If you're looking for work, you've probably already spent a significant amount of time preparing your résumé, researching how to perform well in an interview, pondering what to say in a cover letter, and everything else that comes with finding your next professional step. However, one aspect you may have overlooked, at least in terms of your job hunt, is social networking.

Social media may be a gold mine for finding work, in addition to being a pleasant tool to use in your personal life for interacting with people and learning about what's going on in your neighbourhood.

This isn't about how many organisations will post job openings on social media and even enable individuals to apply through such channels (though it is something to keep in mind); rather, it's about how your social media presence may make or break your job search.

It might not occur to you since, after all, you wouldn't want your personal and professional lives to collide, so why should your Facebook or Twitter accounts matter? In truth, there will inevitably be some overlap, and recruiters and managers will explore social media for information.

With that in mind, here are a few of the numerous actions you can take to guarantee that your social media presence does not prevent you from landing the job you actually desire.

Make Sure It's Clean

What does it say about you on your social media account or accounts? They'll almost certainly be quite personal, with plenty of images and remarks, as well as maybe some subjects that you care about. However, while these are positive aspects of your life that people might learn from, is this what you want a future employer to see?

You don't have to delete your entire profile, and you don't have to stop being yourself, but it's probably a good idea to remove any profanities, not show too many pictures of you partying (some is fine, of course), and keep any politics to a minimum—ideally not mentioned at all—while you're looking for work.

Is it better to have one or two accounts?

It's beneficial to be on social media; it allows potential employers to learn more about you, it's entertaining, and it can be a useful tool for job seekers if your profile is tailored to that end.

However, having more than one or two social media accounts might be a concern, because it shows—assuming they're active accounts—that you spend a lot of time on social media, which can have a negative impact.

LinkedIn is a terrific place for job searchers, and you should definitely create an account there where you can describe your previous experience, indicate that you have a masters in public policy distance learning or another similarly helpful degree, and connect with individuals who can help you advance. After that, one or two more accounts might suffice.

If you simply have a few profiles, you'll be able to keep them effectively, which will help you in any future job hunt.

Always maintain a professional demeanour.

If you want to find work, no matter whatever platform you want to use or how many you have, they must all be professional and consistent. Remember that, while these accounts are theoretically yours and you may do whatever you want with them, they will very certainly be utilised by recruiters. Because there are so many job searchers, it's necessary to reduce the field in some manner, and social networking is a convenient and rapid way to do so.

Always use your true name and have a decent profile photo that presents you in a favourable light and that you would be delighted for potential employer to view. It may seem like a good idea to have a funny or creative image as your handle, but does it genuinely convey the proper message? For the best results, use your genuine name.

To Your Résumé, Add Your Profiles

Add your social media accounts (not too many, of course, as previously suggested) to your résumé if you actually want to create a good impression with any possible employer. This not only offers the recruiter a place to start learning more about you, but it also demonstrates that you've given some consideration to what you're doing.

This is especially handy if your profiles are chock-full of intriguing data about your professional path or tidbits about your former accomplishments. They may, for example, demonstrate that you are enthusiastic about a certain component of your work. You won't be able to fit everything on your résumé, and you shouldn't attempt, but if you have a good, professional, and helpful social media account to function as an additional layer of information, don't be shy about displaying it and gaining an advantage over the competition.

It Isn't For Business Communication

As much as you may believe that social media is an ideal tool for finding jobs, researching companies, and demonstrating who you are and why someone should hire you, one rule you should always follow is that you should never use your account to contact the professionals you want to work for—unless they specifically invite you to.

When you contact professional organisations using your personal social network account, it appears unprofessional and might even come off as unpleasant or harsh. At the very least, keep in mind that these firms will be inundated with direct messages, and yours, no matter how essential it is to you, might easily be missed.

If you want to speak with someone directly about a job, your résumé, your interview, or anything else, it's far preferable to utilise email or make a phone call. It makes a far better first impression, and you'll almost certainly receive a response.

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