Finding the light at the end of the tunnel, a job after graduation, seems like an almost impossible task lately. Seniors may soon be perusing company websites, gloomily staring at the puny list of positions for hire. Resumes, cover letters, recommendations…nothing seems to break through the stronghold of human resources blockades. So how do you make yourself stand apart from the competition? Doing what college students know best: Social media.
Step 1: Make Your Brand
Presenting yourself in a positive light across all forms of social media and conveying a good message is crucial. Let’s face it; companies and human resource departments are Googling potential candidates before they even respond back to your email. So, when recruiters visit your page, you want to give them the best first impression that you can. Some things that should absolutely be on your to-do list are:
-Make sure you have a nice profile picture, not that one from that party with that guy
-Have a professional Twitter handle; @ilovepuppies32 isn’t exactly what they’re looking for
-Create a LinkedIn profile if you don’t already have one. It’s the perfect way to share your resume & get connected with the people you want to know
-Be sure that your social media is somewhat open & public; you don’t want companies to think you have too much to hide
-Have your school’s career center or a professor read through the descriptions you provide on social media profiles. If they don’t think it’s appropriate, it probably shouldn’t be there
-Think about creating a video resume & post to your Youtube site
Step 2: Become a Nerd
Companies want to hire people who are engaged and passionate, and the best way you can do this is to dive right into the area you want to work in and show off your knowledge and skill-sets. Starting a blog about relevant material is the perfect way to not only show your interest, but show writing skills as well. Be sure you are also tweeting and re-tweeting about your interests and applicable career news. The more information you put out, the more information you’ll receive back.
Step 3: Follow your Dream Job
Dream big, and start following the people you want to work for. Check out companies’ Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts, and websites for more social media platforms they might be on. By keeping up with their latest news and events, you position yourself as an expert of the position that you want to get. Be sure to re-tweet, repost or respond back to their information as well. One of the biggest questions to nail in an interview is what you know about the company you are applying to work at; knowing all about their recent news is one of the best answers you can give.
Step 4: Connect & Engage
Your social media looks great, you’re a know-it-all in the best way possible, and you’ve started re-blogging the information from the company you absolutely must work at or you might die. Now it’s time for some hook, line, and sinker. Pick either the guy who you want to be your boss, or the human resources department and get their attention. Whether that is through a conversation on Twitter, a comment on Facebook or a video on Youtube, let the Michelangelo of social media in you come out and show them what you’ve got! One suggestion to get you started: List the company you want to work for in a list on Twitter that you have named, “I Would Be Perfect for Your Company”, and be sure to add only them. Not only does this grab their attention, but shows them your enthusiasm. Once you’ve got them drooling over your knowledge and excitement, be sure to pass along your Linkedin site so that your professionalism can shine through.
A friend once told me, “I was lucky enough to find my future internship on Facebook. The clothing brand posted that there were looking for marketing interns, but by the time I responded, there were already at least a hundred other comments. With the Internet, you only get a few sentences to prove yourself, so I was so glad that I have a very tame and appropriate Facebook page.” So whether you’re new to the social media scene, or a guru, use what you have to your advantage, and land your dream job in the most direct way possible.
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments
