Knowing social media strategies could be what sets you apart from other job applicants once you graduate from the University of Florida. Luckily, we all have at least a few months to up our social networking game before graduation — here are some tips to help you get started:
1. Make sure your Facebook profile demonstrates the version of you that you would be proud for family members and future employers to see.
Everyone has been lectured on the importance of keeping her Facebook profile classy at one point or another, but now is the time to actually listen and clean your profile up. It is so easy for employers to search your name and find a direct link to your profile and they might not appreciate your visits to Penny Wine as much as your college friends. This is not to say that you have to delete all your fun photos from socials — just make sure that the pictures demonstrate your creativity and ability to have fun instead of a penchant for wild partying. Employers don’t want someone bland and you shouldn’t have to hide your true self, but show some discretion. Your Facebook profile is similar to a job interview — you want to give the best impression you can, so you wear a cute blazer and skirt instead of your comfy sweatpants and oversized T-shirt. Dress your profile up for success!
2. Connect on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly important networking tool. As more and more people make accounts and start connecting, there are many more opportunities available to members. Making an account takes under five minutes and is incredibly easy. Now is the ideal time to start adding connections, as it might be awkward to send requests to casual acquaintances post-graduation. Plus, for those of you who are uncertain about what you want to do, viewing other people’s LinkedIn accounts is a great way to get ideas for your future. You might find that one of your friends has a connection to someone at your dream company and can set a meeting up — the networking possibilities are endless!
3. Start a blog about something you love.
Having a blog is a great way to express your opinions and passions while demonstrating your expertise on a subject. Although starting any kind of blog would be a great start, it is preferable to start a blog on something that pertains to your future career goals. This will allow you to showcase your expertise and who knows, your future employer could be an avid follower of your blog! Make sure to write regularly and promote your blog via Facebook and Twitter.
4. Tweet regularly.
Tweeting is a great way to reach a wide audience and get a dialogue going with someone you might not be able to contact normally. Create an account and follow people who work for companies you are interested in and people who have your dream job. Retweet them and reply to tweets with insightful comments. They might not always respond, but at least you will be on their radar. Make sure to keep your Twitter appropriate and not too controversial, as it could offend potential employers. If you have a problem with censoring your thoughts, consider creating an anonymous account to get all your grievances out and use your personal account to follow and engage professionals in conversation.
5. Get an Instagram account.
Instagram is a cool way to share and edit photos taken with your smartphone. Get the app today and start following companies and friends. Instagram allows you to get a better sense of a company’s personality, as the photos shared via Instagram are generally undisclosed on the company’s main Web site. Instagram is great way to get an insider’s view on the corporate mentality, while also letting you edit your photos to make yourself look even more tan and glamorous.
Now that you have some ideas on what you can do to make your resume standout and to develop a strong online presence, go create the necessary accounts and get started on your networking! Good luck, Gators!