5 things to do on Social Media to get your dream Job

Getting on to a professional network, engaging people and attracting potential (read dream) employment opportunities is not enough these days. Here are 5 steps to boost your chances of getting your dream job through social media:
By Neha Singh Verma
1. Be findable: Irrespective of which social/professional network you choose to join jobseekers should have a clear profile picture and an explanatory bio/description, including how people can get in touch with you, informs Yashwant Mahadik, Vice President, Head of Human Resources, India & Indian Sub-Continent & Global Lead – Learning Strategy and Philips University Program. Also it’s not just enough creating your profile on social media. Incomplete profiles or descriptions about skills quickly decrease your value. And be specific, HR professionals are not going to waste time on your profile if it reads “Searching for something meaningful…”, explains Anupama Katkar, VP-HR, Quick Heal.
2. Join relevant groups: Join groups that will connect you with experts from your industry. You can also start building your own group to establish yourself as an expert in the field. These groups help in spreading your message and connect you with key people, advices Katkar. Supporting the same, Mahadik encourages job-seekers to get engaged in conversations with industry experts, LinkedIn groups, chats etc. which are of interest to you, so that your ‘personal brand’ becomes visible and you get noticed. Eg. Programmers can show their work and code on Github/Stack Overflow. Designers can showcase their work on Behance, Dribbble; mechanical engineers can showcase their expertise on GrabCad. Then there are generic discussion and Q&A forums on LinkedIn and Quora. This raises the likelihood of prospective hiring managers noticing your expertise.
3. Converting Your Virtual Contacts Into Tangibles Ones: According to Jennifer Fernandes – Country HR Director, Faurecia India, followers are a form of digital currency on the web. They are, after all, the ones who are responsible for spreading your message to those who you haven’t reached yet. Inviting them over lunch/dinner will not only build an informal connection but also oblige the network to re-invite you for their social gatherings. Prashant Bhatnagar, Director-HR, Sapient is of the opinion that networking with professionals at dream firm/competitive firms and seek recommendations on your profile.
4. Start a Blog: A blog is great for online visibility and getting indexed by search engines. It can showcase your point of view, expertise and become a platform for other professionals to connect with you, highlights Mahadik. Bhatanagar also tipped that showcase your original work/ point of view that aligns to your dream job and link them via blogs/articles.
5. Be consistent: In words of Navin Chugh, SVP & MD, First Advantage India, be consistent. Don’t overdo and disappear. Do not hibernate. Cross link your social media pages. Adds Fernandes, “The best thing to do is just determine a schedule for your social media and stick to it. Whether that’s an hour per day or a few hours per week, as long as it is YOU doing the work and doing it in real time. This is important because it allows you to engage with people regarding the content you’re posting and it gives you the opportunity to respond to any number of situations that might arise during that time.”