You’re graduating and you’ve got the technology skills to take on the world. After all, you’ve grown up with laptops, Facebook, YouTube and smartphones. But are you connected to the working world you’re about to enter?
“There’s a difference in being tech savvy and tech smart,” said Eddie Johnson, an agent for Geek Squad, a task force dedicated to solving technology problems.
“Social media can be a powerful tool to help you stand out, get noticed and land a job -- or it can hold you back,” said Johnson. “It’s time to look at your online activities through a human resources lens and create a more professional online presence.”
Last week’s party pictures might amuse your friends, but not your prospective employer.
“Would the activities and comments posted on your Facebook page meet office approval? If not, it’s time to take them down,” said Johnson. “Companies check Facebook and Twitter as a way to follow up on candidates, and first impressions are important.”
You may have impressed someone in your first interview, but if your photos or profane language online raises issues about your character, you may never get the chance to show that you are reliable, smart and a good hire.
“You should set your Facebook postings and photos to private, so that they are only viewable by people you allow,” said Johnson. “Too much information is not always a good thing.”
You also can privatize your Twitter account, or set up two accounts, suggests Jenny Blake, author of “Life After College: The Complete Guide to Getting What You Want" (Running Press, $17).
Twitter can be fun and spontaneous, but the Library of Congress keeps a permanent archive of public tweets.
“Set up a professional Twitter account under your name that you use for career networking, gathering information and sharing articles,” said Blake. “Then set up a private account where you can be a little wilder with your friends.”
You can use a tool like TweetDeck to organize your social media personal and business friends.
“I’ve made some of my best professional friends and contacts by following industries and bloggers online,” said Blake. “Following experts, joining professional chats in your field or becoming a fan on the Facebook pages of companies where you’d like to work will help you build expertise, gain insights and show initiative.”
Blake’s first job after college was at a small startup company, and it was a lonely time.
“Making the transition from college to the real world is hard. You feel like you’ve lost your support network, your community, and social media can be a huge part in re-creating that,” she said. “But if you come up with a proactive strategy for how to use it professionally, it can also help you get the job and life you want.”
Networking used to be a matter of knocking on doors and making calls, said Johnson. “Social media has allowed people to greatly expand the size and scope of their networks, and who you know or can be referred by is still the fastest way to employment,” he said.
Many college career services departments urge graduating seniors to use LinkedIn, the most popular professional networking site.
“We know that students have a hard time networking. This eases them into it online,” said Ralph Mobley, director of Career Services at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We talk to students about how to use it effectively.”
Students need to create an effective profile, the equivalent of an online resume, develop a professional summary statement and use keywords that recruiters might use when searching for someone in their field.
“We encourage students to begin building their network by linking to peers, faculty members and former internship or job supervisors,” said Mobley. A network allows students to ask for informational interviews or referrals, so that they can learn more about a company, industry or type of job.
“The site is also a valuable place to do company research that they will want to use in interviews,” said Mobley. “Joining LinkedIn groups allows students to participate in discussions, pose questions and expand their online professional presence. A student’s LinkedIn college alumni group is a good place to start.”
Beyond job searching, data gathering and networking, a student’s use of technology also can impress future employers.
“If you’re looking to stand out from the crowd, you might consider creating a video resume, particularly if you’re in a creative field like advertising or digital marketing,” said Johnson. “It allows your personality and voice to shine through, while showing someone that you have technology skills.
“It can be done simply using a $70 webcam and your computer with help from sites such as www.HireMeNow.com and www.GoCVone.com. Many career sites accept video resumes.”
Johnson said that hiring managers can learn more about you in a short, interesting video than they can learn by reading your resume. “Think about how effective a 30-second commercial can be in getting a product across to an audience,” he said.
A personal website is another way to showcase your skills and display your writing samples, references and creativity. Be sure to link it to your social media profiles.
With more organizations moving into social media as a way to communicate with their customers and constituents, hiring managers are looking for people with good technology and social media skills, said Johnson. “We can’t write your video resume or website, but we can show you the technology tools you’ll need to market yourself well and safely online, and train you how to use them.”
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