Looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself.
Most of us have been there and it can be really demoralising when things don’t work out the way you’d hoped.
And as we’re forced to trawl the internet, it can be easy to get distracted and start browsing social media, instead…
But did you know that you can get your Facebook fix AND get yourself a new job?
Facebook (and other social media platforms) are becoming more and more common for connecting people, not just socially, but professionally as well.
So we’ve got some great tips for you this week:
1. Just ask.
Surprisingly, the good old Facebook status can work pretty well.
And all you have to do is get the word out that you’re looking for a new opportunity and ask your friends to spread the word. Some will oblige (some won’t, but don’t be offended).
What should you include?
Be brief, provide a few details about yourself, give a brief description of what you want and where etc. and then ask people to share.
Who knows who your friends will be connected by? And/or what vacancies they have at their place right now?
You can of course use this technique across other social networks; Twitter and LinkedIn especially.
2. Engage with your friends.
So, sharing a status is a good idea, but you could also engage directly with people on your friend list.
Obviously, you should pick and choose who you approach, but if you know anyone that might be in a great position to help you, message them directly.
You can engage by ‘liking’ their posts, making friendly and kind comments, just keep yourself visible, however it’s best to keep this casual – you don’t want to come across like a stalker.
3. Join professional groups.
Another great way to broaden your professional network through Facebook is to join professional groups that exist within the social network.
These groups cannot only connect you with like-minded people working in a similar field to you, but they can help you to get your name out there, establish a reputation for yourself, allow you to engage in stimulating conversation and link you to job opportunities that may arise within your area of work.
4. Join a job search group.
Furthermore, there are even specific job search groups on Facebook!
Some are aimed at specific industries, but others are more generic.
These job search groups can provide excellent starting points in finding the job you’re looking for and by commenting and engaging with posts in these groups you can help to get your name out there and alert potential employers to your interest in similar positions available.
5. Follow specific companies.
Following companies that you aspire to work for is yet another way that you can establish yourself and help to put yourself in a good position, should new employment opportunities come your way.
You’ll also be able to stay in the loop on the new and exciting things that the company or organization are doing, meaning that when a job opportunity does arise, you’ll be in a well-equipped position to talk about what the company is doing, how you can contribute and why you would be the best for the job.
Using the search bar is a great way to start locating these companies and their Facebook pages.
You can also narrow the search by using the Filter on the top left hand side.
Here you can pick location, groups, dates posted and once you start your search, Facebook will show you if you have any mutual friends and if it’s close to your area.
Once you get what you want there, you can define your search by getting on to the specific website to further your inquiries and engage with the employers more directly.
6. Follow recruitment agencies.
Beyond following the companies that you are hoping to work for you can also follow recruitment agencies that frequently post job listing and new opportunities to their Facebook pages.
Adding these listings to your daily social media scrolling is an awesome way to easily expose yourself to new opportunities that may come available near you.
7. Make sure your profile is in good shape.
Finally, your personal profile provides an important element in using Facebook to look for a job as well.
Listing prior employment experience, being aware of the content you’re sharing and posting and targeting that content to support the kind of work you’re looking for are just a few of the ways that your profile itself can be advantageous in seeking new employment opportunities.
Taking the time to go through and clean-up your profile and strategically share future content provide a great way to open yourself up to all of the job opportunities available through social media.
Summary
Facebook can be a great tool when it comes to your job search.
But of course, it should be used as an additional tactic, not the one and only. If you’re looking for more tips on how to boost your job search, check out some of these articles:
- 8 Things Jobseekers Need to Know About Dealing With Recruitment Agencies
- 9 Types of Job Interviews You Need to Be Prepared For
- 9 Essential LinkedIn Tips for Job Seekers
If you’d like to receive more, great job search tips and careers advice, then subscribe to our blog today!
Happy Liking!
