Job-seekers may have a hard time searching jobs given the paucity of it and increasing competition. Recruiters these days usually look for candidates who have a good profile. But it is not the only criteria of selection, and a lot of other factors do play a part in the given process. Job-seekers have to be proactive in searching the right job and must adhere to a proper approach, with well drafted resumes, and having contacts with the right people has become equally important as it can garner you necessary information about the organization and help you in landing a job. But in doing so, it is necessary that you develop and maintain good contacts by tapping into all the mediums online as well as offline.

Social Media Can Increase Your Chances To Get Hired

1. Staying connected :

One of the most significant benefits that social media offers is 'connectivity'. It can help us to stay connected with people right from the school, high school, and college. Initially, these mediums were limited and hence maintaining contacts with everyone was not possible back then. So, being able to connect with your friends and alumni group is always a boon as it enables you to seek assistance in landing a job. And in case of a huge network of friends, it also provides options to create groups.

2. Developing professional connections :

Finding the right jobs is much easier with the help of social media. Reports by few of the leading media agencies suggest that traditional methods for searching jobs do not yield good results and the most efficient way of doing it is by developing and maintaining good contacts as it increases your chance of getting hired. As social media is an effective tool in doing so, you won't be going through the drudgery of searching a job as all the essential information can be availed by tapping your professional  network. In addition to that, there are platforms that can give you direct access to people belonging to different fraternities. So developing contacts with people you are unfamiliar with is simple, all you need is to register on any of the professional networks and get going. One of the most widely used networks is 'LinkedIn' which has millions of registered professionals and job-seekers. With LinkedIn, it is possible to connect and collaborate with people from professions across various corners of the world. Such platforms give them free access to many professionals who offer services on selecting career, career development and job search. So  these professional networks have opened new avenues for job-seekers and for people looking to catapult their career. So developing and maintaining new contacts can be beneficial as they can introduce you to people who work at companies you are interested in.

3. Personal branding :

We live in a world today where every thing that is sold in the market is advertised. So given the scale at which things are branded and marketed, marketing has developed into a full-fledged industry. Even people in the entertainment industry hire agencies that help them in building their own brand and assist them crafting their image. So given the importance of branding and its success, job-seekers must not take a backseat when it comes to personal branding and exploring ways in which they can market themselves and build their own brand. To start with, you can create your own website where the recruiters can have direct access to your profile and previous works. Having a website appears to be professional and building one doesn't take a huge effort. Other than that you can create a professional page on different platforms or maintain a blog.

4. Creating awareness :

Social media can be a good source of information, provided you use the right platform. Information on the recent developments in your industry and information on job openings can be easily obtained via social media. As there are millions of users worldwide, access to information across the globe is just a click away.

5. Seeking help :

Social media can be a good tool to seek help from individuals or your counterparts. There are Q&A platforms of professionals where queries regarding jobs and careers are answered by the people. It also provides you the avenue to seek professional advice from the experts who offer their services across such networks.

Social media is an effective tool that can be used by job-seekers. There are various networks where they can register and explore opportunities. Most studies as well as anecdotal evidence points out that being socially active and maintaining good contacts is beneficial for job-hunters and provides them an edge over individuals who do not follow that approach.

Career and career development are the most widely discussed and debated topics. People in the middle of their careers experience a blip as they find themselves in a maze where they are unaware of the direction in which their careers are heading. But every individual aspires his/her career to be progressive and certainly desires to achieve new heights. But due to lack of proper plan and management, most of them fail to achieve the said goals and all their plans remain fantasies instead of transpiring into realty. Therefore, it is critical to take necessary steps that can boost your career and help in the long-run.

Expand Your Network and Create Opportunities

1. Read: Reading is to the mind what food is to the body. When it comes to boosting career, reading can be an effective tool. It can help you in learning about the recent developments in your profession. Apart from that, reading articles on career development can get you good insights about the profession and various ways in which you can successfully evolve in your career. Besides, reading also helps in developing writing skills. It increases your exposure to words, and with that it can help you write exquisitely. In addition to that, it helps in enhancing your analytical skills as reading involves noting all the details in the given context and can certainly moot your response or point of view to the various nuances that you come across. Most of the individuals do not realize its potential, or have the habit of reading thereby suffering the consequences in their careers. So it is important to read different stuff that can help in enhancing knowledge related to your profession.

2. Invest in right relationships: Nurture the relationships that matter the most and give them proper time and always be available for them. Investing time in maintaining such relationships must not be viewed as a liability because the same people can turn out to be assets for you and your development. So identify your circle, places where they operate and figure out how they can provide you assistance in achieving the goals. Also invest in how to develop right networking methods.

3. Be socially active: Socializing is important in the professional sphere. In order to grow in a career, it is important to learn for which it is essential to give up “I- know-it- all” attitude, and start developing good relations with your colleagues. Developing connections with people can help you in unimaginable ways. They cannot only provide information, but also assist you in overcoming obstacles in your professional life. People can also be a good source of learning, So being around them and having extracurricular activities enables you to learn new things. Also attend social gatherings, seminars, and conferences where you get to know new people, their point of views, and a plethora of information that can be vital.

4. Actively participate on the social media: Using social media can be a boon as it enables you to be virtually connected with people across the world. It not only help you to be in touch with your friends and colleagues, but also to develop new contacts. Not only that, it can be a great learning and sharing experience as information can be exchanged at an enormous pace. With the development of professional networks such as LinkedIn, it is possible for people to connect and collaborate with people from their fraternity across various corners of the world. Such platforms give them free access to many professionals who offer services on selecting career and development. So  these professional networks have opened new avenues for job seekers looking to catapult their career.

5. Invest in a career coach: Staying focused and managing your time while working can be difficult. You might lose focus and momentum in achieving your career goals. So a mismanaged career can be detrimental in your quest for achieving success in your career. Hence, investing in a career coach can be a good option to boost your career as you will have a personal assistance who can provide you with tools and opportunities to stay focused in achieving your goals. The coach will also guide on drafting effective resume to get an interview call.

Developing your career is not an easy task and is time-consuming. You can't expect a turnaround with a wave of a magic wand. It requires the right plan and a pro-active approach along with a high level of dedication and discipline. Furthermore, it needs developing and maintaining strong networks, investing in improving yourself and capitalizing on opportunities. Professionals usually fail to achieve that feat in their careers as they lack in implementing requisite steps during the tenure of their work. So by adhering to the tips mentioned above you can successfully develop and expand your network in order to achieve the goal of career growth.

Big Career Goal Steps That Will Get You Closer Today

Here are five steps that will inch you closer towards your career goals.

1. Assess yourself on tough questions :

2. Plans your goals :

3. Create a realistic career road map :

4. Strive for excellence :

5. Have a success mantra :