Think of your social media channels—Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as your first interview. This doesn’t mean shut everything down, but make sure the content you are displaying shows off your talents, personality and maybe not your favorite happy hour spot.
"Using social media is an easy and momentous way to get noticed by a potential employer and keep you in direct communication with your current clients,” says Kelly Ehlers, social media expert and founder of Evoke Brand Strategies. Here Ehlers shares a few tips to use while navigating the social media ropes.
Keep the complaints to yourself.
Don’t complain or gossip. It may be easy to vent your frustrations through your online platforms, but you definitely don’t want clients or future employers to perceive a negative online
presence.
Leave the potty-mouthing offline.
Use a filter. Refrain from cursing and using offensive language. Present yourself as professionally as possible. Keep in mind, up to one third of companies have rejected candidates based on
sloppy, inappropriate, or negative profiles.
Upload your professional work.
Using an Instagram hashtag or creating albums on Facebook is an incredible asset for keeping conversations current with your clients while in school, and to start building a professional portfolio you can show future employers. Plus, collecting your work provides you with an extra outlet of connectivity for client referrals.
Steer clear of over-sharing.
Every meal or random thought is not post-worthy. Before hitting the post or “tweet” button, ask yourself if you really need to share that thought with the world. The information you share should reflect how you would like to be perceived by your friends, fans, clients and potential employers. Focus your posts on time-relevant, current topics. It shows you stay on top of trends and have your finger on the pulse of popculture.
It’s a two-way street.
Although time consuming, replying to emails, comments and messages is essential to building a relationship with your clients, and encourages them to turn to you for expert advice and product recommendations. Think of it as superior customer service.
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