Have you ever been frustrated when you submit a resume for a open position and never hear back? The problem might not be that you were an undesirable candidate, but instead that you did not successfully tailor your resume for the company AND the position.
Tailoring your resume for a certain job is “resume 101” and many people do it every time they submit for a new opening. However, the job market is very competitive these days and to get noticed you have to go a step further than your competition.
In almost every case, the company that you are applying to has profiles on multiple social media outlets. Below, we have outlined some examples of information you might find on a company’s profile and how to integrate that successfully into your resume or cover letter.
1. Charitable Causes
Especially around the holidays, companies will post about their efforts to help their favorite charity. If you visit an organization’s social media profile and notice a lot of activity in this area, take note of the type of involvement the company has in the charity (food drive, fundraising, volunteering) and include similar experiences you have had on your resume’s “volunteer” section.
2. Networking Events
Networking is the best way to get a job offer. Companies use social media to highlight their networking efforts, often tagging organizations that they are involved with. If you notice a networking entity that you can get involved with, do it! Make it a point to seek out the company representative at the event and introduce yourself. You can then include this networking organization on your resume.
3. Lack of Social Media Presence
If you notice that the company is not very active on their social media, then they might need an employee that would be willing to take the reigns. Brush up on your own social media skills and include your interest in your skills section. Social media is made for the masses, so you don’t have to be an expert to be effective. Make sure to be honest with your comfort level, even a beginner can make a big difference if they are consistent.
4. Articles of Interest
Many companies share articles that they think their peers and customers would be interested in. If you look back on these articles you will begin to see a pattern that shows what the company finds relevant for their industry. Use this pattern as a guide to what issues you need to brush up on for the interview and cover letter. While these topics don’t really have a place on your resume, your cover letter would greatly benefit from including them in some way.
Bottom line: Social media is a wealth of information, so make sure you use it to your advantage!