In a world of 8.01 billion people, about 5.01 million people use social media. Massive indeed, right? The data indicates the influence of social media on our lives today. A thing that began as a medium for merely sharing life updates and connecting with the world has evolved into a platform that allows people to network, share ideas, and even conduct business. Today, an individual or an entity without a digital presence is akin to non-existence.

The rise of social media platforms has significantly influenced the job market. As it is, the job market has grown increasingly competitive, necessitating jobseekers to employ unique, creative, and proactive methods in their job hunt. To give you the bigger picture, research indicates that 94 percent of recruiters use social media platforms for talent acquisition, and 79 percent of job seekers search for jobs through social media.

With a powerful tool like social media coming to your rescue, how can you use it to your advantage? This blog covers the most relevant tips and hacks for using social media platforms that will help job seekers land their dream jobs. 

We bring you the most actionable insights into the pragmatic use of social media platforms to catch the attention of your desired employers. Read on and gear up for your successful job search in today's digitally entrenched era.

Intelligent use of social media to land your dream job

Joining the bandwagon: Create your profile

Expediting your journey towards your dream job would require straightening your priorities. While there are numerous social media platforms, using the right medium is the key. Start by creating your account or profile on popular job portals and platforms like LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed, etc. 

Create an impressive profile by outlining your profile headline, bio, and work experience employing relevant keywords. Upload samples of your work, or add portfolio links. If you are using other non-professional platforms like Facebook or Twitter, you must maintain a professional identity. Active job seekers will know that most employers ask for your social media handles in your application. Ensure that your social media profile is an accurate representation of yourself and highlight what values you can add to a workplace. 

Updating your account 

Polish up and give your account a professional look and shine. Along with maintaining a professional presence, your profile must be visible. You may optimize your profile by listing your former or current job roles shortly and crisply. Remove irrelevant information and unprofessional posts and update your non-work information, such as community services, hobbies, etc. To maintain visibility, engage with other users, their posts, and their content regularly. Posting your content, whether it is an article or pictures, is another activity you must religiously perform. Just as a business strategically and persuasively posts content and attracts its customers, your job is to attract potential employers to your profile. 

It's therefore essential to present engaging content that reflects your caliber, interests, and skill sets. Posting at the right and right amount with consistency will help optimize your profile. Also, remember to not overdo it. 

Ramp up your network and stay abreast of the latest news:

The present-day social media is all about flexing and showing off. Use this opportunity to your advantage. Flexing about your achievements, work, talents, and skills on your professional profile on social media will do you no harm but gain. Make all your work feature on your profile, like projects, articles, or websites that you have worked on. Your connections will be able to see and learn about your bandwidth. 

The power of social media is such that you can become a stellar professional overnight. Potential employers may stumble upon your profile, or your connections can do word of mouth and enable your work to reach the right eye. Follow pages, groups, and companies that align with your career goals. This will keep you updated on all the latest news and events, whether it is about recruitment/vacancies or learning in-depth about the companies you desire to work for. By following their pages, you will get to learn about the organization's work culture, and you can actively participate in any of their discussion platforms, pitch your ideas, provide insider information, and leave lasting impressions. 

Network with people with similar goals and interests.

Making connections with like-minded people is key to reaching your dream job. This set of people will not only motivate and inspire you, but you will learn new ideas that you have not exploited or discovered. This method has proven to be a key player even among working professionals. You can enjoy in-depth discourse and deliberations about your industry or interest-related areas and gain more knowledge. You can share your insights and offer assistance to others who share similar interests and make lasting connections. 

Smartly navigate to your dream job.

Social media platforms, especially professional ones, provide a straightforward way to navigate job searches. You can quickly find positions that match your skills and interests. While platforms like Facebook (now Meta) and Twitter may require different approaches, professional networking sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Monster are particularly user-friendly for job hunting.

LinkedIn, for instance, not only provides connections with professionals from around the world, but you also get to engage in diverse content and discussions and access easy and streamlined job searches. Most job seekers are using LinkedIn; however, the trick is to smartly navigate through the hoards of opportunities. 

Using your profile and remaining active by regularly posting industry-relevant articles and tips, or even sharing your novel ideas through your handle, is a terrific way to gain attention from potential employers. 

While social media platforms can ease up and accelerate your corporate and government job search, it is equally challenging and competitive given the number of people employing the same strategy. Your consistency and strategic use of this powerful tool will help you land the job of your dreams.