93% of employers say they'd check social media profiles before hiring*, social media needn’t be a waste of your students’ time. Head of LifeSkills Kirstie Mackey explains how they can tweet their way to the top.
Do your research
Social media can be a great source of company insights you won’t necessarily find on their homepage. LinkedIn tells you who works there and the kind of news they’re interested in. While Twitter lets you see what they’re up to and who they’re connected with.
Show off your best side
Potential employers don’t want to read about Friday night’s party, so use your privacy settings to make sure those things stay private. Instead, use LinkedIn to showcase your work experience and training. And post things on Twitter that show your passion for the industry you want to work in.
Don’t be shy
Putting yourself out there shows drive and determination, so don’t be afraid to ask people questions through social media. Just don’t try to be over-familiar. And target your messages – Tweeting ‘Got any jobs?’ to hundreds of companies won’t get you very far.
Turn acquaintances into colleagues
With a little initiative, networking events, career days and chance meetings can spark important professional connections. Adding people you meet on LinkedIn can help you access potential jobs you wouldn’t have known about otherwise – and it keeps all your useful contacts in one place.
Express yourself
The creative nature of social media can really help you stand out from the crowd. There are plenty of stories of people using YouTube, TikTok or Facebook to land themselves an interview – like Jess Toomey, an executive for youth marketing agency Livity, who got her job after turning her CV into a TikTok.
* Source: Jobvite's 2014 Social Recruiting Survey
More on this topic from LifeSkills
Online reputation lesson for 11–16 year-olds
Online reputation lesson for 16–19 year-olds
