Visualizing Your Career: Using Visual Social Media to Your Professional Advantage

By Alexis O'Connell

This week at the Career Center, I was tasked with purging the Dowling/ARC Library shelves of expired career advice books. Professional guides from the 1990s fail to cover a critical aspect of today’s job search – social media. However, the popularity of new, visually-focused platforms like Pinterest and Instagram may have you feeling a bit behind the times as well when it comes to your career goals. If you’re stumped about how to use these creative forums to display your talents, find compatible employers, and reach out to companies, here are some helpful image-sharing practices.

Gone are the days when visual-heavy platforms were reserved for those in artsy industries, like photographers, graphic designer, and marketing agents. The internet and its mobile counterparts have turned image-based media into a playing field for job seekers of all backgrounds; some argue that it has, in fact, become mandatory. (Click here to see 7 surprising industries on Pinterest.) While visual sharing remains more applicable to some fields, careerists with a wide variety of interests can benefit from having a virtual presence on this form of social media.

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed that many companies are joining in on the photo sharing. (See who’s doing it best. ) The experts know better than anyone that disseminating photos and engaging followers on various tech mediums is a way to both establish and promote their business. You can

achieve similar marketing successes with the featured brand being you. No matter what your specialization is, there is much to be gained from presenting yourself and your work in an accessible and aesthetic manner.

Instagramming Pinterest: Social Media Inception

Showcasing your skills, interest, and work experience via social media visuals lets potential employers see multiple competencies at once. And if your desired position is in advertising, public relations, or branding, you’re required to speak fluent social media. What better way to demonstrate this than by displaying informative content of your own? On Pinterest, try making a virtual resume pinboard that includes images of past projects, work, and accomplishments. If you’re looking for something more mainstream, aim for an online resume or portfolio that captures the eye of your intended viewers. This online, visual display of your talent not only sets you apart – it makes your resume, in whatever form it takes, easy for employers to reach and read.

Wherever businesses are, job or internship seekers should be as well, and this means having a presence on visual-sharing platforms. The knowledge that some companies are recruiting on platforms like Instagram makes having a robust and professional profile especially appealing. Tech marking firm ePrize even used Instagram to give one employee an offer. Remember to follow some basic rules if you plan to involve your accounts with your career. First and foremost, commit to appropriate content only. Yes, this means sacrificing selfies and biting the bullet on posting your perfect keg stand. Luckily, Pinterest has done professional users a favor with their addition of secret pinboards. Further demonstrate that your sharing is thoughtful and deliberate by responding to activity on your forums: reply to comments and keep it spam-free. In the end, cross your fingers that potential employers won’t judge copious repinning of food and fashion!

If delivering content is not up your alley, don’t delete your Instagram account just yet.  The content that others pin or post can be just as helpful for finding employers that are worth pursuing. Companies often use their Pinterest and Instagram accounts to show the behind-the-scenes of office life (or lack thereof). Case in point: these pinboards by General Electric, Adobe, and Free People. If a picture is worth a thousand words, one glance might be enough to tell you whether or not you’d make a good fit. With employers filling their boards and streams with images of past projects and industry trends, a little snooping could offer some quality company insight.

If you know enough about the industry but could use some general job search or career pointers, get them delivered right to your computer with a bit of social media savvy. This Mashable article outlines 7 Pinboards to follow for your career. Consider starting your own pinboard of career advice and development (a “jobspiration” board, if you will) to stay motivated through cover letter writing or long workdays.

Still not convinced that Pinterest, Instagram, and other image-sharing social media differ from other mediums? Ponder this: companies are realizing that photo-based interactions invoke different emotions and seek different ends than average information dissemination. Instagram, for example, is a snap-on-the-go app, meaning that even top-tier, multi-million dollar employers are capturing everyday moments like the rest of us. They’re using visuals to tell the story of a company and its employees, personality, and philosophy. This exposure is the perfect opportunity to see, and prove, where you fit into their picture.

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It's Never Too Early to Plan Your Internship

When you’re a college student exploring career prospects, there’s one word that can’t be ignored: internship. As a freshman, sophomore, or even upperclassman, it’s easy to sidestep the internship hype if you’re not participating in or applying to one in the near future. However, there are plenty of tasks you can attend to now to prepare for internship applications in a future semester. Chances are you’ll be glad you did.

This post breaks down internship application prep into three categories: Employer, Academic, and Personal. Each section has relevant considerations and tasks that will help you to structure and personalize your internship planning. Keep in mind that the Career Center is always here to help!

Employer
Goal: Identify and connect with employers of interest.

A great way to take control of your internship search early on is to make a list of target employers. This list will serve as a starting point when you are ready to apply for opportunities. Start with 5 employers you would love to intern for and add a few more each week. The advantage of consistently expanding your list is that you’ll stay informed about your preferred industries. Avenues for finding the companies that align with your interests include:

• Scoping out local publications, like The Boston Business Journal, for company news and information.
• Reading “Best Of” lists, like Fortune Magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies to Work For, to get an idea of industry leaders and top performers in certain categories.
• Using LinkedIn’s Company Search tool, which sorts employers by zip code, industry, company size, and other criteria.
• Utilizing personal knowledge of a company or employer. If you love ‘em, put them on the list. If you’ve networked with someone from an employer of interest, add it.

Depending on when and where you plan to intern, switch up your research tactics for best results. Keep track of pertinent information, like contacts and application instructions, in a document or spreadsheet.

With your new list as your guide, begin to connect with target employers via social media. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and even Instagram are for more than sharing what you had for dinner; they can serve as tools that provide valuable insight into a company’s culture, development, and hiring needs. Go a step further than simply following a company or organization – follow their CEO or the employee who has the position you want after graduation. Don’t be afraid to interact, that’s why companies use social media!

Since long-term internship planning gives you time to thoroughly explore desired fields, an additional consideration is an informational interview. An informational interview is an opportunity to obtain information and advice from a seasoned professional who’s in touch with their industry’s current climate. Picking their brain could give your search direction, provide insider tips about the business, and create a contact within your desired field.

Academics & Extracurriculars
Goal: Use Tufts classes and clubs to gain skills and experience

Past employment experience is not the sole feature of your internship application. In fact, many positions call for skills that you might not acquire during a part-time job. With a bit of planning, you can use Tufts courses and extracurricular activities to gain exposure to the competencies you’ll need at your internship and beyond.

Now is the time to think through how your academics overlap with your career path. In the registration madness, you probably loaded up on classes that satisfy distribution requirements, contribute to your major, and/or cushion the academic blow. Take a step back and view your classes from a career perspective. Is learning C++ imperative to getting that tech internship?  Will that design class prove useful when you’re applying to be a marketing intern? Make or alter a trajectory of your classes so that it coordinates with your professional plans.   Reading internship and job descriptions in the field you hope to go into (or that your target employers offer) can help you gauge which skills you will need for the future.

The wealth of clubs and organizations at Tufts is another way to advance your qualifications. Tap into the ones that align with your career goals, and get involved early for loyal participation and leadership opportunities.  A couple of examples:

• Interested in environmental studies or green tech? Involvement with the Sustainability Collective could demonstrate your commitment to implementing sustainable policies and programming.
• We may not have a marketing major, but we have a marketing club. Imaginet works with real clients and arranges company visits.

Use Tufts’ extracurricular organizations to practically apply your skills and knowledge. This ability will be important not only for interning, but for the whole of your career.

Personal
Goal: Use the planning process to ensure that your internship meets your individual needs

Perhaps the most important reason for performing a long-term internship search is to ensure that you end up in the right situation for you. What sort of atmosphere do you want to work in? What size of company would suit you best? How much time can you commit to your employer? Questions like this may require contemplation and investigation to answer.

For many of us students, the abundance of unpaid internships necessitates extra forethought. Consider whether your internship will need to include a salary or stipend, or if budgeting and saving can support an unpaid position. Another option is internship funding, available through Tufts as well as other sources. Check out this list on our website.

Remember that as a Tufts student, you never have to go about your internship planning alone. Our career counselors can give personalized search guidance and our calendar is full of events catered to internship seekers.  Thanks to the TIP Book (Tufts Internship Profiles), you can read about other students’ internship experiences and get in touch with them directly. The Career Center’s services and resources provide various ways to find answers to your toughest internship questions.

Start building some of these strategies into your routine to get your internship preparation in motion. Keep the momentum once you’re back on campus by visiting the Career Center.

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An Insider's Guide to the Career Center

As the Career Center’s Summer Assistant, I witness individuals following their career paths each day. In the midst of career-related success stories, resources, and new-found knowledge, I can’t help but contemplate my own career trajectory. Being inspired is an unexpected perk of the job.

Admittedly, I never visited the Career Center prior to being hired. Take it from a fellow student who has now seen the light: you’ll want to get to know the Career Center. Planning for your professional future is a daunting task, and the steps along the way can be stressful and confusing. Having a place that cares about your career goals and assists in outlining a course of action is invaluable, and that’s exactly what the Career Center is here for. As gatekeeper to Dowling Hall Suite 740 for a little over one month now, I’m here to share my discoveries thus far about career guidance at Tufts.

If getting “career counseling” sounds like biting off more than you can chew, I assure you that all steps along the career path, from deciding a major to negotiating a salary, are important concerns. Our counselors offer assistance at any stage, and many students I’ve talked to since starting work here are surprised to learn the extent of the Career Center’s services. Some specific areas where we can help include:

Resume and Cover Letter Review. Get your resume or cover letter critiqued and ready for applications.
Internship Search. Not sure where to start when it comes to getting an internship? We can help create a plan for your internship search.
Mock Interviews. If you have an interview coming up that you would like to practice for (or if you don't), we offer mock interviews. We can even film it, if you'd like.
Choosing a Major. The Career Center is especially useful if you’re unsure about your future options relating to the world of work. Talking about your major is a good place to start.
Personality and Interest Assessments. Self-assessment is an important part of career exploration. The Career Center has tools to aid you.

To see more ways you can benefit from Tufts Career Center, visit our website at careers.tufts.edu. Our online tools are a great way for all students to stay connected to career objectives. For the undecided underclassmen, check out the interest checklists and the “Choosing a Major Guide.” Instructional how-to guides for creating a resume and cover letter are beneficial to anyone looking to get hired. Additional resources for job and internships search, networking, and more can be found on our website, including the login page for Jumbo Jobs.

A day in the life at the Career Center

Because I see dozens of opportunities made accessible to students and alumni each day via this resource, I’m giving it a special plug. Available online at any time of year, Jumbo Jobs is a Tufts-specific database of jobs and internship positions posted by employers. Even now, companies still seeking summer interns post in Jumbo Jobs several times a week. Take a moment to log in (you already have an account as a Tufts student), update your profile, and familiarize yourself with this great tool for getting hired.

Beyond using the web, let the timing of this post inform you: the Career Center is open over the summer! This time of year is ideal to acquaint yourself with our office. Not only do our counselors have greater availability, but you may have more free time to dedicate to career exploration than during the academic year. If you need further convincing, our facilities are fully air-conditioned. Making an appointment is easy; see the instructions at the bottom of this post. Please note that phone or Skype appointments are an option for off-campus students.

Don’t have time for an appointment or website exploration? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest on job and internship opportunities and upcoming events.

If there’s one message I could deliver to students about the Career Center, it’s that we have resources to help no matter where you are on your career or academic path. Connect with us in person, online, and via the exciting programming planned for fall 2013. If you have any questions about this post or the Career Center, please call or email the office; we would love to hear from you.

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To arrange an appointment with a career counselor, please call our office at 617-627-3299. Appointments are scheduled for half an hour. If you would like to stop by, we are located at the back of Dowling Hall in Suite 740. Our hours are Monday-Friday, 9-5. Email us at careercenter@tufts.edu or visit our website at careers.tufts.edu.

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