Social Media Marketing Job Search Tips

Using Social Media to Find a Job 

Pro Tip: Social Media Marketing should enhance your resume, not detract from it! 

In this article, social media marketing executive Kris Ruby shares actionable advice and immediate steps you can take to land your dream job on social media.

People make decisions, choices, and snap judgments as a direct result of what you post on social media. How you position yourself online is critical when it comes to future employment opportunities.

What are the best new social media networks for recruiting?

Polywork is the Gen-Z LinkedIn for the Creator Economy 

LinkedIn was the gold standard for C-suite recruiting for full-time roles, but new competitors are making a dent in LinkedIns market share by redefining what professional networking looks like to a generation of digitally savvy independent contractors and entrepreneurs. 

With the rise of the gig economy, creators are looking for new opportunities in addition to their full-time roles. LinkedIn is not necessarily the best platform for that.

New platforms have emerged like Polywork, which enables users to post opportunities and update a personalized resume that resembles a search-optimized custom blog feed with professional highlights. 

Opportunity hunting will be in Web 3 what recruiting was in Web 2. 

The platforms that will win are the ones that adapt to the new creator economy. Creators are not necessarily recruited, they are presented with new opportunities for collaborations, endorsements, and brand deals.

Follow Kris Ruby on Polywork: https://www.polywork.com/krisruby 

Social Media Recruiting statistics:

• 79 percent of job seekers use social media when conducting their job search.
• Over 84 percent of organizations are recruiting via social media
• 67% of employers use social media sites to research potential job candidates.
• 54% of employers ruled out a candidate due to finding something on their social media profile that they didn’t agree with.
• 73 percent of job seekers between the ages of 18 and 34 found their last job through social media

Is recruiting job candidates over social media essential to hiring the best employees?

A recent study by Clutch states that 1 in 4 companies say that social media is their least effective recruiting strategy.

24% of companies say social media is their least effective recruiting strategy.

Business owners, HR professionals, and recruiting specialists rely on social media to vet candidates, but it is primarily used as a vetting factor instead of a hiring tactic. What does this mean for you?

Your social media accounts should help you make it to the next round. They should not be a barrier to entry.

Can companies not hire you because of social media?

Yes, it is legal for employers to check your social media?

Not hired because of social media? You are not alone. The truth is, companies can check your personal social media accounts and it is currently legal to do this.

How many people don’t get hired because of social media?

A recent Harris Poll found that 21% of hiring decision-makers (1 in 5) said they are not likely to consider a candidate without a social media presence.

Social Media Job Search Tips:

How can you use social media to get a job?

What role does social media play in searching for a job today?

Social Media Marketing is a critical component of your job search. Social Media can either help your job search or hurt it. Taking the time to develop a personal brand and clean up your social media profiles can pay dividends in landing the perfect job. Use these tips to ensure your social media profiles are PC & scandal-free.

AI Resumes: Use AI to update your resume. Tools like Rezi can bring your resume up to speed using AI marketing tools and artificial intelligence for content optimization.

Blockchain Resumes: With more resumes being time stamped into Blockchain, there will be a digital public ledger of your degree, certifications, and work history. Everything you say must be accurate, truthful, and transparent on-chain. Tools like Blockcerts can stamp your professional credentials on-chain including your digital diploma.

READ: Cryptocurrency Marketing & PR

Preparing your Social Media For Recruiting 

Answer the fundamental questions:

1. Who you work with both now and in the past
2. What problems you solve
3. Your approach to problem solving that is unique
4. What results you can get new clients and the results you have gotten clients in the past
5. How to contact you

How PR increases your visibility in the job market

Public relations is not just a nice to have, it is a must have. As you proceed in your career, board members want to see that you have been featured in media outlets. Whether you are looking to join an exclusive CEO group like YPO or YEC, publicity can make or break the decision to let you in. No, it is not the deciding factor. Profitability and deal flow is. That being said, notoriety (positive notoriety) will open up doors. This is why senior executives hire Roy Media Group for Public Relations. It helps you get to the next step.

Potential clients, recruiters, and VCs’ are interested in solving their specific problems. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is tailored to the specific problem or challenge they face. Clearly identify how you solve their problem and the proposed solution you bring to the table.

The Changing Landscape of Networking

Artificial Intelligence has changed the future of networking. New AI CRM tools like Clay enable you to unlock the full power of your relationship with AI powered tools to cultivate your personal and professional relationships. Clay launched Nexus, the first AI navigator for your entire professional network. Why does this matter? Because social media optimization for career opportunities is not only limited to the tried and true bit tech platforms. New AI tools are changing the entire landscape, and to remain competitive, you need to appear in these AI CRMs, too.

Social Media Mistakes Job Seekers Need to Avoid 

Not deleting politically charged social media posts that could be seen as offensive.

Landing a job is already challenging enough without adding politics into the mix. Your future boss may be your biggest fan, but if they see a political post that goes against their political beliefs, it could sway their opinion on your candidacy for the role. Call it unfair or even illegal, unfortunately, social media does come into play during the hiring process.

Forgetting to update your social media privacy settings.

Expect that employers will most likely look up your social media during the interview process. You want social media to showcase the best possible version of your eligibility for the role and to support what you are saying in your resume. Social media should add to your overall interview package, not take away from it.

Not updating your bio on social media profiles.

Your bio on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter should reflect the role that you are seeking. Use this prime real estate to your advantage. For example, if you are seeking a luxury marketing job in Westchester County, NY, your bio should say Luxury Marketing Specialist— Westchester NY not Fashion Marketing NYC. Create a profile for the job you want to get so that your brand matches up on every network to coincide with your resume. There should be no discrepancy between what you are saying you are passionate about vs. what can be found on your social media.

Forgetting that Instagram Stories can be screenshotted.

Even if your social media profiles are on lockdown during a brand quarantine, companies can be wise with having other millennial employees follow you and view your stories. Just because it disappears does not mean that someone hasn’t viewed it. Keep this in mind when searching for a job and be more cautious with what you put up in your Instagram story.

Social Media Tips for Job Seekers

What is the best way to brand your name? Be memorable! 

How to Use Social Media Platforms to Show Off Your Professional Achievements

How can you use social media in your job search?

• Search by hashtags (#recruiting #jobsearch #job #nowhiring)
• Join industry Facebook Groups
• Follow industry hashtags on TikTok

READ: How to Find a Job with a TikTok Resume 

Twitter Job Search Tips 

Using Twitter for job hunting? Your bio on Twitter should reflect the role that you are seeking.

• Create a branded cover photo and upload a high-resolution photo as your main image.
• Follow other thought leaders in your industry and engage with their content
• Favorite and RT the people in your industry who you are looking to connect with or ultimately want to work for.
• Link to the URL of your personal website and maximize this social media real estate space in your profile for maximum impact.

Instagram Job Search Tips 

Show what you know

• Use Instagram Stories to showcase different work-related projects.
• Save all of the Instagram Stories as Highlights with branded thumbnail images.
• Use your Instagram feed as a way to “show” your portfolio of work. For example, if you are an accountant looking to switch firms, you can write tax tips in the notepad section of your iPhone and post a series of these images to your feed.

Facebook Job Search Tips 

Engage in industry groups

• Share relevant articles to show you are actively engaged in your field.
• Join industry Facebook groups. Recruiters are often in these groups and can find you from them.
• Target Facebook ads to a select audience of industry recruiters to get on their radar (showcasing thought leadership content you have written).

LinkedIn Job Search Tips 

Create a personal branded cover photo to impress recruiters 

• Post your updated resume on LinkedIn and pin it as a featured post
• Use hashtags in your posts that recruiters may be searching under. Make sure you check off the “available to new opportunities” box
• Update your LinkedIn with certifications, skills, and any conferences you have attended related to your industry and field of study
• If you have written for a publication during college, add this under the publication section of your LinkedIn profile

For more LinkedIn job search tips, check out our guest post here!

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is the most powerful weapon in your job search toolkit.

Once your profile is optimized for recruiters and SEO, you can open up new opportunities for yourself. These opportunities are not only limited to recruiting. They can also include publicity and media opportunities as well. 

Personal Branding Tips for Job Seekers on Social Media

What is one personal branding tip that a student can utilize in order to stand out on LinkedIn?

The candidates that stand out are the ones who use social media to their advantage by developing a personal brand. Identify your most unique attributes and choose a niche area that you want to be an expert in to stand out from the competition. Create a customer cover photo as well.

Also, be sure to create a personal brand website with a portfolio for employers and recruiters to view your previous work. You should invest in a high-resolution headshot that can be used on all of your social media profiles. Do not use any old iPhone selfie shot— make sure it is professional.  Recruiters aren’t the only ones who will be looking at your social media profiles. Your potential colleagues will also be scoping you out on Instagram or Facebook.

Personal Branding Resume Example:

How can you use social media in your job search?

Use the 5 to 1 rule. Social media is inherently meant to be “social” and people ultimately miss the mark when they fail to show that they are a real person. Often, their posts can appear very robotic when they take this approach.  Many people are ultimately afraid to show a more personal side because they believe it appears unprofessional.

The truth is, people hire and work with people they like. If your social media appears like a series of ads, no one is going to be that interested in working with someone who is just selling to them. The most successful people on social media are those who have mastered the balancing act of showing personal and professional. This builds a relationship with your community and makes them that much more interested when you do have a professional accolade to share. Use the 5 to 1 rule. Every 5th post can be something personal that shows a different side of your personality by showing off your hobbies, interests, or family.

Making sure your social media profiles are well branded is only half the battle. Social Media can also cost you your job if you misuse it after landing your dream job.

Here are three ways to use your social media profiles to show you are a fun person to work with:

Showcase Your Hobbies. Do you volunteer? Do you love animals? What makes you tick? Your social media profiles should reflect that. For example, if you love animals and spend time volunteering on the weekends, this could help you in the interview process if the company you want to work for is very into animal rights and works with a rescue group.

Share Travel & Food photos. Do you travel often or love to eat out? One thing that 99% of people have in common is a love of great food and travel. If this is part of your life, showcase some of these images- it can show your colleagues that you enjoy being part of the vibrant downtown scene in your city and that you know what’s trendy.

Actively post on social media. Believe it or not, many recruiters are fed up with the traditional recruiting channels and turn to social media to look for new candidates. Make sure you are active on LinkedIn to increase visibility and get found. Your social media could actually be the reason you land a job, instead of the reason you don’t get the job!

Recruiting Hashtags 

Industry-specific hashtags are critical to landing your dream job.

#HireMe: Not sure what hashtags to use to land your dream job on social media? Snag the list below.

Location: What location do you want to work in? #Remote #NewYork #NYC

The job title you are looking for: #CMO has 179k results on Instagram

The industry you want to work in: #SaaS has 363k results on Instagram

The name of the company you want to work for: A great way to get on the radar of the company you want to work for is to slide into their brand alerts by using their hashtag.# (Name of company you want to work for) #RubyMediaGroup

Use hashtags that recruiters use: #JobOpening #JobSearch #JobVacancy #Hiring #Joinourteam ##NowHiring #Recruiting #Remotejobs #Employment #Job

SOCIAL MEDIA BIO TIPS

How do you write a professional social media bio?

The first 3 lines when someone clicks on your profile should stand out. Not sure what to write? Here are two Clubhouse bio generators that can help you format your bio for any social media platform. Clubhouse Bio Editor

Profile Image. Add a photo with a bright background to stand out. Use the Canva background erase feature to swap out colors like red, pink, or purple to make them vibrant and attract other users to your profile.

Specify your interests: Talk about what you like so people with shared interests will be more likely to connect with you. Don’t be afraid to show your personality in your bio.

Add Contact Info: Add a professional email address linked to your domain so that someone can easily connect with you.

Keep it professional: Your bio should attract other industry professionals who you are looking to network with. If you want to expand your network, write your bio in the third person. Your social media bio should help you achieve your career goals and expand career opportunities.

Grab your username immediately. Be sure to lock down every variation of your personal name. For example, in my case, I would secure “Kris” and “Kristen” Ruby on social media platforms.

10 Tips to Personal Brand Development Business Success on LinkedIn

What are some LinkedIn tips to build my professional brand?

When LinkedIn first appeared on the social media scene, it was primarily used to connect job prospects with potential employers.

Today, it is still used for finding new career opportunities, but it is also used by business owners and individuals to promote their services and collaborate and network with peers.

Just like other social media platforms, there is a right way and a wrong way to use LinkedIn.

Kristen Ruby of Ruby Media Group is a leader in business and social media and offers these 10 tips to get you started on LinkedIn.

As a new professional in the PR world, there is nothing more important than establishing a personal brand to get your foot in the door. One of the best ways to start doing that is by creating a LinkedIn account.

LinkedIn Profile Tips:

How to expand your LinkedIn connections and improve your profile for career success

1. Stay professional: LinkedIn is a professional networking platform, not a casual Twitter-like atmosphere, so put your best foot forward. If you wouldn’t say it to a boss, don’t put it on LinkedIn.
2. Create a business page: If you own a business, create a LinkedIn page for your personal brand and a separate one for the company. Don’t lump them together. This establishes your business as its own brand. Add the company logo, news about the developments, and recent press mentions.
3. Write an effective profile: Upload a professional-looking high-resolution photo and write a compelling headline, which will appear directly under your name. Remember, this is the best time to make a good first impression. Use keywords that establish your personal brand in your industry.
4. Provide helpful content: Post blog content, articles you’ve written or tips from a speech or class you’ve taught that will help others. This establishes you as a thought leader in your field and helps you to build a following.
5. Share thought-provoking posts: LinkedIn is not all about promoting you. Some of the most successful businesses work hard at promoting others in their field. Share their posts and congratulate them on their successes. They will appreciate the effort.
6. Add visuals: LinkedIn connections love to see what you are up to. Post photos of your new products or when you are teaching a seminar. Infographics are also very popular and are shared among other LinkedIn connections which help to draw more attention to your page. For example, a public relations company recently posted an infographic on smart homes. A journalist connection saw the infographic and asked for more information. This led to an article where the journalist quoted the infographic and the publicist’s source.
7. Update frequently: In order to grow your LinkedIn connections, you need to post regularly. Share an update or publish posts several times a week. Reach out to new potential followers every day.
8. Export your connections: Once a month, export your LinkedIn connections and drop your contacts a personal email. Chat about opportunities to work together, cross-promote or tell them what’s happening with your business. Ask them for updates on their business too.
9. Join industry groups: Find groups of interest and interact with the members. For example, if you are a screenwriter, you can join film groups. A dentist? There are dental groups. In these groups, you can share valuable information and learn from others.
10. Start a group: If you can’t find a group that appeals to you or includes people you want to network with, start your own. This will establish you as a leader in your business community and others will flock to join and discover new ideas or partnerships that can work for them too.

Most importantly, stay with it. A strong LinkedIn following takes time to build, so do not give up. Consistency is key.

Want more tips on how to leverage LinkedIn for Sales? Follow Kris Ruby on LinkedIn:

How can I get more followers on LinkedIn to build my personal brand?

Enhance your personal brand in digital communities with these pro tips.

• Increase the size of your professional network by sharing relevant content.
• Always strive to add value to the conversation. People will naturally be intrigued and want to follow you.

How can I use LinkedIn to get noticed by recruiters on social media?

How to stand out in a sea of applicants on social media 

Leverage LinkedIn premium for key insights

Many people do not realize that the LinkedIn platform has extensive search capabilities. Not only can everyone search by keyword through LinkedIn’s Advanced Search function, but many companies use the premium Recruiter service to search for talent.

Using the LinkedIn Recruiter service, human resources and talent professionals search by keywords, experience, skills, geography, and other areas to create a targeted candidate list.

You can try out a free trial of LinkedIn premium to see the exact fields they search for to increase your visibility to recruiters. The key is to optimize for the fields that are looking for with LinkedIn premium.

Build an All-Star Profile

Make sure your profile becomes an All – Star profile. Yes, LinkedIn has a special rating index, so you want to optimize your profile to become all-star status. This will help your search visibility. Complete your profile as a minimum to get found on LinkedIn search results by CHROs and recruiters.

Personal branding tips for how to effectively position yourself to recruiters

• Add the hashtag #OpenToWork
• Try Career Explorer mode
• Update your skills and certifications

Follow the top recruitment hashtags on LinkedIn

• #jobs 
• #job
• #hiring 
• #recruiting
• #remote 
• #jobsearch
• #prjobs
• #hiringalerts
• #imhiring
• #career
• #linkedin
• #innovation

Follow company pages 

Follow the LinkedIn pages of the corporations you want to work at. Comment on their posts to get on their radar. Next, visit their website and click the Career tab. This page usually had open job opportunities.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and do business. Whether for personal or professional purposes, harnessing the power of social media can bring numerous career benefits. By understanding how to maximize each platform for maximum visibility, you can appear higher in the algorithm and get seen by more people. The repercussions of social media posts gone wrong aren’t to media companies- they are to you in your professional development, career, and job prospects.

If you are looking for a new job, think twice about what you post on social media because it can be used against you in your job search. Unfortunately, many people don’t make the connection between what they post in an Instagram story and what recruiters have access to.

Search engine results have to be consistent with what you say on your resume and who you are in real life. Social media should support the image of the brand you are portraying. Do not paint a picture-perfect version of yourself on paper, but post contrary content on social media. It should hold up when it is compared to your job application.

Want to gain insight and feedback on how to level up your skills and knowledge to land your dream job in social media or PR?  Connect with us today. We are hiring.

EXECUTIVE PERSONAL BRANDING SERVICES | MARKETING CONSULTANT | NYC

Personal Branding PR Agency for CEOs | Ruby Media Group | NYC

Ruby Media Group creates personal brands for High-Profile CEOs and Executives.

Ruby Media Group (RMG) is an award-winning Public Relations and Personal Branding Agency based in Westchester County, New York. Ruby Media Group has over 15 years of experience in securing tier-1 media coverage and publicity for Executive thought leaders in newspapers, magazines, TV shows, podcasts, and more. The PR agency takes a holistic approach to media with a 3-step process: package, pitch, and promote.

RMG focuses on getting clients featured in major media outlets by building authority, organic search rankings, credibility, and industry expertise in trade publications, national media outlets, and business-building feature articles. RMG is responsible for thousands of media logos on the “As Seen On” pages of hundreds of business websites.

Ready to clean up your social media before it hurts your career? Contact Ruby Media Group for Executive personal branding consulting services.

SOCIAL MEDIA JOB RESOURCES

 10 Workplace Etiquette Mistakes You are Making on Social Media. 

PR Interns: 10 tips to job success on LinkedIn 

Kris Ruby Delivers a PR masterclass to Journalism 470 students via Facebook Live 

Social Media Recruiting Statistics 

PR Career advice for entrepreneurs 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NY Social Media Marketing Agency Owner Kris Ruby of Ruby Media Group was recently quoted in Brit + Co and AskMen discussing How to make your social media profiles job search ready and How to Use Social Media to Land a Job. 

Kris Ruby is the CEO of Ruby Media Group, an award-winning social media marketing agency. Ruby has more than 15 years of experience in the social media marketing industry for top brands. Most recently, Ruby was named one of the Top Women in Digital Marketing by Izea. 

One of the most in-demand personal branding PR strategists in the country, Kris specializes in digital PR, personal branding, and content marketing. Her work has earned the attention of top media outlets, netting her invitations to lend her social media expertise on 200 +TV shows. 

*Date last updated 2024

Kris Ruby( CEO & Founder | Ruby Media Group )

KRIS RUBY is the CEO of Ruby Media Group, an award-winning public relations and media relations agency in Westchester County, New York. Kris Ruby has more than 15 years of experience in the Media industry. She is a sought-after media relations strategist, content creator and public relations consultant. Kris Ruby is also a national television commentator and political pundit and she has appeared on national TV programs over 200 times covering big tech bias, politics and social media. She is a trusted media source and frequent on-air commentator on social media, tech trends and crisis communications and frequently speaks on FOX News and other TV networks. She has been featured as a published author in OBSERVER, ADWEEK, and countless other industry publications. Her research on brand activism and cancel culture is widely distributed and referenced. She graduated from Boston University’s College of Communication with a major in public relations and is a founding member of The Young Entrepreneurs Council.  She is also the host of The Kris Ruby Podcast Show, a show focusing on the politics of big tech and the social media industry. Kris is focused on PR for SEO and leveraging content marketing strategies to help clients get the most out of their media coverage.