Are you using your social media to show what you eat, keep tabs of your exes and like your friends' photos from their holidays? Have you considered using social media to get a job that you've always wanted? This list can help you!

There is much more that social media can offer than mindless scroll - if you do it right, you could be a few posts away from your dream job.

Sorting your online presence and create a better personal branding around yourself will make your path shorter.

Ditch the PDF and create a website.

This may sound strange but creating a website that shows your skills and unique specifications will be both impressive and looking great. I suggest using Squarespace to create a website, it won't take more than half a day to setup the basics and then you can work on it.

Create a blog.
Finding a job is not only about going to it, it can also come and find you without you filling those boring application forms. (Especially when you have to fill the form although you can upload your CV...)
Creating a blog will help recruiters find you when they search industry-related keywords in Google. For instance, let's say you want to get a job in IT industry in Budapest. You can write blog posts and articles about your opinions and how you can be creative and capable of doing things in that area and voila, you will start appearing in Google search. And maybe one day you will receive an email from a headhunter / recruiter and they will invite you for an interview.

Actively use Linkedin and invest in paid options

Almost everyone in the business world has Linkedin and most of them use it actively. Even if they don't post, they watch. Recruiters usually have bookmarked pages for the potential candidates even while there is no open positions.

Linkedin also offers an Apply Online button where you can apply for jobs in one minute, see how many other candidates apply and further information about the job description. Also you might find salary information as well, so you know how much it is realistic to ask for during interviews.

Paid options can be a good investment too. There are affordable Sales Navigation packages in Linkedin where you can search the HR Managers in companies and you can try to contact them directly about a new opening. It doesn't have to be a job application right away. You can write to them for an introduction, add as a connection and be visible for them to be considered when there is an opportunity.

Edit privacy settings

This is what I suggest. Create X circles and share responsibly:

Close Family, you can share all you want.
Former and Current Colleagues, share very selectively, only professional content
Friends - don't make a close friends list separately, share selectively, professional & personal content but avoid any conversation that may be a reason not to hired. Read here how recruiters check for red flags on social media
Public - share only profile picture. And make sure you have a professional looking one!

Show your personality online

You are usually not hired only because of your skills. It takes much more for that - your personality is definitely one of the strongest factors you can put on the table.

Your personality that is showcased online should have certain standards:

Always use professional photos
Update your social media regularly
Post related topics about your dream career
Have a friendly yet professional interaction with your network
Be mindful of what you like. Not what you post but what you like can also be viewed.

5 ways to use social media to get a job

Why aren't you hired? Blame your social media?