In my Fall Cleaning post last year I covered some tips to ensure your social media presence is blemish free. In this post I want to highlight some ways you can use social media to your advantage in the job and internship search. What's particularly interesting about today's social media is the creative ways that you can not only express yourself, but reach out and connect with other people. Connect with companies and recruiters on a professional account, not a personal account. You don't want to seem creepy (Check out this video by Relationship Science).
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| "Remember: don't connect with recruiters unless you've actually had a substantive conversation (in person or via email) with them!" |
This is the main social media professional platform for recruiters to learn about you and for you to learn about them. What I love about LinkedIn, unlike other platforms, is that you can tell who is looking at your page. Many recruiters have Premium accounts which allow them to browse accounts anonymously, leaving you wondering who is looking at your account. Having a LinkedIn presence is one of the more important things you can do to move beyond your conventional resume. Here are some tips to leverage LinkedIn to connect with companies and recruiters:
- Look at recruiters' profiles
- Research their background, maybe you have a connection with them through their education or work
- They can see you're looking at them, and it's not creepy! It actually shows that you prepared before meeting them
- Follow the company
- Following the company you want to work for is a no-brainer. It also puts you in the know for what's going on with that company
- Looking at a company's page will help you identify connections through your LinkedIn network. This could help in getting an informational interview with someone who works or worked at the company, and this "someone" could offer you next steps in your job/internship search
- Find the job/internship listing you're applying for
- Locating a job listing on LinkedIn could help you identify the recruiter's contact information, allowing you to address your cover letter to this person and follow up directly. Too often, there is no name or contact information on job listings that you find on search engines or even on company websites
- Connect with the recruiter
- Only connect with the recruiter after you've had a substantive conversation through email or in person. Recruiters often have several connections because of the nature of their job, but don't think that just because a recruiter agrees to connect that it's an indication you've got the job. It's only the first step to proving to them that you are a worthy candidate for their company
To keep this list balanced, here are some tips for How NOT to Contact Recruiters on LinkedIn in a great post by the Undercover Recruiter.
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Twitter is great. To me it's a real indication of where the world is going, as it continues to provide real time updates to billions of people across the world, connecting them through 140 characters (and maybe more). Many people have Twitter handles - some are personal and some professional, so you have to decide where your Twitter account falls. If you decide that your Twitter account is personal, I highly recommend having a private account. If you want to use it to attract recruiters, have a public account so it's easy for them to follow and see your tweets. The Muse's post on 5 Proven Ways to Attract Recruiters is a great source for those looking to leverage tweeting in the job search. Here are some interesting ways to connect:
- Twitter Bio (Personal Branding)
- Make sure your personal brand is clearly communicated in your Twitter Bio. But be sure to mix in some personality
- Professional headshot and backdrop
- Use an "avi" or avatar photo that clearly shows that it's you. This is important so the recruiter can actually tell that it's you
- Follow companies and influencers
- Twitter is a great place to be in the know, especially in fields that pertain to your interests. Follow influencers, businesses, and news handles that cover your field of interest. This can reinforce to recruiters how much you want to work in that industry
- Keep it clean!
- This goes without saying, no one wants a cursing maniac in their office. Twitter is a great place for recruiters to find your voice, and also a further indicator of character when you're not in front of the recruiter directly. So remember to be professional in every tweet.
- Also make sure you're using proper grammar, for the most part! Abbreviations are welcomed on Twitter, if they are clear.
- Watch out for retweets
- Retweets are great, especially for sharing articles about topics that you think are important. However, you can get into trouble if you retweet someone who isn't professional or who tweets information that isn't factual
- If you want to be super safe, leave space in your bio that says Retweet ≠ Endorsements so you're clear to the world. Check out Mashable's perspective on retweeting!
- Mention people you've met!
- After I meet someone at an info session or talk, I mention them on Twitter. It's a great way to follow up if it was a large session or you want to reveal the events you've attended without just frankly stating it
- It may also encourage that person to follow you or retweet you, which would give you even more page views
Each social media platform is it's own animal, but what remains constant is what I call the classy rule. If you're unsure whether something is inappropriate or unprofessional, ask yourself if you'd mind your grandmother reading it. It is a surefire way to determine the class of your post. Keep tweeting and connecting online! Hope everyone is enjoying fall!
Carpe Diem,
Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016
