Blog #6: How to impress your future employers through social media

For most college students, we are so quick to post something on social media. There are many pros to posting, but there are many negatives. Here are some tips on what to post so your future employers are impressed. A way to stand out from others is to be yourself. Being authentic is one of the best ways for employers to view you. What you post on social media should represent yourself when they meet you in person. Consider what you post from an outsiders perspective. What you post can be taken another way. The best pictures to post are ones that are you surrounded by family or you in an interesting place, or in a community. Having professional accounts such as, LinkedIn can also be beneficial to use. By sharing your career interests and the work you have done can be impressive to employers. Blogs and YouTube videos of yourself are things to consider to adding to your social media pages as well. Volunteer work and internships that you may have done in high school and beyond that are related to your field are very appealing when applying for a job. Take what you already know and expand on it. Posting a YouTube video that is appropriate and informational is a way to share your skills.

What employers do not want to see on social media range from pictures of you holding a red cup, illegal actions, and disrespecting a previous company or employer. Disrespecting your company through social media is a red flag and can break confidentiality. If you are questioning your next post, then don't post it or ask permission from the company. Less is more in some cases and you may want to hold out on what you were going to post. Rather than bashing your employers, thank them for the what you have learned and continue on with your career from there.

After posting some pictures that you want to be removed when your name is searched, you should take to LinkedIn so that it can filter out some of the negatives. By filling out some of the descriptions that are optional to complete, it can draw an employer in and can out weigh some of the pictures you wish could be removed. Nowadays they take your resume and compare it to your LinkedIn page to confirm that they are legit. It is never to early to build your resume. It can be as simple as posting projects you worked on in middle school to adding professional information as a college student.
Activating a Google Plus account can control what is being shown on the first few pages on Google. By providing your Gmail address, in a few short clicks you are ready to begin. Posting once a week with positive information about yourself on this website can filter out the negative pictures. Creating a personal website about yourself is helpful as well. When using Facebook, make sure that you are not being tagged in any photos or posts that may come across as inappropriate to employers. Your Facebook presence can either bring you up or down. When posting on Twitter, it is important to have a clear and concise bio. Be selective when posting or commenting or even following someone. Someone with an inappropriate username may alarm a company. Posting accomplishments and positive messages or pictures can boost your online reputation. The same goes for using Instagram and YouTube as well.