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When it comes to searching for a new role in today’s digital world, there’s no doubt that the days of simply shooting off a generic resume & hoping for the best are well and truly gone. In order to stand out and give yourself the best possible chance of scoring your dream job, you need to take advantage of the multiple online channels available to you to connect with relevant people and start building valuable relationships. With digital and social media a cornerstone of any company’s marketing efforts, it’s essential that you find a way to harness the reach and power this has and make it work in your favour. So what are some strategies you can employ to help you find your next role on social media?

Know what you want

Like anything, you will always get the best results if you know exactly what it is you’re aiming for. Where do you want to be in your career in 5-10 years time? What type of role do you want now that will help you get there? What companies do you want to work for?

Also have a think about your salary, what you need to meet your financial obligations. What you are willing to accept for the job role you want? Know the culture and environment you want to work in, ideal locations, benefits & rewards that you would be looking for, and whether you need (or want) flexibility. By narrowing down your pros and cons, you will be able to create a plan that is focussed and effective.

Do your research

Start investigating the companies you want to work for, and what social channels they are active on. LinkedIn will be likely be a given, but check Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as well. Get to know the kind of content they push out through these channels. You will probably find that Facebook and Instagram will be more geared toward the culture of the company (the ‘behind the scenes’), whereas LinkedIn and Twitter may be more about industry knowledge and thought leadership.

Follow and like their pages and accounts, and get involved in the conversations that are happening. Take note of how they communicate their company and culture, and decide if that’s an environment you’d like to be a part of. Don’t forget to do the same with industry-specific recruitment companies, as they’ll have the inside track on company growth & job openings!

Talk about your job hunt on social media

When it comes to extending your reach on social media, your own friends and communities will be your biggest advocates. Be open and honest about looking for work, and the type of role you are looking for. Ask your network for any help they can provide, such as sharing your posts or offering any advice.

Reach out to any friends, family or colleagues (or people they may know) who currently do the job you would like, or work for a company on your hit list. Offer to buy them a coffee or drink, and ask if they would be open to having a chat about your goals. 99% of the time, they will feel honoured that you’ve asked and be glad to help!  The bonus is that if there is a similar role going at their company, a referral from a current staff member will get you much further than a Seek application.

Join industry groups on Facebook

Both Facebook and LinkedIn have very active Group communities, and these can be a goldmine. Do some research about whether any of the companies you follow have closed groups you can join. Oftentimes, internal roles will be posted in these groups before being made public, so you’ll get the jump on other candidates. Fetch has a Facebook group specifically dedicated to posting Construction Jobs in Melbourne, where anyone looking for on-site or labouring jobs can request to join and get real-time notification of active roles (you can join here!). There will be plenty of companies and industries that do this, so do your research.

…and on LinkedIn!

LinkedIn groups are a great way of finding out what’s happening in your industry, make valuable connections, and build your online brand. The conversations happening there will likely be much more topical, and centred around the challenges & opportunities currently facing your industry. Get involved in the conversation, offer your thoughts and advice, be supportive to other members, and you will be on your way to establishing your profile as a leader in your field. You can join the Fetch-run Construction Industry Professionals Network here.

Also join peer groups

Don’t limit your online group membership to just your industry though! Peer and support groups can be just as valuable – you never know who might know who! It also has the added bonus of giving you a platform to share your job-hunting challenges and wins with like-minded people (don’t underestimate the importance of this!).

Get ‘gramming

If you are in an industry that is visual in nature, chances are the companies you ideally want to work for are all over Instagram so it makes sense to make yourself as visible as possible. Use strategic hashtags when you are posting your own content to get it seen in front the right people, and use hashtags to search relevant posts (try #JobOpening, #WereHiring or #WorkWithUs).

It would also pay to keep a close eye on their Stories, which can be a rich source of insider info!

Connect with the right people

If you are keen to have a chat to someone at a particular company about what opportunities might be available, check out the LinkedIn Company Page and find out exactly who the person is you need to build a relationship with. Sometimes, this may not be the HR Manager. While they may facilitate the hiring process, often the decision maker will be the direct manager of the team or MD of the company. Request to connect with them on LinkedIn, but stand out by customising your request message. Try something like:

“Hi Dave,

I see you are a Site Manager at XYZ Company, and really admire the project you have just competed at ABC. I am a Junior Site Manager who’s passionate about that type of commercial work. It would be great to connect.

Cheers,

Jack”

This will show that you are knowledgeable about their company and projects, that you are proactive and passionate, and you’ve also flagged the level of role you’re looking for – and still kept it short and sharp!

These are just a few easy strategies to help you harness the power of social media to find your next role. As with anything, be mindful of walking that line between being proactive and being a pest! Hounding someone on social media will definitely get you noticed, but not in the right way. Put your case forward & reach out, but be respectful of people and their time. Always start with, ‘How can I help / add value to this person?’ rather than, ‘What can they do for me?’

Happy hunting!

Karli Ostle is the Marketing Manager at Fetch Recruitment with a passion for personal brand development & digital marketing. You can connect with Karli on LinkedIn here.