The care industry is a particularly attractive one. Not only does it provide a stable job opportunity but it also gives us the chance to work with people and provide help in areas where it is needed most of all. Despite the considerable demand for care workers, it can be tricky to find work in care due to the recession.
Years ago, seeking a job would involve looking rigorously through the papers and speaking to people in the local area. While these methods are still as powerful as ever, the internet has added an entirely new dimension to the job search.
Today, social care candidates are taking to social media sites with the hope of finding that golden opportunity. Here, we take a look at a few of the best ways in which you can use social media to find a job in care.
Finding vacancies
There may be a whole host of job websites out there but the search for your perfect job in care needn’t stop there. Many employers are looking for candidates to show not only the initiative but the computer skills necessary to find job adverts in less traditional places. Candidates must not assume that all jobs will be posted on just a handful of websites but should instead spend time trawling social media for opportunities.
Twitter is a platform used by many employers as a recruitment tool. Not only is the platform used to advertise vacancies but it can sometimes be used as a tool for applications too. If you’re keen to find jobs in care you’ll need to set up a Twitter account and follow all of the relevant bodies and institutions. It can also pay to search for hashtags (#) which might be relevant to a position of your choice. ‘Liking’ in Facebook can also include relevant posts in your news feed.
Building an online profile
While some care companies might be in the business of head hunting, you can be sure that the others will be making themselves aware of the online presence of applicants. Where jobs are advertised on social media, you can expect the employer to take a visit to your own page where it is important that you present yourself in a suitable manner.
If applying for work in a specific area, be sure to make your interest in the area apparent and visible on your social media profiles. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to ‘like’ the right companies; on Twitter, follow and re-tweet accordingly and on Google+ re-post.
When it comes to looking for care vacancies through social media, no search would be complete without LinkedIn; a social media site developed primarily for professional use. This is a great place not only to make a wide range of relevant contacts but also to promote and present yourself in a positive light. While other social media sites might make it difficult to separate your private and professional lives, LinkedIn encourages no such compromise.
Article written in collaboration with HCL.
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