Standing out as a candidate in today’s job market goes beyond a perfect resume or compelling cover letter. While these things are important, jobseekers must also ensure they have a positive, professional online presence in order to make a good impression. Just consider the fact that 52 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates. With that in mind, here are a few ways to utilize social media to your advantage during your job hunt.

Grow your network & join the right groups
Social media is meant for connecting with others, so use your accounts to network with individuals and companies that can push you in the right direction during your job search.

1. LinkedIn: Make connections with your classmates, coworkers, supervisors, and professional acquaintances. Just remember that quality is more important than quantity. Avoid connecting with people you don’t really know or have never met. LinkedIn also has various professional groups you can join – select those that align with your professional interests and network with other members.
2. Facebook & Twitter: Like and follow the pages of companies you’re interested in. Keep current with what they’re talking about or what’s going in their organization (including what positions they’re recruiting for). If a company is discussing an unfamiliar topic, take the time to research it further.
3. Instagram & Pinterest: Follow users that provide professional advice that’s relevant to your job search.

Be a resource
Showing a potential employer that you are social media savvy by maintaining a positive online presence is great. But you can take it a step further by posting unique content and sharing information that is relevant to your industry. A potential employer will be happy to see you are taking your own time to continue learning and staying up-to-date about your industry. Developing unique content and sharing with your network is also a good way to catch the attention of a future employer (especially if you use relevant hashtags).

Show off your work
Future employers will be interested in the results of your previous work, so use social media to display the positive outcomes you’ve achieved.

1. LinkedIn: Ask previous employers or professionals you’ve worked with to write you a recommendation on your LinkedIn page. This is an easy way to show employers right off the bat that you do good work and are a serious candidate.
2. Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: Share links and photos of projects you’ve worked on and are proud of.
3. Pinterest: Build a “resume” board and once again save links to projects or side gigs that you’ve worked on or have been featured in. Continue to update this on a regular basis. Link to your Pinterest board from your LinkedIn page as a way to show off your work in a visually appealing way.

Do your research
After you’ve landed an interview, use your social networks to research the hiring manager and company. The more you can learn, the better. Look for information like the hiring manager’s professional background and current responsibilities. Since you’ve been following the company’s social channels, you should already have a pretty good idea about what the company has been up to, but dig a little deeper to learn more. The interviewer will be impressed that you were proactive and took the time to learn this information.

Ultimately, social media can provide an easy and effective way for both you and a potential employer to get to know each other and make a good first impression. Correctly utilizing social media during your job search could mean the difference between a job offer or a “thanks, but no thanks”.