While you are busy updating your resumes and writing cover letters for internships or summer jobs, it’s important to remember that many employers look on social media sites when they receive your resume. In order to be seen as a professional in the workplace, you have to show that you are professional on your own time as well. Follow these tips to show that you are someone to be taken seriously and deserve that position you are applying for.
- Separate the professional from the personal.
It can be difficult to keep unprofessional content off of your social media profiles.With Facebook, friends tag you in pictures, comments can get less than classy, and funny yet inappropriate links are shared on your wall.It happens.An easy trick to keep potential employers from seeing your interactions with friends is to change the name on your account.Use your middle name instead of your last name or only use the first initial of your last name.It may not actually hide everything, but it makes it more difficult for potential employers to find you. Only associate your professional sites and accounts with your full name.
- Be careful of what you write and how you write it.
Remember in seventh grade when writing, “omg u have 2 try this u will <3 it” on msn was cool?Well, seventh grade was a long time ago.Proper grammar will make a major difference on your social media profiles.It is also important to remember to use appropriate language.Try not to swear online or post judgments or comments that may make a potential employer question whether or not you can get along with anyone in the workplace.Beware of racism or stereotyping.First impressions count and if yours is based on your social media posts, hateful comments can be the difference between leaving a good impression and leaving a bad one.Remember that once something is posted online, it is not coming down and words can have consequences.
- Be identifiable.
Try to have consistency with all of your professional sites.If you want potential employers to see your Twitter account, LinkedIn account and your blog for example, make it easy for them to find. Add links to each site on each account.In your bio on Twitter, add the links to your LinkedIn profile and your blog.Make it simple for people.Make sure it is easy to identify you in each of the thumbnail pictures as well.It helps to use the same picture.That way, no one has to wonder if they found the right page—they’ll know it is you.Another tip for consistency is to remember to only ever give out one email.If you have multiple accounts, forward them to one address and only send emails from that one account.That way, no one is ever confused about which email is the correct one.
- Network.
Social media allows you to connect with people that you may never have the chance to talk to otherwise.Use that to your advantage.Contact professionals in your field of interest through LinkedIn.Compliment their work, explain who you are and ask if they have career advice for you.They may not reply, but if they do you may just get an interesting answer and a new contact.It’s all about networking.
Image source : http://www.labnol.org/internet…