YouTube for Job Seekers

​Did you know that YouTube is the second most popular site on the Internet? In fact, around 400-hours of videos are uploaded to YouTube every minute!

Individual creators, companies, and organizations alike use YouTube to share original content and information. You can use it to express your thoughts, as a “portfolio” of your work, and a variety of other things. Also, while it is not a search engine, people use it to search for answers to questions.

To use YouTube to help your job search, follow the tips below.

Getting Started

YouTube channels are managed using Google accounts. If you already have an account, you can set up your own YouTube channel. All you need to do is click the blue “Sign In” button on the YouTube home page, and log into your Google account. No separate username or password is required!

If you don’t have a Google account, you will need to create one to in order to use YouTube. Head over to this page to set one up.

If you’re creating a personal channel, use the same profile picture you use for other social media sites. This will help create your brand.

Like other social media sites, YouTube channels have an “About” section where you can fill in personal info be sure use career keywords. You can even include a “business” email. This helps if people would like to contact you about your work. This email is protected by a Captcha, so that spam bots can’t see it.

Sharing Updates

Once you have a YouTube channel set up, it’s time to put it to use! For example, you could create a video resume to share with employers. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Illinois workNet Resume Builder Tool.

You can create videos that show your expertise. For example, you could create how-to videos relating to your field. If your field is more on the creative side (e.g. artists, designers, video producers), YouTube is a great place to showcase your work.

However, you don’t have to be a video creator to use YouTube effectively! You can: 

Search and Learn

You can use YouTube to stay up-to-date with research and info in your industry. YouTube is a great place to find how-to videos, informational videos, and product videos.

While searching YouTube, look for items tagged with keywords. This is similar to the Twitter search. Companies may share a products info on their YouTube channels but they may also have recruiting videos.

Before an interview, review the videos on the company’s channel. This will familiarize you with their products and services. Also, be sure to subscribe to channels you find interesting so that you can stay updated on their content.

Next Steps

To read more about job searching with social media, check out our Social Media Guide.