Social Media Tips for Graduates Who Are Looking for Their First Job

Written by a Guest Contributor

How Graduates Can Use Social Media To Get Their First Job

When you’re fresh out of college or university, you might face the most challenging period of your life: looking for the first job. You have a limited list of contacts, and few recommendations from your professors. However, that background is not enough for you to land a good job, and you’re not really happy with the conditions for starting positions.

Do you know that social media can help you get noticed? We’re not talking about LinkedIn, although that network is extremely important for your professional success. LinkedIn is a tool that every graduate is aware of, and it’s a pretty straightforward concept – you build the perfect profile, you start making contacts, and you apply for jobs using that online resume. In this article, we will focus on using other social media to make career prospects.

How to Use Social Media to Maximize Career Prospects

1. Polish out your profiles

Before going any further, you really need to remove compromising content from your profiles. Have you shared photos of your crazy nights out? It’s time to remove them from the eye of the public. Make them completely private; even your friends shouldn’t have access to them. Your Facebook and Twitter profiles shouldn’t be blank, though; they need to reflect your interests and competence. Share some smart articles with your comments on them. Write about things related to the industry you’re about to become part of.

Think about it this way: if a potential employer lands at your profile, what do you want them to see?

2. Spread the news

It’s totally okay to share a Facebook status update or a tweet that shows you’re looking for a job. There is nothing to be ashamed of: you just got your degree and you’re ready to put it to good use. Think of a good update that won’t seem desperate. Tell your friends to share the status/tweet and recommend you to people they know. This is a great chance to get noticed.

3. Write a Tumblr blog!

You still don’t have a job, so “I don’t have time to blog” is not an excuse. If you want recruiters to notice you, you need to look like an expert – someone who’s committed to their niche and knows more than most. Explore some interesting topics you can’t easily see within the community of bloggers. Make connections with influencers and write guest posts to expand your network. Sooner or later, the right people will notice you.

Don’t forget to promote the most important posts you write through your Facebook, Google+, and Twitter profiles. You should also start a specific Facebook page for your blog. You can use it to communicate with your audience and get ideas for new posts. Needless to say, you can also use your blog to write about your job hunting journey. However, it’s important not to appear desperate. Write a fun, engaging post and ask your readers for tips that would help you land a job.

4. Don’t forget Google+

Google+ is an extremely important network, but most people forget about it. It’s not as fun to use as Twitter and Facebook, so it’s easy to leave your profile unattended. What’s the first thing a potential employer sees when he uses Google to search your name? They will first be interested in your LinkedIn page, and then they will check out your Google+ profile. That’s why you need to use it!

Share links to useful content related to your degree, and use the network to promote your blog posts. Don’t forget to respond to comments!

5. Develop your network of connections

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are mostly intended for building virtual friendships, but you shouldn’t ignore their professional networking potential. Discover the brands you would like to become part of. Follow their pages and try to understand their culture. If there is any open position in these companies, they will probably share the news via social media. Due to the fact that you’ve followed their updates and you’ve explored their recent campaigns, you will show how well you would fit in the company’s culture.

Don’t limit your search to brands; you can add professional contacts, too! For example, let’s say you discover a potential hiring manager on Twitter. You can’t just follow them and then start tagging them in tweets to promote yourself. That would be rude. Here is an idea: you can retweet some of their tweets – that should get them to follow you back. Then, try to develop a spontaneous connection by commenting on some of their tweets without being too obvious.

Conclusion
Are you ready to reveal the full potential of social media? With the right approach, you’ll start making connections with the right people in no time. From that point on, it will be up to you. You have to make good impressions with your online presence!

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Author Bio
Maria is a writer, educator and social media expert. She writes articles and creative essay samples for Essays Scholar Advisor, education portal for students. Maria is passionate to share her own experiences, knowledge, and thoughts with others