Four Unconventional Ways to Use Tech for Job Searches In 2016

Four Unconventional Ways to Use Tech for Job Searches In 2016 Technology is ruling our life, so  much that is has become a tool of our survival. There is no area of life where technology doesn’t manifest, in some way or the other and the same holds true for job searches. Technology has turned out as an indispensable aid for jobseekers, and now there is hardly anyone who doesn’t use company websites, online job portals or LinkedIn to apply to new jobs. But is it all that technology can offer to jobseekers in 2016? Certainly not; this post talks about the unconventional uses of tech to either find your next job or make the process easy. In the last 10 years, the job search process has evolved a lot. While in its yesteryears the process involved scouring newspapers and classifieds for jobs, today job portals and professional social networks have replaced all the traditional means and methods. But if you want to remain ahead of the game, then it is required that you incorporate the latest changes in technology in your search process and use them innovatively  to create an opportunity where it’s not readily visible to others. This is 2016, already half gone, and the competition is ever growing. It is ruthless and more unforgiving than ever. Therefore, it helps to know a couple or more secrets of using technology in 2016 to assist with your job hunt. There is more to social media for jobs than LinkedIn When we talk social media and jobs in one breath, we are reminded of LinkedIn. There is not an iota of doubt regarding the effectiveness and significance of LinkedIn, but it would be criminal to limit your vision to this professional social network. There are many other ways in which you can utilize social media to get recruited. Beyond Facebook Groups there is Twitter, and then there is Youtube, where you can create a video resume, an audio-visual experience that leaves the other person wanting for more. Or, you can also do a search on people search engines like Pipl.com to possibly find someone who works at one of the companies where you are going to apply for a job. Smart apps for smart people With smartphones becoming a necessity for any white collar professional it was only a matter of time before it could also become an indispensable tool for job searches. There is more than one way in which you can use your smartphone to get an interview call. Apply on the go while travelling to a vacation, or use mobile apps to hunt down the best opportunities, the utility of a smartphone for a jobseeker is undisputed. We already know by now that a growing number of jobseekers are using mobile apps for job search. However, as opposed to popular apps like LinkedIn,   there are other lesser known options also such as Weave, a tinder-like appearing app that allows users to swipe through potential professional contacts in there vicinity.   Then there is Reach that allows users to find professionals by distance.   All in all, job hunting is going to become a totally mobile business in the coming future. Video as a job search tool Yes, Youtube is a prominent and popular job search tool, and in fact it is the easiest to set up. Building your own channel and a video resume should not take much time. Yet, there is more to video as a job search aid than Youtube. CareerSushi is a video platform that allows candidates to build video profiles for themselves. The one reason why recruiters love video resumes and profiles is because it allows them to have a firsthand view of the candidate’s interpersonal skills, which include their ability to speak, communicate and get their point across, and that, too, at the expense of the candidate.   Video interviewing saves a lot of hiring resources for employers and that’s one of the reasons behind the rising popularity of platforms like HireVue amongst the recruiter community. Google Ads and Facebook Social Ads While setting up Google Adwords to advertise your brand is not the easiest thing to do, it still remains an effective way of making yourself to a wide global audience. However, you will require a blog of your own, or an online portfolio that will serve as the landing, meaning the page where the recruiter will be taken to upon clicking your ad. This might be one of the most tech savvy and impressing way of presenting yourself to a prospective employer.   Once the recruiter gets interested and lands on your blog, he can easily go through your work, your CV, and all other achievements that you might have included there and get a better sense of your suitability for the role. Similarly, Facebook has its own version, which it calls Facebook Social Ads. About the Author This post is one of the many that Saurabh has written to specifically benefit the jobseeker community. While traditional methods like subscribing to job alerts still hold strong, these methods would help you gain access to a greater number of opportunities.    To get access to his other posts, you can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.