How Social Media Can Help You Land That New Job [INFOGRAPHIC]

by Sam Laird

Does your job suck? Do you just wish you had a job to begin with? Social media can play a major role in finding that first gig or hopping to a better one.

In 2012, companies are projected to use social media to recruit for more than four out of five job openings. Some 95% of recruiters have already successfully hired candidates found through LinkedIn, while Twitter and Facebookhelp connect job-seekers with employers as well.

Recruiters use social media for a variety of reasons — it saves them money, raises brand awareness and is a good way to target people with specific skill sets. But most of all, recruiters say it helps them find solid candidates who might otherwise never even get on their radar.

So how best to get noticed? Eye-tracking studies have shown that people spend an average of under six seconds looking at social media profiles, meaning first impressions are key. Job titles and profile photos get the most attention, so those are among the most important sections of your page to spruce up.

This data was all pulled together by OnlineDegrees.com, a site that connects students with Internet-based education programs. OnlineDegrees compiled reports from a variety of sources and research organizations — including Mashable — to fill out the picture of how social media can boost your job search. For more, check out the infographic below.

See the Mashable article for the infographic and complete article