Should you use social media for job hunting? Social media is a helpful search and information tool. However, it also has some drawbacks that can spoil your chances of landing a job. Here’s a list of social media’s advantages and disadvantages if you plan to use it for your job search.
People accomplish various tasks using social media, making it a beneficial platform for job seekers. Here are some of its top advantages in job hunting.
1. Efficient and Convenient
Gone are the days when you had to sit by a telephone, anxiously waiting for a recruiter to call. You don’t even need to boot up your computer. You can download the best job search apps for iPhone and Android to keep track of your job applications anywhere and anytime.
Social media makes it almost effortless to look for a job online. Apps send push notifications, so you don’t miss important updates from your professional network. If you see a job opportunity posted on a Facebook group, you can easily send a message to the job poster to signify your interest.
2. Establishes Professional Connections
Mark Zuckerberg thinks you’re not reaping social media’s positive benefits if you don’t use it to build relationships. A CNBC Make It article quotes the Meta CEO, who emphasized the importance of using social media to communicate. You can love or hate Mark Zuckerberg, but you can’t deny that he’s right.
Business owners, content creators, and recruiters–these busy professionals are within your reach because of social media. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through your feed, use the time to connect with potential clients and employers. You can start by sharing your expertise on your feed or leaving thoughtful comments on people’s posts.
3. Increases Your Visibility to Reach a Wider Audience
The recruiters and CEOs from companies you want to apply to are most probably on social media. Statista says that there were over 4.26 billion social media users in 2021. With this number expected to grow to around six billion in 2021, the stats are in your favor if you’re job hunting.
Friends scrolling through their social media feeds can easily share your looking-for-work post or point you to a job opportunity. Of course, you don’t have to depend on sheer luck to find a job through social media. You can be on the lookout for the best jobs by joining top LinkedIn groups for job seekers or subscribing to the best social media apps for adults.
4. Little to No Cost
Both job seekers and employers benefit from the little to no cost spent using social media. Executive recruiter Matthew Hobby writes on LinkedIn that newspaper job ads are expensive and have short life spans. Given this, it makes more sense for recruiters to post ads on online job platforms where job seekers like you can easily find and apply to them.
5. Lets You Easily Personalize Your Brand
Aside from a stellar resume, a social media profile that demonstrates your expertise helps you stand out from the hundreds of applications recruiters receive online. You can catch an employer’s eye and create a personalized brand through social media features. Choose your brand colors, upload a professional profile picture, design a professional banner and create content to show off your skills and personality.
While social media can help you look for a job, it also has some disadvantages that might affect your job hunt.
1. Lack of Privacy and Control
Social media users have good reason to be concerned about online security when using social media. In March 2018, The New York Times obtained documents from Cambridge Analytica proving that the firm leaked private Facebook users’ data to influence election results. Twitter also has a history of data privacy issues that can harm its users, as this USA Today article shows.
Additionally, remember that posting online can have disastrous consequences. You cannot control people’s reactions to your content. To lessen the chances of embarrassing mishaps, read up on how to clean up your social media while job hunting.
2. More Distractions
Social media can consume your life if you don’t build healthy online habits. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology shows that the fear of missing out and not wanting to pursue a task are some reasons users are easily distracted by social media. If your social media usage is unchecked, the constant content stream will make it easy to laze the day away and forget your job hunt.
3. It Takes Time to Optimize
While social media features help you optimize your profile, you still need time to edit photos and write fresh content. If you don’t make time to post regularly, you won’t come up on social media feeds, and recruiters might think your profile is outdated. Learn social media tips like how to build a professional Facebook profile you can be proud of to improve your chances of landing a job.
4. Comparison Trap
Social media makes it easy to compare our career journey with others, which may lead to envy and insecurity. It’s easy to justify why you should ignore the number of social media likes you get. To actually do it is another matter.
Research from Frontiers in Public Health shows that those prone to getting addicted to social media are also prone to job burnout. Researchers found that WeChat users were more likely to feel job burnout (feeling emotionally drained and less accomplished) when they compared themselves to others whose living and working conditions were inferior to theirs.
5. Can Create Bias
One of the downsides of promoting yourself on social media is that it can create biases. For instance, a study published in the Social Science Computer Review found that recruiters recognize qualities such as extraversion and maturity by looking at applicants’ profile photos. The results highlight why it’s essential to be aware of possible bias when publicizing your social media profiles.
Social media can positively or negatively impact your job search. Given that employers, recruiters, and clients are on social media looking for their next hire, it doesn’t make sense to stay out of social media. However, knowing the advantages and disadvantages will help you become more careful about what you share on your social networks.
That said, if you’re a job seeker who wants to utilize the benefits of social media, you can start with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the most extensive professional networking site today and offers features to help you in your job hunt. Remember to keep your communication professional, as there are reasons you shouldn’t treat LinkedIn like a typical social media site.
