How to leverage social media to land your dream job
In a crowded marketplace, with thousands of applicants vying for a limited number of vacancies, candidates should do more than simply submit their CVs in response to advertised positions.
Instead, they should proactively use social media to make them stand out from the crowd and to catch the eyes of potential employers, experts say.
“No matter what your vocation, you can use social media to boost your profile in your chosen industry,” said Elbie Liebenberg, principal at Oxbridge Academy.
Liebenberg said employers now, as a matter of course, look up social media profiles of candidates, which is why these platforms are brilliant as tools to profile experience, competence and creative thinking.
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“It is no longer enough to make sure that there is nothing damaging on your social media accounts. While it is important to reflect your professionalism on these platforms, you also need to use these platforms in a proactive way to position you favourably,” she said.
Entry-level positions are highly contested and scarce, yet almost all of them call for experience. Social media provides an opportunity to gain experience, showcase creativity and initiative, and serve as a platform for demonstrating your personality and capabilities.
Social media provides the ideal tool to not only connect with people in your industry and be aware of vacancies or opportunities before they arise, but also to demonstrate that you are a candidate to take note of.
Practising your craft ensures you are always growing and learning, while documenting what you’ve done provides the perfect opportunity to raise your profile.
Practice makes perfect and using social media to your benefit shows that you have a self-starter attitude, while also giving a confidence boost when you next find yourself in the interview room.
For more tips watch the video below:
