How to Use Social Media to Find Your Next Nursing Job
By Alana Luna, contributor
Thanks to the internet, job seekers no longer have to pound the pavement or search the classified ads in hopes of finding their dream nursing job.
Social media has closed the gap between employers and prospective employees in new and exciting ways. With so many people vying for prime positions, learning how to use your digital presence to attract recruiters could mean the difference between getting frustrated and hearing “you’re hired.”
Social Steps to Landing Your Next Nursing Job
Network as much as possible. You never know where your next lead on a nursing job will come from. Open yourself up to a range of possibilities by building a network of contacts on LinkedIn. The key here is quality not just quantity. While you might be tempted to cold email strangers and ask for an interview, you’re two-thirds more likely to get hired for a new position if you were recommended by a current employee.
Start by reaching out to schoolmates, old colleagues, neighbors, family and even your friends from the gym or extended community. Nurture these connections using regular communication — even a “like” here or a quick comment there makes a difference — so that when a job opening pops up, you can make an inquiry without seeming like an opportunist.
Pepper your profiles with keywords. When recruiters comb the internet in hopes of finding the perfect candidate for a nursing job, they’re using specific keywords to narrow down their search. Use those same keywords in your profile and you’re essentially sending up a flare for recruiters to follow.
Some ideas for terms to include:
- Job titles such as “nurse practitioner” or “progressive care nurse”
- Skills such as “critical thinking” and “multitasking”
- References to current or preferred geographic location
- Unique job specs such as “travel nurse”
- Certifications, degrees and clinical experience
Follow key healthcare institutions. Hospitals, clinics, private physicians, placement agencies, travel nursing organizations and other healthcare institutions of all configurations and sizes have one major thing in common: They need good people on staff to provide stellar care.
To reach the right candidates, recruiters often turn to the company’s own social media pages, advertising nursing jobs to a captive audience that’s already invested in the company’s mission.
Check out those feeds periodically, and you’ll be one of the first people in line when a new job is posted. In the meantime, you’ll be getting to know the company inside and out — something that could come in very handy when it’s time to craft a cover letter or prepare for a one-on-one interview.
Keep your profile updated and professional. Some 70 percent of employers browse candidates’ social media pages as part of the screening process. What will they find if they look for you? Put yourself in your prospective boss’s shoes and scour your social media for anything that could jeopardize your standing. At the same time, look for opportunities to emphasize your professional skills (but only when appropriate, of course).
- Know your audience. Your Facebook and Twitter feeds can be a bit more personal, but your LinkedIn profile should be all business.
- Update your information so it’s accurate both in terms of details and how it portrays you as a person and an employee.
- Delete any swear words and slang.
- If you wouldn’t be comfortable sharing your social media pictures in a professional setting, they probably shouldn’t be available for public consumption either.
- Use your Facebook bio and LinkedIn headline to highlight your career aspirations and your current nursing job (if you have one).
- Check who you’re following — there is such a thing as “guilt by association,” and certain online connections could cost you.
- Review your privacy settings, including who can tag you and what content is public, and make changes as needed.
- Be thoughtful about when you post. For instance, frequent 2 a.m. check-ins at the local bar may be a major red flag for an employer looking for someone to fill a morning shift.
Join networking groups. When you’re looking to expand your existing network to include new faces, it helps if you and your new connection already have something in common, such as a shared interest. Searched LinkedIn and Facebook to discover where your real-world groups hang out online. These pages or groups may be themed according to:
- Alumni affiliation or school club membership
- Volunteer organizations
- Geographic location
- Profession or specific nursing specialty
Advertise your availability for a nursing job. Become the first person a friend or associate thinks of when a new nursing job opens up. Keep yourself top of mind by regularly posting status updates that subtly highlight your talents, education and aspirations. Instead of sharing memes or venting about the latest happenings on reality TV, discuss a recent article you read in American Nurse Today or post a picture of you headed into your Board-approved refresher course.
In 2005, just 5 percent of American adults were on social media. Today, that number has jumped to 69 percent. Perfect your profile, learn a bit of strategy and capitalize on that built-in audience so you can find your next nursing job from the comfort of your computer keyboard.