Creating a resume that is strong enough to compete with the hundreds of applicants applying for every job opportunity out there is tough. It’s even tougher because you need as much experience as possible to get a job but you need a job to get the experience. Especially for graduates leaving university with a degree but who have no experience it can be extremely difficult to stand out from the crowd when you have a big gap in your resume.

However, the introduction of social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter has allowed job seekers to gain direct access to potential employers. This can give you the competitive advantage you need to get ahead in your job hunt by allowing employers to find your resume as soon as job opportunities arise.

But to fully utilize its benefits job seekers need to be uploading their resumes onto their social profiles so that employers can also see who you are and what value you could bring to their company. Your resume can be written, video recorded or illustrated but combine it with social media and you will dramatically improve the success rate of your job hunt. Here are a few tips you optimise your resume effectively for social media:

Link to social

More and more resumes are now including a social media link to for example people’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles alongside other contact details. Especially LinkedIn as it is a professional social network which can show employers what value you can bring to the business. By allowing employers to learn more about you and by making yourself more transparent, employers will feel more comfortable in hiring you.

You can even use social media to also find employers and get your resume to them through these platforms. For example by creating a LinkedIn profile you can upload your contacts from your email address book which is then used to create and build your network. You can then use the search feature to find companies or job opportunities and have a look at who in your network can pass your resume onto an employer or even introduce you to one.

Be consistent

Having information about yourself in so many different places makes it difficult to spot out dated information. It is vital not to have any discrepancies in your resume where information on your resume doesn’t match what is on your LinkedIn profile. It could damage your chances of being considered if mistakes are found as employers may consider you as dishonest. So make sure you keep track of all your profiles and jobsites where you have uploaded information and update it regularly.

SEO Keywords

Unfortunately employers are increasingly using Google and applicant tracking systems to find potential employees through social media sites. Where you rank in search results is highly important and even more important than appearing on the list at all. If your resume is listed on page 14 then your resume will have no chance of being viewed by employers.

So it is important to utilize SEO tools and leverage keywords to make your resume searchable. To do this read through job listings for the position you are aiming for and find common words that appear frequently such as similar skills and experience that is required and any industry jargon. By using relevant search terms you will dramatically increases your chances of being found by employers in the industry you are interested in working in.

Be Concise

It is becoming increasingly common to use resumes to fill out profile sections such as ‘about me’ and ‘work experience’. However, it’s important to select the most important aspects to summarize the key points. This will help provide a concise outline of your resume with all the important and relevant information employers need. Don’t overload your profiles as it will look cluttered, therefore putting employers off from reading it and you won’t be able to format your resume well either.

Spring Clean

Finally, make sure you give your social profiles a good spring clean. Go through and remove any incriminating posts or updates, basically anything which may reflect negatively on you. For example with Facebook you can pick and choose what certain people see. It’s important to remember that first impressions count online as well as face to face. So present yourself in a positive way and check and double check every profile for any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

Harpreet is a content writer and provides job hunting advice for students looking for graduate jobs.