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How to turn your social media presence into a graduate job today

Social media has well and truly integrated itself into most aspects of our lives today. It’s how we stay connected with friends and family, view news from across the globe and create an online persona. There are a huge number of benefits from social media and one of them is being able to use your time online to help you find a graduate job. If you are struggling to know where to start, we’re here to help!

What changes can you make?

Let’s start with your email address as it sets the tone early on. This can often be overlooked but if you are still using the email address you chose at school, it might be time for an upgrade. Choose a professional sounding email address that’s just your name, no nicknames or anything that you wouldn’t be prepared to write on your CV.

Type your name into a search engine and see what comes up. Anything you can view, employers can too. Look at the privacy settings on your social media. Start with Facebook, - would you mind an employer seeing all aspects of your profile? If the answer is yes, you can change the visibility of your photos, your wall or your entire profile so that only your friends can see it.  One idea is to keep your Facebook profile private for friends and family and to use LinkedIn as the professional front where you highlight your employability. The same applies to Instagram and Twitter settings, privacy isn’t essential- just be conscious of what you are posting online.

When creating your LinkedIn profile, start with an appropriate photo. You don’t need to be in business wear or an office, but choose a neutral location and have the focus on your face so that an employer could identify you in a meeting.

Learn from social media

Don’t forget your search engine is there for your research too. Write a list of companies you would like to work for and follow their social media accounts.  This is a great opportunity to see what the company is actually like. Twitter, in particular is great for this, you can find out about projects they are currently involved with and how they interact with their clients. This information could give you the edge at an interview, showing that you are not just interested in the job but the company as a whole.

Have a look at your peers on LinkedIn, they might give you ideas for groups to join or how to market your personal brand to employers. For example, you could look at what they focus on in their LinkedIn summary, and the types of details they use to sell their education. Once you start building your network on LinkedIn, your news feed will begin to include relevant industry information that will help you in your job search and interviews.

How can it help you get a job?

If an employer is looking for you online, it usually means they are interested in finding out more about you, so present a showcase of your talents. Social media is there to connect people, so use it to network with employers and others who might help you find a job.

Join groups on LinkedIn, not only will this give you great articles in your newsfeed but bring you closer to those working in the industry you would like to work in. These groups will also show employers where your interests lie. Include anything you are passionate about or have achieved, from volunteering to internships.

It can be hard to know where to start but with GradLink’s careers advice and jobs board, you can connect with employers across the globe for free! Register with us for Go CV!, a CV building tool that can bring international employers straight to your inbox.