Using Instagram for Your Job Search: Tips and Tricks

By Rachel Jay

Sure, you’ve got LinkedIn covered, but Instagram? Using Instagram for job searching is most likely not at the top of most job seeker’s minds, but it can be a potentially untapped source.



Instagram is a widely used platform. Currently, 1 billion people use it every month, 500 million use Instagram Stories daily, and 63% of users log in at least once a day, spending an average of 28 minutes on the app.

With so many people interacting on Instagram, it can be a great resource in your job search. Let’s go over a few ways you can use this social media platform to your advantage.

Create a Professional Instagram Account

Whether or not you already have an Instagram account, consider creating a new account dedicated to professional use only. This can keep your personal life separate from your work life—think of it like a LinkedIn version of Instagram. Here’s how to make your professional account shine.

How to Fill Out Your Profile

Instagram can be used as a personal branding machine. You’ll want your profile to be consistent with other professional social media accounts you have and clear on what your expertise is and what you can offer to potential employers.

Start out by making sure your new account is public. This allows anyone to see your profile, whether they are following you or not. You want employers and industry peers to be able to easily see your profile.

Next, make sure you add a headshot-style photo—the same one you use on LinkedIn is ideal. Add in a website link too. This could be to your personal website, your online portfolio, or your LinkedIn or Twitter page. In the bio section, you have 150 characters to sell yourself. A good place to start may be to talk about your current job or skills, what sort of new job you’re looking for, or a list of your professional passions.

Search and Use Hashtags

Use the searchable hashtags to find other people who could be added to your network, companies, and even open jobs. This is a great way to uncover companies and jobs you weren’t aware of before.

Some popular hashtags to consider for your job search are:

• #remotework
• #remotejobs
• #jobs
• #jobsearch
• #jobsearchtips

Also focus on looking through the top hashtags for your specific career field. For example, if you’re a virtual assistant or a marketer, these may be helpful:

• #virtualassistant #virtualassistantjobs #virtualassistantlife
• #marketing #marketingmanager #marketingmanagerlife

You should also use industry keywords as hashtags to describe pictures you’ve posted. For example, if you attended an important marketing conference or workshop, you could upload a photo of the event with #marketing and #(nameofconference), or the hashtag the conference is already using.

More Tips and Tricks PLUS the complete FelxJobs article