Social networks are part of our daily lives, but they can also be very useful for looking for a new job.
The most important professional social network in the world, with more than one billion users, is LinkedIn.
When you are looking for a job, Job&Sense advises you to create or "update" your LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn is useful for several reasons:
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Finding interesting job offers.
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Letting recruiters know that you are available on the market and being contacted directly for job offers.
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Making your network work to:
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Talk with employees of the company you are applying to in order to know what the work atmosphere is like.
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Send your application to a friend of a friend who works at the company that interests you.
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Meet people who will broaden your horizons.
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Some tips for job searching via LinkedIn
- Let recruiters know you are available
To let recruiters know you are available, go to your profile and activate the option "show recruiters you're open to opportunities". You can fill in some criteria (type of position, location, etc.). You can also choose to make it visible only to recruiters, without it being displayed on your profile picture (to be adjusted in settings).
- Take care of your title, your summary and your photo
The title under your name is very important: it must contain the keywords that define you and clearly reflect what you do or are looking for. A professional, smiling and recent profile photo reinforces the credibility of your profile.
- Put keywords in your profile
Recruiters often search based on keywords. It is therefore important to include them in your title, in the summary and in the descriptions of your experiences. Think about the skills you want to highlight.
- Follow the pages of companies that interest you
This shows your interest in these companies. In addition, this allows you to stay informed about their news and their possible job offers — useful information in interviews.
- Always respond to recruiters who contact you
It is important to always respond to recruiters who contact you even if what they offer does not interest you. Indeed, if recruiters know what you are looking for, they could come back to you later with an offer that could perfectly suit you.
- Don't only send your LinkedIn profile when applying
When you apply for a job offer on LinkedIn, it is important not to only send your LinkedIn profile but also to send a cover letter.
Your LinkedIn profile is not as complete as your CV, so it is also important to send it.
Recruiters need to feel that you really want to work for them and that you have taken the time to customize your cover letter and CV according to the job offer proposed.
- Be active
To be visible on LinkedIn, don't hesitate to be active by:
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Congratulating your network for their promotions, job changes or professional anniversaries.
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Participating in discussion groups in your field.
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Sharing relevant content related to your sector or your professional interests.
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Searching for and saving interesting job offers.
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Asking for recommendations on your past experiences. Even if this may seem intimidating, it's a real plus when you are job searching. Don't hesitate to ask former colleagues or supervisors — you can also write one for them in return if necessary.
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Facebook has a job search functionality. You will see on the left a "Job Offers" button where you can indicate your criteria (distance, sector, working time...).
You can also join specific job offer groups on Facebook; there are many of them whether by region, for Belgium...
Don't hesitate either to make an announcement to your friends on Facebook to let them know that you are looking for a new job. This will allow them to think of you when they hear about available job positions.
