How Your Social Media Profile Can Make Or Break Your Next Job Opportunity

Social networking is a recent invention that has the Internet still at the edge of its seat due to its popularity with people. This is mostly because it really is for the people. If you do not utilize any of the several forms of Social Media you risk falling behind your competitors who use Social Media. A survey conducted in the US last year revealed that close to 90% of employers either recruited, or were planning to recruit, through social media. According to the 2012 annual technology market survey conducted by Eurocom Worldwide, “Almost one in five technology industry executives say that a candidate’s social media profile has influenced their recruiting decision. Managing your social media profile has become even more important as it can make or break your chances of being hired.

Social media can give you an opportunity to hunt down the job of your dreams, but they won’t do it on their own. You need to be strategic and proactive in how you use them.

Here are some ways by which Social Media can be utilized:

• Highlight your professional self on social media: LinkedIn is undoubtedly a great tool to showcase your professional aspect as well as network with other professionals. Twitter can be used to talk about relevant subjects, follow industry experts and engage in conversations with them.  You can also follow organizations that interest you and stay updated with their activities, in case you are planning to apply for them.

• Connect with Right People/Organization: Becoming friends with any company that you are looking to work for or already working for is another smart use of social media. It also becomes an added advantage if the HR Executive or CEO of the firm which you are thinking to apply is already in your network.

• Keep your Eyes Open: Don’t overlook any opportunity that may come across in any form. Be it a question, advice, Discussions etc. make sure you participate in all conversations that can fetch you eye balls.

• Create your professional profile on LinkedIn: Many recruiters now use LinkedIn as their primary tool for sourcing candidates, so having a well-written and keyword-rich LinkedIn profile is essential. Make sure your profile reflects your area of expertise.

•Build a recruiter-friendly Twitter bio: Twitter is a force to be reckoned with, and both employers and recruiters now use Twitter on a regular basis to search for candidates and advertise vacancies.

•Network: The great thing about social media is that they let you communicate with people you might not meet in real life. Create your own networks by making contact with people who work at companies you’re interested in. Building networks is a long-term process but it is worth investing the time. Interact with people, learn from them, and show what you can contribute. You can join LinkedIn groups or specialist forums and share knowledge, have conversations with like-minded people and build virtual relationships – in fact, this is often easier online than in person.

However, if you want to ensure a potential employer never rejects you, make sure your online social profile depicts the type of employee a company would want to hire.

Finally, if you plan to use social media as part of your job search, remember that recruiters regularly carry out internet searches on the names of potential employees. So, keep your personal life private and make sure that all your online content is positive and professional and it depicts you as the type of employee a company would want to hire.
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Taking the next step

In deciding whether you are ready to move up to the next rung in the career ladder, it pays to take a systematic approach. Chatting about your burgeoning career to friends over a few drinks after work may feel like you're mapping out your next move, but it's easy to convince yourself of something that may not stack up in the cold light of day.

The best place to start is to carry out a focused career audit:

• How has your career progressed to date?
• What are your career ambitions in the medium to long term?
• What does that tell you about where you need to be heading in the next year?

Think about your skills, strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, identify what you do and don't enjoy at work. Be brutally honest - no one else needs to see what you write down. What skills gaps do you need to fill so you can get to where you want to be?

For each of the skills gaps you have identified, think about what you can do to bridge them. Perhaps you can get some training, read career or personal development books, or find yourself a career coach. Whatever action you decide to take, put in place a specific and timed plan to get you there.

Even if you're happy in your job, give your career a regular once over – at least every three months. It's also a good idea to keep a diary or journal so that you can jot down contacts, ideas, interesting websites or articles you come across, as well as keeping a record of your progress and achievements.

Look around you
Many people default into the idea that moving up the ladder means switching companies. While this is one route, it is not the only option. There may be some excellent opportunities waiting for you on the next floor or down the corridor.

It costs companies a lot of money to recruit new people, so you have a built-in bargaining position if you move internally. You may be able to secure a promotion in your current company, or even expand your existing role so that it stretches you more and gives you extra responsibility and valuable experience.

Getting recognition
Being a hard worker doesn't necessarily mean you'll reap the rewards due to you, so look for ways to boost your profile in the company every now and then. Perhaps ask your boss to acknowledge your success in the company newsletter or on the bulletin board. It all helps.

Take time to work out how you want your job to grow, and share the plans with your boss. You'll usually need their support to move forward.

Try to dress and act for the role you want, not the role you're currently in. That doesn't mean spending a fortune on expensive clothes and haircuts; it's more about being well-groomed and professional in your appearance. Our opinions about other people are usually formed in the first couple of minutes after we meet them. First impressions are critical.

Move on to move up
If you hit the proverbial brick wall when trying to make an internal move, you'll have to look elsewhere. But how do you get a job as a manager when you've never actually managed before?

It's all about how you describe yourself in your CV. Don't lie or exaggerate about your responsibilities in a previous role as your future employers can easily check the facts. Talk about tasks such as training up new employees or hosting strategic meetings with your team – it shows your potential to be a strong man-manager.

Another option is to network at industry events or get your name in the trade press to attract potential employers. You can do this by writing an article for an industry magazine or even starting your own industry-related blog to give yourself an air of authority on certain subjects.