www.graduateopportunities.com >> career advice 21


social media


How to use social media to find a job Ever dreamed about working on an island in the Whitsundays? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to work at an advertising agency? Or perhaps you love the idea of being an accountant?


Social media can help! All that’s involved in finding the job of your dreams – research, networking, writing your application, managing your reputation – can be assisted by social media to make your experience faster, more effective and more informed.


When looking for a job, the first thing you’re likely to do is research. If you have a presence on social media (and over 9 million Australians do!), then you’ll be able to get a better insight into the company and industry you’re interested in.


First off, use the network you already have. Ask your friends on Facebook what they think about a certain company or use Twitter to search for employees of the organisation you’re interested in and then contact them privately to see if you can pick their brains. You could ask them anything from “What is the work-life balance like?” to “What do you most enjoy about working there?”


Many companies, including a number in this book, now have a social media presence for recruitment purposes, often managed by employees or graduates themselves. This gives you a great opportunity to post a question on their Facebook page or leave a comment or question on the company blog and get a real, honest answer from someone who has the inside knowledge!


If you are going to contact a prospective employer on social media, keep in mind how you want to be perceived. For example, what does your profile picture say to the recruiter or prospective employer? And how does the language and tone you use in your message reflect your personality?


Keep in mind that prospective employers may be looking at your profile in the same way as you are looking at theirs – are you comfortable with what they would see?


Social media channels can also be used to expand your current network. There are often industry meet-ups and events that are shared, promoted and discussed on social media, such as PRINKS for Sydney PR professionals and journalists. Set yourself up with a social media profile and start following some of the key industry players (brands and people) so you can understand what it’s like to work in the industry and discover events you could attend to learn more and meet potential employers.


Keep in mind that you don’t need to have a well- established career to have a profile on LinkedIn. Many graduates develop profiles as a starting point to join industry groups, grow their professional network and stay on top of industry trends.


When networking online, keep in mind the same etiquette applies online as it does offline. That means be polite, represent yourself with integrity, add value to the conversation and listen to others, as much as – if not more than! – talking yourself. But most of all, be yourself!


By Hannah Law, Head of Social Media, Switched On Media. For more information visit www.switchedonmedia.com.au.


73%


of HR recruiters surveyed in the USA use some form of social media to recruit... and trends in Australia are set to follow! Jobvite; recruiting.jobvite.com


Facebook: www.facebook.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com MySpace: www.myspace.com PRINKS: prinksblog.wordpress.com Twitter: www.twitter.com ZoomInfo: www.zoominfo.com


application timeline


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98