Social media is a great tool that most of us use daily. Whether you are shopping online or writing a friend about meeting up for coffee, social media is an amazing resource. This tool can also be used for looking for a job. When I’m looking for a job online, I start with search engines, then search job listings using recruiting websites, and lastly check out discussion boards. You would be surprised how many jobs I’ve interviewed for by merely finding them online. Not every job ends in a job offer but it’s an opportunity to see what out there.
Search engines are a great starting point, you search the job you are looking for and go from there. Whether you are an acute care nurse or family nurse practitioner, you enter the title and the desired zip code. The goal is to get a starting point and some sites to work with. You need a starting point before you narrow your search. At this point, you want to keep it basic, title and zip code only. Look for job-based recruiting websites that are credible and trustworthy, those are usually the top search returns. We have all heard of LinkedIn and Monster. Look for sites like that and then we move on to step two.
Step two is you going into the professional job sites and searching in a more detailed fashion. You entered a title and zip code only. It’s now time to sift through and see if these prospects match your requirements. Sometimes, the title doesn’t match the job duties. So, please do your research. Nothing is worse than you wasting your time on a position you have no interest in. Many job postings will also give you a general idea of what the employer is searching for (e.g. day shift, 12-hour shifts). This will also help you determine if this is a match. There are tons of job-based recruiting websites out there. The goal is to search for professional sites. If you are going to upload your entire resume on a website with all your personal information, make sure you trust the source.
Lastly, you can review local discussion boards. Facebook is a great resource I’ve found that has the ability for like-minded people to communicate about job searches. You might be in a critical care group and read about a job opening in your area. You don’t have to know the people in the group personally. The point is to get a lead on a potential job of interest and you conduct your own reserach from that point. You don’t have to get personal or ask others for their story, the goal to review discussion boards and see if anything piques your interest. Networking a great tool, even if it is online in nature. Other great social media tools are Instagram or Twitter. Try using hashtags to minimize your search (#nursingjobs, #criticalcarejobs). The goal is to get a lead and dig deeper. Social media is filled with content, so research wisely and find credible sources.
