In today’s world there is a big emphasis on social media and using the internet to find jobs/internships. Many students have several accounts using different social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It is becoming more popular for employers to search online to find out more about potential employees. A good way to see what employers see is to Google yourself. Students should be very thoughtful when setting up these social media profiles and keep future employers in mind. Even with your profile set on private, there are ways for employers to see it. With a professional social media site you can catch employer’s attention and even find out what openings they have by following them on Twitter or “liking” them on Facebook.
The first thing to remember when setting up any online account is the name you will be using. Make sure you use a professional name for your profile and email account. You might not want to use a nickname because potential employers might not recognize the profile as yours. Also having a professional email account on your resume is very important; it represents the image you want the employer to have of you.
Next, think about what information you want employers to see. You can create a professional account and a non-professional account using a nickname so that it will not be found by employers. On your professional profile, remember your profile picture represents the image you want the employer to have of you. The tagged pictures of you on Facebook should not include alcohol even if you are 21; make sure all of your pictures do not reflect badly on you. On Twitter and Facebook use the bio section as your 30 second commercial (see 30 Second Commercial handout). This is a chance for you to brag about your accomplishments. You can also use the Facebook status update and Tweets to show your positive side and highlight your professional and academic accomplishments. Things to keep out of your status updates and tweets are anything negative about a person, company, or group. Along those same lines, watch the kind of language you are using in your posts, employers won’t appreciate curse words being posted for everyone to see.
LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that can be used for job searches. It allows you to upload your resume as well as write your own summary of what you are pursuing now and where you hope to go in the future. There are sections for you to write in your experience, education, and any other information you think is helpful. There are groups where you can join professional conversations and gain other professional information. “Friends” are called “connections” on LinkedIn. Your connections can write recommendations for you that are linked to your profile for others to see. You are also “connected” to all of the contacts of your contacts and are able to send messages to them. This is great for networking and informational interviewing. You will also receive emails from LinkedIn that show you updates on your groups and job listings that you may be interested in. This is a great site to start your online job search profile. You can even put your LinkedIn profile address on your resume next to your contact information.
What makes a personal social media site professional?
1) Use a professional name for your profile and email address
2) Think carefully about what information you put into your profile
3) Set up a professional profile picture and make sure all pictures of you are responsible
4) Keep tweets and status updates clean and respectful
5) Start a LinkedIn profile and connect with potential employers
By: Sara Arnette
Graduate Assistant in the Career Center and student earning a Master of Science in Community Agency Counseling