Unique Ways to Use Social Media in the Job Search

We’ve all heard the saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” In the age of social media, it’s easier than ever to leverage your connections and make this adage true in your job search. It’s important to know the right people for two reasons: 1) to find new opportunities; and 2) to ensure the organization/company/firm is the right fit for you. The key is strategically finding helpful information amidst a plethora of pictures, rants, and life updates. Here are three ideas to help you make the most of social media in the job search.

1) WWW.TWITJOBSEEK.COM

Twitjobseek is a Twitter job search tool that connects to the traditional Twitter search bar to allow you to search using ‘job’ related words (ex. Counsel, law) and identify a specific geographic area (ex. Kansas City, MO).

2) INSTAGRAM

Most people don’t think of Instagram as a social media platform connected with the job search. While it’s unlikely you will learn about a job opportunity through social media, you can gain valuable insight about organizational culture that can help you discover and articulate why you know an organization/company/firm is the right fit. All you need to is to do a simple search for the organization/company/firm. I recommend looking at the organization/firm/company as a location – that way you can see all the posts from people who have been there (typically these individuals are employees). Are there office party pictures? Company-wide lunches? Birthday celebrations? Did it really happen if it’s not on Instagram?

3) FACEBOOK 

Have you kept track of where all your Facebook friends are employed? Probably not – especially if you haven’t gone on an unfriending binge since high school or college. To see whether any of your Facebook friends work at an organization/company/firm you are pursuing, type: “people who work at _______” in the main search bar. Even if you don’t have any friends who work there, Facebook will identify people who work there with whom you have mutual friends. Using Facebook in this way mirrors the capabilities of LinkedIn, but helps you tap into connections with individuals who might not be on that platform.

For more tips and tricks on how to get hired using social networking, check out Amanda C. Ellis, Esq.’s book The 6Ps of the Big 3 for Job-Seeking JDs. Attend events and workshops hosted by the Professional & Career Development Center for a chance to win her book or throw it in your cart on Amazon as you gear up for the next round of textbook purchasing and rentals.

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