Pinterest is all the rage in social media right now. Crafters and DIY enthusiasts love the site for all its ideas for design and home improvement. Job searchers might not see the point in using the site – after all, you can’t crochet yourself a salary (at least not one that will spend).
However, Pinterest does have some (perhaps) surprising benefits for job seekers. Here’s how you can use Pinterest in your job search:
Find Job Openings
Many companies are beginning to recognize the viral potential for content on Pinterest, and are taking advantage of it by posting their vacancies and career information on the site. Some create pins to their job postings, while others create whole boards dedicated to their openings, with information about the qualities they are looking for in candidates.
Search the site for openings, and try a variety of keywords to get the best results. You can also follow companies that you would like to work for and keep an eye out for pins that suggest they are looking for new people to join their team.
Learn More about Company Culture
Even if a company you want to work for doesn’t advertise vacancies on Pinterest, you can still follow that company’s pins and boards to learn more about its products and its culture. Learning about these things can give you a better understanding of the company’s values and mission, which can help you to better identify yourself as the best candidate for the job.
Pinterest is a great tool for researching companies if you are preparing for an interview or are just trying to put together a package to sell yourself for a position (whether advertised or not).
Create a Virtual Resume
Most companies like candidates who are tech-savvy and who stay ahead of marketing trends. Creating a virtual resume for yourself on Pinterest shows that you have this savvy, and it sets you apart from other candidates by showing off your creativity and ingenuity.
Create pins from posts on your own personal website that highlight your experience and provide work samples. If you don’t have a website, you can create pins that link to companies you have worked for, as well as links to online samples of your work hosted by the companies you worked for in the past. You can also create pins to links showing off your values or your qualities as a candidate.
Gather all your pins onto a board labeled with your name or the job you are trying to get, and send the board to your prospective employer.
At first glance, Pinterest may seem like nothing more than a crafter’s own private candy shop. However, it is growing into a powerful marketing tool for all kinds of companies, and is responsible for generating a great deal of referral traffic. You can take advantage of its marketing potential in your own job search by using these tips.
Have you used Pinterest in your job search? Share your tips in the comments.
Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go college, where recently she’s been researching college scholarships for teachers. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and hogging her boyfriend’s PlayStation 3. To keep her sanity she enjoys practicing martial arts and bringing home abandon animals.
