Social media is a powerful way of supporting your job search and use of job boards. Employers are using Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook to size up graduate candidates ahead of formal interview, so it’s a good idea to gen up on etiquette.
‘Like' companies in moderation
Make sure there is an element of commonality in the companies that you 'like' otherwise it may appear as though you have a random approach to finding a job. Look at their latest products, get a feel for which areas of the business a company is focusing on and see what others are saying about them.
Complete your profile
A 100% LinkedIn profile projects a professional image and makes it easier for potential employers find you. They will be searching on keywords, and the more expertise you listed, the more numbers of key words you use and the higher probability of them finding you. It’s important to use your account so when you find yourself job searching, it means you’ll have a mature network of contacts.
Join industry groups
Belonging to the appropriate groups on LinkedIn or Facebook will put you in the right company and show that are able to hold a sensible discussion, or ask a sensible question. Your tone of voice is important – behave as if you were at an informal business meeting. Groups are also a good way of researching a company when job searching.
Recommendations - show restraint
Recommendations are powerful when they are credible. If your LinkedIn profile is littered with too many, they become devalued. Too many endorsements by peers and colleagues where you endorse them in return will also come across as weak. A recommendation should be from someone for whom you have provided a service; so ideally, a tutor, boss or a former customer.
Cultivate a business voice
Tweets about your social life excesses will definitely not impress a future employer so create a separate Twitter account for your business persona. It’s tempting to broadcast an opinion into cyber space, but ultimately, everything can be traced back to you. Don’t tweet anything you wouldn’t mind a current or future employer seeing.
Conversation clues
The beauty of Twitter is that you can be speaking to the head of HR for a company you admire without a formal introduction. A business conversation consists of listening, contributing your own thoughts and responding to others. Make sure your tweeting reflects this etiquette with a mix of tweets, retweets and mentions.
Hashtag help
Hashtags are a good tool let you search on key words or topics that may interest you such as jobs or internships in your sector. Use them to preface your comments on any hot debate that may catch a recruiter’s eye, whether it’s about a new piece of regulation, a fashion or a trend. If you get into Twitter as a job-seeking accessory, you’ll probably want to use one of the free tools available such as TweetDeck or TrueTwit. These will manage updates to other accounts.
Private lives are off-limits
Adding industry contacts is important, but bear in mind that many people see Facebook as a way to keep in contact with friends and family so only add industry contacts if their Facebook profiles are work-focused. If you consider Facebook to be there for your social life, not your career, make sure they can't access it.
Poise for the picture
It’s almost inevitable that a potential employer will check your online profile. Employers aren't expecting to see you in a suit or a corporate pose, especially on Facebook. But try and avoid the early hours 'worse for wear' pictures.
Search CWJobs for Graduate IT jobs
‘Like' companies in moderation
Make sure there is an element of commonality in the companies that you 'like' otherwise it may appear as though you have a random approach to finding a job. Look at their latest products, get a feel for which areas of the business a company is focusing on and see what others are saying about them.
Complete your profile
A 100% LinkedIn profile projects a professional image and makes it easier for potential employers find you. They will be searching on keywords, and the more expertise you listed, the more numbers of key words you use and the higher probability of them finding you. It’s important to use your account so when you find yourself job searching, it means you’ll have a mature network of contacts.
Join industry groups
Belonging to the appropriate groups on LinkedIn or Facebook will put you in the right company and show that are able to hold a sensible discussion, or ask a sensible question. Your tone of voice is important – behave as if you were at an informal business meeting. Groups are also a good way of researching a company when job searching.
Recommendations - show restraint
Recommendations are powerful when they are credible. If your LinkedIn profile is littered with too many, they become devalued. Too many endorsements by peers and colleagues where you endorse them in return will also come across as weak. A recommendation should be from someone for whom you have provided a service; so ideally, a tutor, boss or a former customer.
Cultivate a business voice
Tweets about your social life excesses will definitely not impress a future employer so create a separate Twitter account for your business persona. It’s tempting to broadcast an opinion into cyber space, but ultimately, everything can be traced back to you. Don’t tweet anything you wouldn’t mind a current or future employer seeing.
Conversation clues
The beauty of Twitter is that you can be speaking to the head of HR for a company you admire without a formal introduction. A business conversation consists of listening, contributing your own thoughts and responding to others. Make sure your tweeting reflects this etiquette with a mix of tweets, retweets and mentions.
Hashtag help
Hashtags are a good tool let you search on key words or topics that may interest you such as jobs or internships in your sector. Use them to preface your comments on any hot debate that may catch a recruiter’s eye, whether it’s about a new piece of regulation, a fashion or a trend. If you get into Twitter as a job-seeking accessory, you’ll probably want to use one of the free tools available such as TweetDeck or TrueTwit. These will manage updates to other accounts.
Private lives are off-limits
Adding industry contacts is important, but bear in mind that many people see Facebook as a way to keep in contact with friends and family so only add industry contacts if their Facebook profiles are work-focused. If you consider Facebook to be there for your social life, not your career, make sure they can't access it.
Poise for the picture
It’s almost inevitable that a potential employer will check your online profile. Employers aren't expecting to see you in a suit or a corporate pose, especially on Facebook. But try and avoid the early hours 'worse for wear' pictures.
Search CWJobs for Graduate IT jobs