Using social media to get a job? It's possible. On these platforms you can make connections, find opportunities and connect with companies that invest in social recruiting.

Social networks are no longer just for personal use. The tools they provide to communicate, influence, dialogue and offer or seek new opportunities They are great for making professional connections.

Furthermore, This is where the most relevant companies and contacts are located. It is estimated that there are 8.5 million users in Portugal with active accounts on social media platforms, with 5.95 users on Facebook and 4 million “members” on Linkedin, according to digital global annual report 2022, from Hootsuite, We Are Social and Kepios, in January 2022.

It's worth asking yourself: why not take advantage of them to look for work?

How to take advantage of social media when searching for a job

1. Invest time in presenting your profile

Whatever the social network, there is usually always a section dedicated to biography, intended for presentation.

Here you can specify the position, area of interest and your professional goals. Avoid being too generic in your professional description – highlight achievements and value learning that emerged along the way.

Ideally, you should write a short, simple, objective text that attracts attention.

The profile photo is another element that should not be ignored. Users who post a profile photo have a better chance of being noticed. Choose a photo in a formal context, with a neutral background, highlighting the upper part of the body, from shoulders to head, ask someone to take the photo, put on your best smile of warmth and motivation, and just shoot.

Avoid: selfies, photos taken with groups of people, focused and poor quality photos and outdated photos.

In the specific case of LinkedIn, find out how Your photo can influence a hiring.

2. Share the CV

Linkedin is one of the social networks that allows you to fill in all the fields that a CV contains. Professional experience, academic training, certificates and skills – It is important to complete all sections of the profile, unless they are not very relevant to the position you are seeking.

Try to write in the first person and convey personality. Also try not to exceed 15 years in your professional experience. Bet on a personal, real and accessible tone.

When you go for a new job, complete training or go through a change in your professional life, remember to update your profile and above all the position. This is because recruiters, when searching for professionals and contacts, use specific keywords, such as: “Restaurant maître d’” or “Flight attendant”.

3. Interact with users and publications

Finding a job is often a consequence of the interpersonal relationships that are nurtured. The same applies to social media. You can only reap advantages in these spaces if you show presence, interact with people, like, comment and share posts that interest you (and it should be a genuine interest), be open to new experiences and learning.

To summarize, bet on practicing a productive networking. And the opposite of that is making mean or desperate comments. (Know how to distinguish constructive criticism from simply negative criticism.) You also don’t need to be intrusive, asking for comments or feedback: respect the time and limits of others.

4. Pay attention to what you post

There is a good chance that the company you applied to will search your social networks. Therefore, it must have pay attention to what you publish, especially controversial or dubious subjects.

Even if you make a distinction between social media for personal and professional use, it's a good idea to be careful about what you share, doing so with an awareness of How it can affect your professional image and how others view your images and texts.

That said, be careful with swear words and writing errors, and avoid exposing your personal life.

5. Don't share outbursts

Sometimes the temptation arises to vent about the end of a relationship or the desire to change jobs. However, this may be frowned upon by others, especially potential recruiters who value the way you handled past experiences.

The best is really leave personal issues to talk to close friends. Your online reputation will thank you.

6. Create content that promotes engagement

The other side also likes to feel seen and appreciated. Why not reach out to a loyal follower in one of your posts? Or mention an interesting page? We have already said in another article that networking is an exchange, and the same happens with interactions on social media.

Try to share content that adds value to your contacts. It could be an article, a website or blog, news, or an event, however it matters that it is within the area of activity and interest of your contacts.

7. Provide samples of your work

And what better way to share your work than social media? Take the opportunity to publicize the link to your website, blog or portfolio, Publish opinions, photos with your co-workers, academic and professional achievements, or even learning that made a difference in your journey.

8. Participate in interest groups

A good way to make connections and meet new contacts is through employment or discussion groups. You can join groups in your area of activity, with themes that catch your attention, or that only accept members from a certain location or region.

Participating in groups on social media is also a way of accessing relevant information and new opportunities.

9. Be careful when adding contacts

Contrary to popular belief, the ideal is not to bet on the number of connections, but rather on their quality.

Firstly, because it can be embarrassing to ask to connect with a person who has no connection with you, whether personal or professional (to avoid mistakes, understand what the person's style is, whether they have professional interests or even acquaintances in common, before asking to be added).

Second, because it is more beneficial to build a network made up of contacts that prove useful – professionals in your field, companies with which you identify, influencers digital, business people, entrepreneurs, etc.

10. Know the usefulness of each social networkl

Each social network has its specific characteristics, functionalities and objectives. Some are for personal purposes, others are intended for networking and sharing knowledge in their professional field. There are also those that focus on images and multimedia content, and those that limit the number of characters that can be written.

We give some examples of tools and functions that you can start using on each social network to get a job:

Facebook: Here you can participate in work groups in your area of residence, follow company pages and see job postings.

Instagram: Although mainly for personal use, this network also publicizes job opportunities, in addition to allowing you to establish a personal brand, connect with future employers, obtain information about market trends and the positioning of the brands you are applying for.

Twitter: It is also possible on this network to find job postings and follow companies and recruiters. A point in favor of this network is the ease of searching through hashtags.

LinkedIn: It is the most important social network for making professional connections. In addition to being able to access new vacancies, there is no better platform to apply networking, through sharing knowledge, clarifying doubts to experienced professionals, and forming relationships and bonds that can be strengthened in the offline.

Next steps

Are you ready to start submitting applications? Access the Exchange Recruitment Platform, where hundreds of job advertisements are available in the areas of Tourism and Hospitality.

You can select the desktop and other filtering options in your search. Additionally, you can contact recruiters directly via message to follow up on your application.

View the vacancies we have for you!

Want more job tips? Access our article “I finished my studies. And now?"