Using Social Media to Amplify Your Job Search

With the average person spending about 135 minutes a day on social media, it has become such a big part of our everyday lives. This has also led to it becoming a powerful tool for hiring managers and job seekers alike.  

How Hiring Managers Use Social Media

Whether it’s researching candidate profiles or promoting openings, 92% of companies use social media in some way when hiring. In fact, 73% say they have hired candidates successfully through networking sites while 43% of companies say that the quality of candidates has improved because of these sites.

Since so many companies are using these network sites during the hiring process, candidates need to be cautious about what they post on their accounts. In a 2016 survey, 70% of employers stated they are using social media to research potential candidates. Of those that use these sites, 50% want to see if the candidate has a professional image online, while 37% want to see what others are posting about the applicant, and 24% admitted they are trying to find something negative about the candidate.

Even after being hired in, employees need to continue to be cautious. Over half of employers continue to use these sites to research current employees, and 34% have to reprimand or fire an employee due to content found online.

Job Seekers Tips to Social Media

While hiring managers are using these sites to their benefit, job seekers can utilize the power as well. About 73% of 18 – 34-year-olds found their last job through social media. There are many benefits to using these sites in your job search, such as:

• Networking. That’s really what social media is all about, connecting with people. Especially on LinkedIn, you want to connect with people in your career field and related industries. Remaining active on these sites can help you connect with more people. These connections can help you reach more people to help you find the next opportunity.
• Following. As mentioned above, majority of hiring managers use these sites in the hiring process. Many of them use their pages to promote jobs, so by following companies that you would like to work for, you may find your next job. Make sure you also follow job boards, such as AgHires. AgHires posts new jobs almost daily on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Therefore, by following pages, such as ours, you can get updates on new jobs.
• Searching. Use the search options. For example, by searching for #AgJobs with a job title or field on Facebook and Twitter you may find jobs AgHires has shared. Also, try #Hiring, #JobOpening, or #Jobs to find openings.
• Researching. Approximately 88% of companies are active on social media. Researching potential employers on Facebook, Twitter, etc., you will get a more in-depth insight into their company culture. Majority of job seekers, about 35%, spend about 1 to 2 hours researching companies. Nearly 18% of candidates research the hiring managers online.

While these sites are full of distractions like recipes and cat videos, it can also be important in your job search effort and in your career. Clean up your profile, add your job history and maybe some of your current projects, and start searching. Your perfect job is out there.  

To get more tips and resources, check out the Ag News and Tools page at AgHires.com!

Sources:
CareerBuilder Study: Number of Employers Using Social Media to Screen Candidates at All Time High
CareerBuilder: Number of Employers Using Social Media to Screen Candidates Has Increased 500 Percent over the Last Decade
Jobvite: Social Recruiting Survey
Statista: Daily Social Media Usage Worldwide
icims: Recruitment Marketing eBook
Jobcast: 7 Social Recruitment Stats and How to Apply Them
The Muse: 45 Things to do on Social Media to Find Jobs
AdWeek: 88% of Companies are Using Social Media for Marketing [STUDY]