By 2020, the tech-savvy, hyper-connected Gen Z population will make up 50 per cent of the workforce —but they’re not alone. Another 80 per cent of Gen Xers and 70 per cent of Boomers are also online.

Whether you’re a recent college grad looking for your first opportunity or a seasoned professional looking for a career change, social media is a powerful tool for both job seekers and employers.

Looking for a job on social media goes far beyond updating your LinkedIn work experience sections and making sure those party photos aren’t visible on Facebook. In addition to showing highlighting skills and experience in a personal way, social media can humanize the recruitment process for hiring managers and recruiters.

With everyone and everything connected, the digital landscape is ripe with low hanging fruits of employment opportunities.

Try these social tips to grasp a plumb position for yourself:

Hone your personal brand

Your social media profiles say a lot about you, and you want to ensure you’re communicating the right message. How do you professionally want to be perceived? Update out of date information, check for typos and grammatical errors and remove any content that might discourage a potential employer. You also need to be consistent with your name.  If your resume name is James M Smith, try to keep the same brand through out all social media.  If you have different naming conventions, it’s hard to tie your brand all together. You should also know what social platform your audience uses most and get in on the conversations.

Set your privacy settings

One third of employers have admitted to dismissing candidates based off what they saw on their social media account. Hiring managers are looking, and they won’t “Like” any evidence that could indicate any inappropriate behavior. Privacy offers protection against any assumptions, but remember: Your profile photos will still be visible.

Reach out to your Facebook friends

These people are your friends and personal contacts; while you may not interact with some on a regular basis, they’re still invested in you and want you to succeed. You never know who has heard of an open position, so writing a status letting people know you’re looking can uncover many potential leads.

Build and tailor your LinkedIn profile—then network!

Think about the type of job you’re looking for, the industry you want to work in, who your target audience is and tailor your personal brand to fit. Join groups related to your field and engage in discussions to build connections. Following companies you want to work for will also alert you to any job postings. Remember: Networking with group members and companies doesn’t mean straight out asking for a job; it’s building relationships.

Engage on Twitter

First, ensure your Twitter profile is employer-friendly; 94% of recruiters are using social media to source candidates, and people can still see tweets that you’ve favourited even though they don’t show up on your timeline. Follow companies and influencers you want to work for, if they tweet their blog posts, leave an insightful comment, showing the value you can bring to the brand.

Use @ Twitter and LinkedIn handles  (sparingly)

Did you come across an interesting blog or article of an influencer or company you want to work with? Use their Twitter or LinkedIn handle to send a tweet/message letting them know what you thought. Though this shouldn’t be done often (as you may come across like you’re trying to brown nose), people like to know that their content is engaging, and it demonstrates your interest in the field.

Leverage hashtags

Hiring managers and recruiters are using them, so you should be too. When you post to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+, use hashtags like #jobsearch, #jobhunt, #jobseeker or #hireme. When searching for job postings, use hashtags like #hiring, #careers, #gethired, #jobs or #Tweetmyjobs. If you’re looking to drill down on a specific industry, like IT for instance, use hashtags like #Techjobs or #ITjobs. You can also add the city you’re looking in (#ITjobsToronto).

Have a blog

Having a professional blog is positioning you as an industry resource and thought leader. You can build your social capital by becoming known as a source of provocative and vibrant content.

Create a website or digital portfolio

Content containing images gets 94% more total views than content without, and attaching a link to your website or portfolio along with your post automatically showcases who you are and what you do to any potential employer.

Social recruiting is on the rise. Ensure your social media platforms are reaching their full potential.

Are you working with a staffing agency to find your next great opportunity? 

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