After The Shore Groups created its first ever infographic last week, we thought it would be a good idea to take on another spin on job seekers using social media.

Networking sites like LinkedIn can be such a powerful tool for job seekers, if used correctly. The ability to create relationships with recruiters, add CEO’s of businesses, and apply for jobs via the website with a few simple clicks. LinkedIn has grown massively since it was first created back in May 2003 and has been a real asset to not only job seekers but recruiters and employers.

However social media hasn’t always been a good thing for job seekers. When applying for jobs, its common employers check the candidate’s social profiles to get insight on what that person is like. So it’s incredibly important that you stay consistent on all your social profiles, so employers can’t pull you down and decline you applications. Also it’s likely that employers check for constantly post rants online with misspelled words and bad grammar and then check you’re CV and yet you claim to be an expert communicator. It will hurt your credibility.

The whole part of social networking should being connecting with contacts who supply similar interests to you. Also you can start following companies that you have interests in as its very common that they tweet & post business products, services, blog posts and most importantly for job seekers, new opportunities within the business when they become available.  It’s important that job seekers remember that connecting & networking must be a two-way relationship so it’s important that you can try and help others whenever you can.

Social media can give a load of opportunities, so show off what you can do! Write and share your own blogging content, create infographics, comment on news and developments in your industry.  By doing all this you will have a consistent and presentable profile that shows a very knowledgeable professional with their industry.

It can also be a very good idea to make separate profiles and turn on privacy settings on your profile if you don’t want your employer/ potential employer to see what you have been up to. At the end of the day it’s about showing off and showing potential employers what you can do. So go out there and start networking with others today via your very own social channels.

 By Ryan Hooker

The Shore Group