mind:

LinkedIn

  • Your LinkedIn profile is the CV that never sleeps, so make sure you keep it up to date. This will help employers and recruiters find you, and will also make sure that the information you’re displaying is consistent and coherent with any applications you are making.
  • More and more organisations post their jobs on LinkedIn, so it’s good to get into the habit of checking regularly. There is also a useful student section which includes graduate jobs and internships as well as tips and advice.
  • Remember to check your homepage regularly to see if your contacts post job openings too.
  • Find alumni – from the ‘my network’ tab you can find LSE alumni (or alumni from any previous institution) and connect with those working in the sector or organisation you’re interested in. Consider reaching out to them to see if they can share insights into how they got their job, recommended strategies you can follow, offer useful tips etc. Such conversations can often give information about opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have access to.
  • Get a referral – recruiters will sometimes need a bit of encouragement to give your application the attention it deserves, so a referral can be just the thing you need. Alumni might be able to help here – and remember also to check whether your second and third level connections can introduce you to someone who works for the organisations you’re interested in.
  • Use the groups (also located under ‘interests’) to find out what is happening in a particular industry to make more informed applications and help with your interview prep. Group members often post job opportunities and it will probably be easier to connect with people within your groups. Do remember to contribute to the group first!
  • Research your interviewer – when going for an interview, if you know the name of your interviewer check out their profile. This could give you information to help you build a better rapport with them on the day.
  • Keep records – LinkedIn allows you to create your own customer relationship management (CRM) system by making notes, creating tags and reminders about your connections that are visible only to you. You’ll be able to set up a reminder to follow up with an individual in a given time period, or create a searchable database of all those you have already contacted. You can also add alternative email addresses or phone numbers that again are visible only to you.
  • Follow organisations you’re interested in to ensure you’re aware of any important developments and to show your motivation and interest to anyone looking at your profile.

Twitter

  • Many organisations have Twitter accounts that include ‘Careers’ in their handle, such as @BBCCareers. Follow these accounts to keep up to date with the latest opportunities, keep track of any important developments, and show your motivation and interest to anyone looking at your profile.
  • Follow industry leaders and organisations and ensure your Twitter feed becomes a useful stream of job related resources.
  • Share useful resources and comments to develop your network and provide value to those who follow you.

Facebook

  • Most organisations that recruit graduates also have a presence on Facebook. You can ‘like’ their pages to ensure you stay up to date with recruitment processes and deadlines, and to find out about events they’re holding.
  • It goes without saying that if you’re interacting with employers via Facebook, you should ensure you have a sensible, professional profile and picture, or that your details are appropriately protected in your privacy settings.

About the author

Sandip Samra

I am the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for LSE Careers

Posted In: LSE Careers

1 Comments

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