Online platforms and social media play a crucial role in modern job searching. This module will teach you how to use these tools effectively in your job search.
• Optimising your LinkedIn profile for job searching
• Using job boards effectively
• Leveraging Twitter, Facebook, and other social media in your job search
• Building a professional online presence
• Networking and engaging with companies online
1. Optimising Your LinkedIn Profile for Job Searching
a) Professional photo and background image:
• Choosing an appropriate, high-quality profile picture
• Selecting a relevant background image
b) Headline and summary:
• Crafting an attention-grabbing headline
• Writing a compelling summary that showcases your value proposition
c) Experience and education sections:
• Highlighting key achievements and responsibilities
• Using keywords relevant to your target roles
d) Skills and endorsements:
• Selecting relevant skills
• Obtaining endorsements from colleagues and connections
e) Recommendations:
• Requesting recommendations from supervisors, colleagues, and clients
• Writing thoughtful recommendations for others
f) Additional sections:
• Volunteer experience
• Publications
• Certifications
• Projects
g) Privacy and visibility settings:
• Adjusting settings for job-seeking mode
• Controlling who sees your activity and connections
2. Using Job Boards Effectively
a) Popular job boards and their specialties:
• General job boards (e.g., Indeed, Glassdoor)
• Industry-specific job boards
• Location-based job boards
b) Creating effective job alerts:
• Using specific keywords and job titles
• Setting appropriate location and salary ranges
• Determining alert frequency
c) Tailoring applications for each platform:
• Understanding platform-specific application processes
• Customising your CV and cover letter for each application
d) Tracking your applications:
• Creating a system to monitor application status
• Following up on applications appropriately
e) Evaluating job postings:
• Identifying red flags in job descriptions
• Researching companies posting jobs
• Understanding salary and benefit information
3. Leveraging Twitter, Facebook, and Other Social Media in Your Job Search
a) Twitter for job searching:
• Following companies and industry leaders
• Participating in Twitter chats and hashtag conversations
• Sharing industry-relevant content
b) Facebook job search strategies:
• Using Facebook's jobs feature
• Joining industry and job search groups
• Leveraging your personal network for job leads
c) Instagram for career development:
• Following companies and professional accounts
• Showcasing your work (especially for creative fields)
• Using relevant hashtags to increase visibility
d) Leveraging niche platforms:
• GitHub for tech professionals
• Behance or Dribbble for designers
• Medium for writers and thought leaders
e) Maintaining a professional online presence:
• Consistency across platforms
• Appropriate content sharing
• Managing privacy settings
4. Building a Professional Online Presence
a) Personal website or portfolio:
• Deciding if you need a personal website
• Key elements to include (About, Portfolio, Contact)
• Choosing a domain name and hosting platform
b) Blogging and content creation:
• Benefits of sharing your expertise
• Choosing topics relevant to your industry
• Consistency and quality in content creation
c) Engaging with online professional communities:
• Participating in industry forums and discussions
• Joining and contributing to professional groups
• Sharing insights and helping others
d) Managing your online reputation:
• Googling yourself regularly
• Setting up Google Alerts for your name
• Addressing any negative or outdated information
5. Networking and Engaging with Companies Online
a) Connecting with employees at target companies:
• Identifying relevant professionals on LinkedIn
• Crafting personalised connection requests
• Engaging meaningfully with their content
b) Participating in virtual events:
• Webinars and online conferences
• Virtual job fairs
• Company-hosted online events
c) Engaging with company content:
• Following company pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter
• Commenting thoughtfully on company posts
• Sharing relevant company content with your network
d) Utilising LinkedIn features for job searching:
• Open to Work feature
• LinkedIn Job Search tools
• LinkedIn Premium features for job seekers
e) Building your personal brand online:
• Consistently sharing industry insights and thoughts
• Engaging in conversations with industry leaders
• Creating and sharing original content (articles, posts, videos)
Conduct an audit of your online presence. Optimise your LinkedIn profile and create a plan for engaging professionally on at least one other social media platform.
1. LinkedIn Profile Audit:
◦ Review your LinkedIn profile section by section
◦ Ensure your headline, summary, and experience sections are keyword-rich and compelling
◦ Request 2-3 new recommendations from colleagues or supervisors
◦ Join 3-5 relevant professional groups in your industry
2. Job Board Strategy:
◦ Identify 3-5 job boards most relevant to your industry and target roles
◦ Set up job alerts on each platform using targeted keywords
◦ Create a spreadsheet to track your applications and their status
3. Twitter Engagement Plan:
◦ Follow 10 companies in your target industry and 5 thought leaders
◦ Engage with content by liking, retweeting, or commenting at least 3 times per week
◦ Participate in an industry-relevant Twitter chat
4. Facebook Job Search:
◦ Review and adjust your Facebook privacy settings
◦ Join 2-3 industry or job search groups relevant to your field
◦ Explore Facebook's jobs feature and save 5 interesting postings
5. Personal Brand Development:
◦ Choose one platform (LinkedIn, Twitter, or a blog) to focus on for content creation
◦ Develop a content calendar for the next month, planning to share insights or articles at least once a week
◦ Write and publish one original piece of content (article, post, or video)
6. Online Networking:
◦ Identify 5 professionals at your target companies
◦ Craft personalised connection requests for each
◦ Engage with their content by commenting or sharing over the next two weeks
7. Virtual Event Participation:
◦ Find and register for one virtual networking event or webinar in your industry
◦ Prepare 2-3 questions to ask during the event
◦ Follow up with at least two new connections after the event
By completing this activity, you'll have significantly enhanced your online presence and developed a strategy for leveraging social media in your job search. Remember, consistency is key when it comes to online engagement. Regularly revisit and refine your strategy based on the results you're seeing.