Social Media – How To Network Right:

By Gemma McCann,

Written by Gemma McCann

Fact! 85% of jobs are filled via networking. Fact! 70% of jobs are NEVER advertised.

YOU WANT IT? YOU GET IT!… But How?

First thing’s first… Where to network? Many social media platforms can be used, depending on what you need them for. The most commonly used platforms for networking, however, are LinkedIn and Instagram. Why? They are professional and pleasant to view, and they are simple to use!

Top Tip! Keep your professional profile and your personal profile separate! Your potential employers want to see what you are capable of, your work, and your previous experience – not what you had for your lunch or who you are dating!

What should your profile include?

It depends on what platform you are using as to how much information you include; for example:

Instagram – As this is picture-based, it can be perfect for creating an online portfolio! However, it doesn’t give you much room for writing. Work, skills, and experience can be shown creatively throughout the pictures, with a bit of detail going into the caption. That leaves the ‘short but sweet’ bio for you to add who you are and the contact details that you would like potential employers to contact you on.

LinkedIn – This can be a useful place to host all of your relevant information, similarly to your cv. You can fit a lot of your important details in here – just remember to keep it relevant and to the point. If you ramble on, potential employers won’t want to read; this is why it is important to keep your beginning section short and punchy, much like your personal profile on your cv. You can then go into more detail further down, where the employers can choose to carry on reading but remember to keep it relevant!

Fact! At least 84% of organisations use social media for recruitment, and 9% of those who do not yet use it are planning to start.

What content should you consider including?

  • Skills.
  • Qualifications.
  • Keep it short, and relevant.
  • Be positive and enthusiastic.
  • Mention career goals/aspirations.
  • All contact information that you would be happy to be contacted on e.g. business cards, email address.

Top Tip! Post engaging content – only what you would like potential employers to see.

What contacts should you use/look for?

  • Former and current colleagues.
  • People you went to school/college/university with.
  • Contacts made through dedicated networking events.
  • Contacts made through conferences and career/employability fairs.

Top Tip! You can look for and interact with potential employers too!

Why is it important to network on social media?

  • Career support.
  • Useful information and to gain knowledge.
  • Company relations and speculative applications.

For any further information, or for support on how to set up/use your social media for career networking please feel free to contact the Career Connect Hub!

To speak to one of our Career Coaches get in touch:

Email: careers@staffs.ac.uk

Twitter: @CareersAtStaffs

Instagram: @CareersAtStaffs

Facebook: Staffordshire University​ Career & Personal Development

LinkedIn: @CareersAtStaffs