I have spent the past month or so on the job hunt. Best month or so of my life – let me tell you. No, actually, the process was pretty smooth and the outcome couldn’t have been better. But while I was job hunting I kept finding myself thinking “I want to share xyz on social media” I would then catch myself somewhere mid-post and use all of my powers of self control to refrain from sharing the info.
The constant need to overshare led me to writing a blog post about all the things that I almost did wrong while job hunting + a few that are just good advice in hopes that my almost mistakes will prevent you from making some almost mistakes of your own.
1. Never post that you’ve applied to company xyz. Why? Because you probably applied to company abc, def, ghi, jkl and so on and so forth and they’re all checking out your social media. If they see a running list of all the places you’ve applied – they’re less likely to call you in. While it might seem like a great way to call attention to the application you sent in – it’s actually negative attention. Let your resume stand on its own. If it’s a good fit – you’ll get a call.
2. Never post that you’re going on an interview. Why? Someone will see it. Prospective employers don’t need to know that you’re interviewing actively with other people (although they’d be remiss not to assume). It just creates an awkward turtle situation – most companies don’t like to announce who they’re interviewing and they don’t like to have their prospective employees broadcast it either. Probably one of the quickest ways to lose a job.
3. Never post that you’ve been offered a job until you check with HR. Why? While in your head the deal is signed sealed and delivered – you have paperwork – they have an written yes – so why not tell your good fortune to the world? The company actually has a lot of steps they still need to though – letting other candidates know that they didn’t get the position, letting internal candidates know that someone outside the company was chosen (potentially awkward) and so on and so forth. Check with HR before you broadcast your news and you’ve set yourself on the path to success.
4. Do use your connections no matter how loose to get a job. Why? Prospective employers are automatically going to spend a bit more time on an applicant that comes with a reference. Have a Facebook friend from high school that you never really talk to but know works at your dream company? Hit them up via message. If people love their jobs they love to talk about them. If they hate their jobs – they also love to talk about them. They’ll be able to tell you the ins and outs of the company and pass along your resume. It’s not cheating it’s smart. Connections will only land you an interview. Unless your related to the CEO of the company and totally awful – they’ll never land you a job. You have to do that work on your own.
5. Do stalk potential employers on social media websites prior to a job interview. Why? Well it might seem weird – but people do notice (and love) when they get new followers. Making sure to check out a potential boss’s Twitter and LinkedIn profile is a great way to learn about their passions and background. Just make sure to mention that you did research before you mention any facts so they know you’re not crazy. It’s a great way to show you care and that you’ve done the research for the interview.
6. Do include your social media contact information on your resume. Why? Employers are going to stalk you anyways – providing them with the information they want upfront shows that you’re transparent and have nothing to hide. What information do you include? Whatever makes sense to you. I have my Twitter handle and website because Twitter is the social meda platform I update most frequently and my website will tell a prospective employeer how to get to the rest of my social media. Don’t include information that you don’t consider public. For example, my personal Facebook page is off limits. I rarely friend co-workers and I keep it very private. However, the page for this website – have at it. Just remember – you want quality over quantity when it comes to information on a resume so don’t clutter it with irrelevant junk.
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