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8 Ways You Can Use Social Media and Technology to Land a Job

A graphic of someone using their smartphone.

Over the past decade, social media and technology have become integral parts of nearly every activity we undertake. Among those activities, the way we search for and secure jobs has changed. So, how can you use social media and technology to make the most of your job search?

You can broaden your network

Get started using Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with influential people working for organizations you want to work for or doing work you want to do. Both platforms are all about having conversations and connecting with people.

You can cultivate relationships, new and old

Sure, social media can help you make new business contacts, but how do you get them to help you get a job? If you think about it like cultivating relationships in real life, you can avoid being creepy and encourage people to help you in your quest.

You can supplement your resume 

Your LinkedIn profile should contain more than just a copy of your resume. Use your profile to show employers the totality of your professional experience. All the things you don’t include on your resume can give you an edge on LinkedIn.

You can get public support

LinkedIn allows your connections to write you recommendations, which can give recruiters an excellent picture of you in the workplace. It can also demonstrate that someone else can vouch for the skills you claim to have. These incentives of a complete profile make you a better candidate by setting you apart.

You can build a social resume 

If you find yourself stuck when using social media and tech to find a job, a few companies have stepped up to help you through consultation. Meet with a specialist about cultivating a social resume that can make you desirable to the organizations you apply to.

You can get updates on new opportunities 

Use your email, preferred search engine, and even Idealist.org, to set up custom job search alerts. Doing so will alert you to new opportunities as they are posted so you do not have to comb the entire internet looking for new postings every day.

You can look for work on-the-go

Take the job search from your home computer to the palm of your hand. There are mobile apps that enable you to edit your resume, prep for interviews, or schedule lunch meetings from your smartphone.

You can easily see limitations in your job search

There is no silver bullet for landing a job. Social media and technology are great tools you can use to give you access to a broader network and new opportunities, but only in conjunction with old-fashioned, in-person tactics. Be aware of what new technologies can do in your job hunt.


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by Aaron McCoy

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