12 Ways To Use Social Media When Switching Careers - CareerEnlightenment.com

6. Pinpoint other industry-specific Twitter handles to follow.A few examples are  professional organizations or associations, niche job feeds, or publications. These Twitter users will help acclimate you to the industry and provide key networking opportunities.7. Use TweetMyJobs to get a personalized feed of jobs based on your interests and locale.TweetMyJobs is especially helpful for newer job seekers and people switching careers because it does some of the research for you while you learn the ropes.Facebook8. Clean up your Facebook profile and privacy settings.Hopefully you’ve already done this, but if not, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. While your profile may have been acceptable when you were steadily employed in your old job, when making a career switch, it’s even more important to put your best foot forward.9. Follow company Facebook pages of interest.This might seem repetitive, but following key companies via each social media platform is important. You never know when an opportunity will present itself.10. Utilize the Facebook Social Jobs app.Facebook recently launched a new job board app with 1.7 million jobs as of November 2012. Check it out to see if your new industry seems to be taking advantage of this tool.Meetups11. Use Meetup groups to connect with local professionals or people with similar interests.For example, if you’re looking to transition into the fitness industry, there are hundreds of fitness groups and career change groups on Meetup. Take this Philadelphia area career group for example.12. Be an active, interested, and thoughtful participant of all of these forums.This guide isn’t meant to be done once and never looked at again. These tips are meant for job seekers who are ready and willing to be consistently active in these groups online. Building an online networking presence as well as an understanding a new industry doesn’t happen overnight.By using social media, you can gain a professional network and learn abo ut your industry, making you more knowledgeable and insightful than before!Have you made (or considered making) a career change? What techniques have you found helpful to make this process easier?