The world at large is becoming more and more competitive and even more so when it comes to gaining employment. Interestingly, though not surprising, is that 70% of employers check the profile of a job candidate before offering them an interview!
What this tells us, is that we have to use all that we can in a market where employers have more access than ever before to our personal information. Like you’d wear a great outfit to an interview so you make a great first impression, it’s important to also look at social media as a way to gain the competitive edge when it comes you standing out from the crowd when looking to get a new job.
The great thing about being strategic about crafting a social media presence is that it can and will support your future ambitions, if you do it right. There are five steps to be go through to do this.
Step 1. What is your goal?
Rather than looking at social media as a one hit wonder and hoping that it will serve you for the next role only, consider what you want to be doing in the next five years as opposed to the immediate future.
For example, you might want to be a Senior HR Manager in 5 years time, but for now you’re looking at an entry level role in HR.
Step 2. Pin point your next phase
What is the role that you want as the next phase in your career plan? Once you have identified the type of role that you want, it’s important to then work out a shortlist of companies in the industry that you want to work in. Also decide in this point what the type of culture is that you want to work within. The bigger corporates may not fit your values and culture values, you might prefer to work within something more boutique.
For example, you might want to be a Bank Manager and thus the industry that you’d be looking at is Banking and Finance. Create a shortlist of the Banks that you would like to work within. You may even find through doing this exercise that you’d prefer to work within a smaller bank rather than a one of the big four.
Step 3. Do a social media audit on yourself
This is crucial, because we want your social media to do the talking for you before the person who is arranging interviews. They are more than likely to go and find you on social media to get a feeling for who you are and what you’re like before arranging a time to speak with you, so let’s make it count.
Imagine that you’re the interviewer of the organisation and you’re looking at your social media profile through the lens of a critical potential employer. What do you have posted on your accounts that does not support the goals of the company? Is there anything on there that go against the values of the organisation?
For example, if you’re wanting to get a job in an organisation that is all about environment sustainability and ecology, you don’t want to have photos online that are supporting posts that are contrary to this.
Delete any posts, photos or things you may have been tagged in that are in conflict with the way you want to be perceived. Sometimes our friends tagging us in the post at the pub on Friday night is not the best way to build a brand that supports your career goals. Hint: check all platforms for this, not just the ones you’re most active on.
Step 4. Create posts that are in support of what you want to create
This is an important part to cultivating a social media brand around you. Create posts and share articles that show the values that you share with the organisations that you would like to be a part of.
For instance, if you want a role in the fashion industry, share photos and articles that relate to current fashions – eg. Fashion Week or the Met Gala.
Step 5. Have an opinion and share it
By sharing opinions online it helps people to make a determination on what your values are and will be the fastest way for you to create an impression, so let’s make it a GREAT first impression.
In this section, I would make sure that you’re sharing opinions and then backing them up with either data to support it or stories that support these opinions.
For example, if you’re against animal testing and you’re looking to work for an organisation that shares this value, it would be wise to start sharing your opinions on why you’re against it. Share the evidence to support these opinions. Make sure that you’re sharing them in a somewhat diplomatic way, unless you’re applying for a job as a Debater!!!! Most employers are looking for someone who is opinionated but not argumentative.
All in all, use the tools that we available to us. After all, the competition is only going to get more and more fierce.
