Social networking sites have become a popular platform for employers and recruitment agencies to find suitable candidates for available job opportunities. In this digital era, recruiters choose to access the candidate database through job networking websites.
Graduates are using social networking sites to put their qualifications and experiences into the public domain to reach out to employers from various sectors. If you are a fresh graduate and want to find a suitable job for yourself, then read this blog post to analyze the advantages of job search domains.
How does social media help with a job search?
- Creating a Gmail account can help facilitate professional interactions;
- It enables your qualifications and abilities (published on your social media account) to get noticed by global recruiters;
- You can utilise online discussion forums to post articles, opinions and questions to connect with a company of your interest;
- You can ask for feedback from professionals or the general public who regularly visit your personal webpage;
- You can choose social media platforms to network, exchange information and ideas;
- Joining discussion forums can allow you to advertise yourself on networking sites that are run by professional institutes or educational alumni members.
How can graduate students benefit from social networking sites?
- Reputation– social networking sites can help fresh graduates build their reputation within their professional network by adding credibility and authenticity to their professional skills.
- Information – the social networking platform is constantly evolving and provides up-to-date information on global affairs. Students can use the information available on these social networking sites to advance their knowledge in a preferred field.
- Marketing – by developing a virtual presence on the internet, students can put their business ideas into action with the help of web engagement. The continued dominance of social media marketing has made it possible for students to become marketers, solely relying on digital platforms.
List of top social networking sites for graduate students
LinkedIn – LinkedIn is a massive network of professionals and its user-base includes both recruiters and job seekers. It is considered as the hotspot for entrepreneurs who are looking to hire small companies, stock their products or partner with a larger company. It enables job seekers to:
- Optimize their profile;
- Expand their network;
- Join or participate in groups;
- Exchange endorsements;
- Connect with elite professionals;
- Improve their business.
Facebook – Facebook is considered as the world’s largest social networking site, based on its 2.38 billion active monthly users globally. It not only allows users to connect with their friends and family but is also advantageous for career networking.
Students who are looking for a new job can update their profile on Facebook by including specific job titles or roles that they might be interested in. Students can also add the names of employers that they would like to work for, as well as provide their preferred location. Based on this information, students can find regular updates about their job search on their newsfeed or as notifications. Facebook allows its users to promote their business, brands and products using paid Facebook ads that include some of the leading industries:
- E-commerce;
- Financial and retail services;
- Gaming and entertainment;
- Media and telecom;
- Technology;
- Consumer goods and automotive business.
WordPress – students can utilize this platform not only to showcase their hobbies but also to start their own business ventures.WordPress can help students create an interactive social networking site that is equipped with all kinds of features to promote a business or build forums. Students can participate in discussion forums or join communities based on their career interests.
Career networking tips for graduate students
- Build strong connections with your colleagues and other networking contacts;
- Make a habit of scheduling professional appointments ahead of time and be ready with all necessary documents prior to the start of the meeting;
- While at a gathering (conferences, seminars or other events) try to make lasting impressions by introducing yourself to people you want to build a connection with;
- Prepare a short (30 second) professional pitch, ready to be able to able to market yourself at any given moment;
- Develop strong communication skills to be able to begin conversations with confidence, as well as ask open-ended questions;
- Appreciate the opinions of others around you, to build professional relationships and long-lasting contacts;
- Seek advice from your co-workers or higher officials who you perceive to be a good source of information;
- To preserve connections and maintain professional relationships stay in touch with individuals that you have made a connection, by sharing useful information often.
Keep yourself updated with the Toronto School of Management (TSoM) blog page for more tips on how to go about with your job search or prepare for an interview.
