How can I use social media for my job search?

To find jobs on social media, focus on the following steps: Maintain a professional profile free of red flags Follow the accounts of your target companies and leaders in your field Make connections by contacting people or companies directly to inquire about job opportunities

How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

Table of Contents

Social media isn’t just a way to pass the time — it’s also a valuable tool for discovering open job positions and building your professional network.

In fact, 86% of job seekers already use social media in their job search, with LinkedIn and Facebook being the most popular platforms for recruiting.

Below are 5 tips for using social media to help you land your next job.

A 2023 survey by The Harris Poll found that nearly 3 out of 4 US companies review candidates’ social media, and nearly half of hiring managers say they’ve rejected applicants based on their social media.

So, your next order of business should be to clean up your existing social media profiles.

The easiest way to do this is to set your profile to private. This approach will allow you to maintain all of your posts and connections without these being discoverable by anyone you haven’t added as a friend.

If you choose to maintain public profiles, it’s important to remove all red flag content from them, either by deleting it or adjusting the privacy settings for each individual post.

"Red flag" content to remove from your profile

any illegal activity
sexually explicit material
inconsistencies with your resume
offensive comments or public arguments on sensitive topics
complaining about your employer or coworkers (past or present)

If your social media raises red flags for employers, it could negatively impact your chances of landing a job with them. Denisse Guenoun, SHRM & Co-Founder at Pana Partners, puts it this way:

A candidate’s social media profile is an integral aspect of our recruitment strategy. We focus on elements such as professionalism, communication skills, and cultural alignment. Red flags, such as inappropriate content, can significantly impact our hiring decisions.
Denisse Guenoun, SHRM & Co-Founder at Pana Partners

As a general rule, only keep public posts that you’re comfortable with everyone seeing. If you’re not sure whether your content is a red flag, make your LinkedIn public and keep your other profiles private.

When you’re looking into a company, make it a point to review all their available social media profiles — including their LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube — to see if the company would truly be a fit for you.

For example, if you’re interested in a company that values team collaboration and social responsibility, their Instagram might reveal regular team-building retreats or their volunteer work in the community.

You can also check platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed, where current and former employees report on possible “deal-breakers,” such as lower pay, poor work-life balance, and a lack of workplace diversity.

Some companies even share new opportunities with their followers before posting job ads, so following them is a great way to learn about new openings as soon as they become available.

3. Connect with employers and recruiters

Now that all your profiles look professional, it’s time to engage with potential employers and get noticed by hiring companies!

Start by connecting with leaders at companies you’re targeting, as well as recruiters, and then comment on their posts. These connections might seem less valuable than a “personal” meeting — but surprising research from the Harvard Business School shows that online connections can get you noticed (and hired!).

Building connections with recruiters on social media can make a great impression (when done right). Viviane Nguyen, an IT Recruiter, explains:

I love it when candidates actively engage with me; it shows their interest and motivation. Also, it makes it easier for me to connect with them if they are already following me or commenting on my posts.
Viviane Nguyen, North America IT Recruiter

Just make sure your engagement is always positive and valuable, and that you don’t contact them too frequently.

“When commenting on our posts, it’s always best to be nice, kind, and respectful to others and to leave a positive impression,” adds Nguyen. “I’d avoid complaining or being mean to others on social media.”

4. Post high-quality content to build your professional network

When it comes to the content you post, Forbes recommends posting high-quality content that shows off your expertise. This content could include:

recent professional achievements
helpful professional tips
motivational quotes
news articles related to your industry

Always offer a brief comment on why you shared a piece of content, such as how a news article impacts your field. And when you post about your achievements, try to tie them back to industry trends or lessons learned.

It’s also crucial to maintain a consistent voice and style by tailoring your content to the platform you’re using. For example, LinkedIn favors professional insights, while X is perfect for quick, timely commentary.

You should also post daily if possible and set aside time for commenting and responding to followers to foster a vibrant professional network.

5. Use specific platforms to your advantage

Each social media platform can be used in different ways to both look for jobs and be discovered by recruiters. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how to use the most common social networks to your advantage as a job seeker.

LinkedIn is essentially your online resume. You need to regularly update your profile to keep it relevant and attractive to recruiters — nearly all recruiters routinely use LinkedIn and almost half say it’s the primary way they find candidates.

To maximize the impact of your LinkedIn profile, follow these expert tips:

Do:

Have a color photo of your full face (preferably smiling)
List your job title and company, career field, and a specific interest in your headline, separated by this punctuation mark: |
Tell your story and highlight the key skills that set you apart in your “About Me” section
List specific skills

Don't:

Use a cartoon or logo for your profile image
List only your job title as your headline
Write a generic and boring “About Me” section
Forget to ask for recommendations from previous bosses and colleagues

LinkedIn is also a great way to proactively reach out to recruiters to discuss your qualifications and get noticed for new opportunities.

TikTok

TikTok has been rapidly overtaking other social networks including Facebook and Instagram, and now job search TikTok is a reality, as 1 in 5 Gen Z respondents says they’ve applied to jobs and gotten interviews through the video platform.

You can search for jobs on TikTok with the hashtags #jobs, #hiringnow, and #jobopportunity. Find jobs specific to your city with hashtags like #chicagojobs, #sandiegojobs, or search for multiple hashtags like #phoenix #jobs.

Additionally, you can create a video resume and label it with the hashtag #tiktokresume.

Facebook

Join industry-specific and location-specific job groups on Facebook, as these are a great way to find job opportunities that aren’t posted to major job boards. And, follow the leading companies in your field to stay on top of the latest news.

Also, following people in your industry who inspire you is a great way to get updates on hiring events and workshops.

Instagram

Creative platforms like Instagram are great for showcasing high-quality images of your design and visual work. Maintain your account as a visual portfolio of your work, like visual art, video editing, choreography, musicianship, or other performances.

Popular hashtags for finding a job on Instagram include #remotejobs, #jobs, #jobsearch, #jobsearchtips, and #remotework.

X (formally Twitter)

After changing names from Twitter to X, the platform also launched its own job search service at x.com/jobs.

Search for hashtags such as #nowhiring or #jobsearch. You can also search for your specific industry + “jobs” i.e. #translationjobs or #hospitalityjobs.

Also, many companies and employers will post about roles they’re looking to fill, so make sure you’re following the accounts of companies you’re interested in working for.

It’s helpful to note that some larger businesses have separate X accounts for work opportunities, like @BBCCareers.

Reddit is a great platform for getting advice on your job search, as well as getting insider information on specific companies, or the recruitment process in general.

Subreddits like /jobs, /jobsearch, and /jobsearchhacks are full of career search help and advice for succeeding at your job after you’re hired.

Just like on other networks, your public profile is searchable, including all of the posts and comments you’ve written, so make sure you remove any questionable material if you’re searching for a job.

Frequently asked questions

Still not sure you’re using social media correctly in your job search? We answer some of the most common questions about using social media to help you find a job below:

LinkedIn is the most common social network for recruiting and job searches. Still, people used other social media apps to apply for jobs and get interviews, including Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok.

To find jobs on social media, focus on the following steps:

Maintain a professional profile free of red flags
Follow the accounts of your target companies and leaders in your field
Make connections by contacting people or companies directly to inquire about job opportunities

Yes, companies in the US check the social media profiles of job applicants, and reject applicants who have questionable content on their profiles.

Regardless of your field, you should assume that all of your public profiles will be visible to hiring managers, and manage your content accordingly.

What red flags should I remove from my profile?

Remove the following questionable or objectionable content from your social media profiles:

references to drug use or illegal activity
violent or aggressive behavior
sexually explicit material
objectionable images or off-color jokes
information that contradicts your resume
offensive comments or public arguments on sensitive topics
complaints about employers or coworkers

Sources

Boston University, “5 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out”
Business News Daily, “Keep It Clean: Social Media Screenings Gain in Popularity”
Careerarc, “2021 Future of Recruiting Study”
Content Stadium, “Social Recruiting: 2023 Statistics and Trends”
Express Employment Professionals, “Social Media Integral to Recruiting as Most Businesses Use It to Source, Research and Screen Candidates”
Forbes, “How To Use Social Media To Job Search”
Harvard Business School, “Looking For a Job? Some LinkedIn Connections Matter More Than Others”
Jobvite, “Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2023” & “Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2020”

About Resume Genius

Since 2009, Resume Genius and its resume builder software have been helping people from all backgrounds and experience levels land their next job faster.

Resume Genius also provides a wide range of free career resources, including customizable resume templates, resume examples for different industries, and resume writing guides, to help job seekers find fulfilling work and reach their career goals.

Resume Genius is led by a team of dedicated career advisors and HR experts and has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CNBC, and USA Today.

For media inquiries, please contact us.