Not using social media when looking for a job is a mistake. Useful, practical and resourceful, they can be powerful tools, recruitment experts believe. You still need to know how to use them.
Published at 8:00 a.m.
“Looking for a job is a job in itself,” says Patrick Morneau, president and partner of the recruitment firm Humania.
It is therefore normal for candidates to put in time, energy and effort, believes the expert. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that using traditional means, such as bringing your CV in person to the company, is still a good idea.
“It’s best to submit your CV on the company website,” says Sophie Grenache, partner at Libera human resources. Almost every medium, large, or very large company has a careers site. If we give it to the receptionist, we don’t know if it will be given and to whom. But if we go through the site, the CV will go to the right person. »
The power of social networks
According to Denis Morin, professor of human resources management at the School of Management Sciences at UQAM, studies show that even if the traditional approach still exists, the use of social networks is increasing.
“These are important channels and an important source of information,” he emphasizes. Social networks make it possible to measure the compatibility between a job seeker and an organization more efficiently and quickly. »
Patrick Morneau talks about social networks, mainly LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, as incredible “talent pools”.
According to him, each platform has its strengths: Facebook is aimed more at job seekers in retail or technical positions, while Instagram focuses more on more niche jobs in the artistic field such as graphic design. As for LinkedIn, it is aimed more at professionals, managers and executives, he says. “It’s a must,” notes Mr. Morneau.
Take care of your profile
Among the first things to do, job seekers should take care of their profile, particularly on LinkedIn, a network dedicated to work and professional exchanges. A reminder: more than 134 million people use this platform created in 2003 every day, according to LinkedIn data.
“It’s important to present ourselves well, to show what makes us unique, what sets us apart,” explains Patrick Morneau. And you have to say what you are looking for. Nothing worse than a blurry profile. »
Professor Denis Morin emphasizes the characteristics put forward by the job seeker. Without idealizing your profile, you have to talk about your assets and strengths, he says. “There is academic knowledge, i.e. the background and training, then know-how, therefore skills and abilities, and finally soft skills, i.e. skills and personality. »
Inflating your profile is a very bad idea, insists Mr. Morin. “If the profile doesn’t truly reflect who you are, then the job won’t be right for you. »
Sophie Grenache, from the firm Libera, advises posting your CV on LinkedIn in the place provided for this purpose and keeping it up to date.
Comment, post, discuss
Who says social network, says “socializing”. And therefore, connect, network, exchange. This seems obvious – but you have to invest time in building and maintaining this network, says Patrick Morneau of Humania.
“For example, if we have 5,000 people in our network, our profile can be seen by a lot of people, that multiplies the opportunities. The more connected we are, the more information we have. »
Searching the companies that interest us, getting in touch with them, making publications on our favorite topics, commenting, discussing in forums, all of this is extremely useful… because it makes the job seeker visible. “We demonstrate that we are active,” remarks Mr. Morneau.
Take training
According to Mme Grenache, participating in small training courses, which take the form of capsules, is also an avenue to explore. “They are often free and they cover all kinds of subjects,” she says. Some deal with the network itself; for example, how to better use LinkedIn. It’s never lost. »
At the same time, she adds that sharing what you have learned or asking questions is also a key to getting noticed. She points out that social networks also help to find the right point of contact in a company. It’s a gateway – but be careful to use it with skill.
“People don’t have a lot of time, in general,” she says. If you decide to send an email, the approach should not be pushy. The important thing is to introduce yourself well and say, in a few words, why the company interests you and how to get more information about it. »
