Social media has transformed itself from a personal networking service to an opportunity-based institution. Although we still have the capabilities to send Aunt Shannon a happy birthday message on FaceBook, we can also connect with like-minded people and even employers. Employers are now able to view your work and personal characteristics through a simple search on any social media platform. So the question is: how do you remain personal, yet professional on the web? Here are some tips to show you how!
- Analyze Your Digital Footprint. The middle-school version of yourself is definitely not a reflection of yourself today. Take the time to dig years back and find any content that is questionable, or that just doesn’t match the person you are now.
- Do a Photo Clean Up. Do not be surprised if you find embarrassing photos of yourself during your digital footprint analysis. Be sure to go through your tagged photos as well!
- Use A Professional Email. Using your first and last name is always a simple, yet professional way to present yourself. Plus, this will make it easier for employers to recognize your contact information in the future.
- Adjust Your Account Type. On Instagram specifically, users can now change their account type to a personal, creator, or business account. Take the time to strategize which account type is best for you.
- Make Your Bio Professional, Yet Personal. Bios are a great way to show your interests and hobbies. Most importantly, you can use this section to feature any work you feel the need to mention. For example, “@cfashionista writer” is used in my Instagram bio!
- Utilize Direct Links to Your Work. There are different tools, like LinkTree, where you can add direct links to your work, website, or other social media accounts! This allows employers to have easy access to your content without having to search or ask for it.
- Keep Your Accounts Up-To-Date & Relevant. This is probably one of the most important tips. After all, how can employers see your work if you aren’t willing to show it? Use social media to brag about yourself and all your accomplishments, whether they’re big or small.
- Show Your Personality. Don’t let the norms of professionalism take over your accounts completely. It’s okay to show your favorite song of the day, post a picture from brunch, or even tweet your personal opinion. The key is to find a balance between personal and professional.
- Join Relevant Career Groups and Lists. There will be times where you can find your next employer by joining relevant career groups or lists. Joining these groups can help you network and put yourself on an employer’s radar.
- Follow Career Related Hashtags. Like the previous tip, following career-related hashtags will assist in networking and finding opportunities.
- Public Over Private. Public accounts are better than private accounts. This simply shows employers that you have nothing to hide and are authentically yourself, whether it’s on social media or not!
- Show Tolerance To Other People’s Beliefs. You should never feel like you need to hide your beliefs on the internet. In fact, you don’t even have to agree with everyone’s beliefs. It is significant to show tolerance and respect to all beliefs. Never disregard the beliefs of another person.
- Establish A Cohesive Feed. You want your social media accounts to also be pleasant to look at. This means you should create and plan out a cohesive feed that still fits your personal and professional identity, especially if you’re going into a creative field like marketing.
- Utilize Highlight Bubbles. On Instagram, highlight bubbles are a great way to organize your work and career experiences. These highlights also allow employers to understand your experiences in detail.
- Do Not Slander Previous Employers/ Now, I am not saying to never speak on bad experiences you may have had in the past. However, never deliberately slander an employer. You should speak up with accuracy and facts only.
Have any extra tips to share? Let us know below!
Featured photo by @lea.muhigi
