CAREER TIP: How to use Facebook while job-hunting

We live in a world exposed and sometimes controlled by social Media. If you’re not on social media, you simply don’t exist!

These days when a boy meets a girl and likes her, the next step would be to stalk the girl on social media, especially Facebook, and view her profile and photos in order to gain a sneak peek into her life.

This has also become increasingly true for employers. It was particularly evident to me in 2012 when I was called for an interview at one of the biggest companies in Kenya where after the interview, I was asked to give the name I use on Facebook and Twitter.

This new interest in the social profiles of applicants has made it possible for job seekers to leverage social media to get themselves noticed and to stand out among fellow applicants.

Below are three tips that will get you noticed for all the right reasons on social media;

Set up profile on professional networking sites

The best way to get noticed by professionals in your field is to set up a profile on a professional networking site.

The most popular networking site currently is LinkedIn. Make sure your profile includes your official name, your occupation or career, years of experience, educational qualifications and contact information.

Now proceed to connect professionals in your field to increase your chances.

Some organisations ask applicants to attach their LinkedIn profiles to their application, thus make sure it is always well done and updated.

Follow the right people

The goal here is to be noticed by people whom you may one day sit opposite to in an interview room, or influencers who could help you build your career or move from height to height.

When using Twitter, keep following and engaging with these people, but be sure not to force interaction.

If you find that they are not following you back, don’t lose morale; you still need to know what they’re saying.

Use professional photos

Since your profile photo is the first thing that will be seen by an employer looking through your profile, make sure the photo presents you as a professional in your respective field.

Get a professional photographer to take decent photos of you for use on your profiles.

Just because Facebook is ‘less serious’ than LinkedIn does not mean that you can put a photo of you blacked-out on a bar stool as the profile picture.

I hope the tips above assist you as you go job hunting and all the best.