We all know that social media is increasingly important, but some of us aren’t sure how to effectively use it. Social media professionals Joe Maturando (Campus Recruiting Leader for Ernst’s & Young’s Northeast Sub-Area), Jenna Mucha (Social Media Specialist for Talent Acquisition and Employee Communications at the North Shore-LIJ Heath System), Carolyn Gierer (Account Associate at Emanate PR) and Brian Murray (Buzz Builder Manager at Likeable Media) shared their insight on social media with Hofstra University students on Tuesday March 6th. Here’s what you should and shouldn’t do on your accounts:
Things you should do…
Have a full LinkedIn profile.Employers look at your LinkedIn profile and use it as a recruiting tool, so make it a living resume. Continuously update your profile with internships, jobs, and activities—be as detailed as possible!
Use key terms in your LinkedIn profile.Employers can search profiles based on key terms that relate to the profession. To ensure that you stand out, make sure your profile has key terms and related skills listed.
Be smart about privacy settings.If there are things you don’t want an employer to see, change your privacy settings. Remember, just because you aren’t Facebook friends with your potential employer, a mutual friend (it’s a small world) or friend of a friend could allow a potential boss to check your account. Brian Murray offered a simple trick: “Ask yourself ‘is this something I would want my mother to see?’ If the answer is no, then you shouldn’t post it.” Things can stay on the Internet forever, make sure nothing will come back to haunt you.
Be personal.Whether you are sending a cover letter and resume or connecting on LinkedIn, make sure you customize each message. The person you are contacting most likely receives hundreds of applications and/or requests every day. Stand out by making yours specific to the person and job you are applying for. Tip: Make sure you spell names correctly!
Have a professional email and voicemail.It is most often a turnoff for employers when you have a silly email or never-ending voicemail. So if you’re one of those people who has the “Hey…Hello…Hello…Just kidding! You’ve reached the voicemail of__________,” then it’s time to upgrade!
Familiarize yourself with other social media platforms.Employers want interns and employees that are tech savvy. Being familiar with multiple social media sites will give you an advantage.
NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!Connect with friends, classmates, coworkers, and alumni from your college. You never know what connections you’ll need in the future.
Things you shouldn’t do…
Double-check your materials. Grammar and spelling errors are a big turn off. Proofread your cover letter, resume, and social media pages for any errors. It seems like a silly detail, but it makes a big impression.
Delete inappropriate photos. Your employer will not find the photo of you doing a keg stand or smoking marijuana funny. Remove the photos from your profile, or ask whoever tagged you to do so.
Do not falsify any of your information.Your employer will find out, and will not be impressed.
Hopefully these tips helped you all to become a bit more social media conscious. Use it to your advantage, and you’ll stand out to potential employers!