This document provides tips for using social media to advance one's career. It notes that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates, so it is important to optimize online profiles and presence. It recommends googling yourself and others in your field, maintaining a public image, using social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat professionally to showcase work and interests. The document also provides tips for using blogs, videos, analytics and attending networking events to expand one's professional social network and learn about trends in their field. It cautions against unprofessional content and advises staying up-to-date on concepts and trying new technologies.
1. Taking Control of Social Media for Your Career
Cindy Royal, Ph.D
Professor
Founding Director, Media Innovation Lab
Texas State University
School of Journalism
and Mass Communication
croyal@txstate.edu
cindyroyal.com
@cindyroyal
slideshare.net/cindyroyal
2. 70 percent of
employers use social
media to screen
candidates during the
hiring process, and
about 43 percent of
employers use social
media to check on
current employees.
•Google yourself
•Google others in your
field and compare
•Work on public image
•Use social media to
show your interest in
career field
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-hiring.html
3. Start a
Website/Blog
Blogging allows you to explore your passions, improve writing skills,
communicate with others who share your interest. Use a website as an online
resume/portfolio
4. LinkedIn • Your LinkedIn profile can connect you to
thousands of professionals
• Search for connections at companies of interest
• Create a LinkedIn profile that reflects your
interests and background much like a resume
• Include your Website on your LinkedIn profile
5. Facebook
• Facebook is a fun place to share with friends
• But remember, any friend can be a potential career contact
• Friend faculty and professional contacts, as long as you keep your
Facebook activities professional and above board. Use privacy
settings and friends lists carefully.
• You are likely to need to set up social media accounts for future
employers, so important to understand their usage now.
6. Twitter
• Start a Twitter account; free & simple
• Follow interesting people in your field.
• Use widgets to repurpose
to your Web site or blog.
New content all the time.
• Respond to questions
• Retweet interesting items
7. Photos
and Visuals
• Instagram - add filters to photos; share
with your friends (Facebook purchased
in 2013); now has Stories feature
• Snapchat – follow brands; experiment
with Stories
• See how brands use these platforms
8. Video • Use your phone
• Learn to use simple editing software
like iMovie or Windows MovieMaker
• YouTube
9. Go Mobile
• Find apps that will allow you to expand your social media
activities
• News apps help you stay in touch
• Social media apps – allow you to post when you are on the go.
• Facebook Live – live stream from your phone
• Manage notifications
11. Analytics
• Use Google Analytics or those associated with your blog platform to
get information about users, locations, link referrals, etc.
• Google offers a range of certifications. Check out certifications from
Hootsuite, Hubspot, Facebook and Twitter.
13. Trends
• Digital Product
Management
• User Experience (UX)
Design
• Wearables
• Virtual Reality/360
Video/Augmented Reality
• Artificial Intelligence
• Data
• Blockchain
• Drones & sensors
• Coding for
all disciplines
14. Leveraging Social
• Employers look at social presence
• Digital/social media planning likely a part of many careers: social media
editor, PR, event planners, marketing, entrepreneurship
• Demonstrate comfort, expertise, enthusiasm
• Social media careers include strategy and analytics
• Make contacts, ask questions, learn about companies
• Use social network to complement in-person networking
• Stay up-to-date conceptually, as well
• Try new things, have fun!
15. Don’t…
• Curse or use foul language
• Describe illegal activities
• Exhibit rude behavior, explicitly sexual
• Denigrate religion, politician, political group,
ethnicity, etc.
• Use poor spelling and grammar
• Seem to be drunk/drugged
• Slam current employer
• Discuss your search for a new job
http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=6%2F26%2F2014&id=pr829&ed=12%2F31%2F2014
16. Resources
− SXSW Interactive
− Read Tech sites like TechCrunch, SmashingMag, Wired.
Tech section of NY Times and FastCompany.com
− Nieman Lab, PBS MediaShift
− Books by Gary Vaynerchuk – Crushing It and Jab, Jab,
Jab, Right Hook
− KPCB Internet Trends Report -
https://www.kleinerperkins.com/perspectives/internet-
trends-report-2018
− Journalism, Media and Tech Trends – Reuters -
https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/
2018-01/RISJ%20Trends%20and%20Predictions
%202018%20NN.pdf
Editor's Notes
Teach Web design and online journalism
Dramatic, unpredictable changes over the past decade
Blogs, podcasts, social media
Online audio, video, slideshows, animated graphics
Wikipedia, Craigslist, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, Google Maps, Second Life
"Because we tend to view our personal social media accounts as being 'personal,' there's a good chance that by viewing someone's profile, you'll get a glimpse into their personality beyond the resume," said DeeAnn Sims, founder of SPBX.
About half of employers – 47 percent – said they wouldn't call a person for an interview if they can't find them online. More than a quarter of employers say it's because they like to gather more information before calling a candidate, and 20 percent say it's because they expect candidates for have an online presence.
"Whether it's intentional or not, this [not having a profile] always feels like you have something to hide," said Sims. "Either you've specifically taken steps to make sure you can't be found, or you're using a childish byname – neither of which feels very professional."
Blogger/Wordpress/Wix/Squarespace allow you to add pages that make it more like a Website. Blogger is a bit simpler. WP more professional.
Free; but pay for a custom domain
Can customize via templates or CSS if you know it
You can add photos, video, links, other social features
Tag posts with appropriate key terms to help others find your content
Include a page with your resume
LinkedIn is the professional social network
Get a custom url for your Facebook profile - facebook.com/username
Start a Facebook Group or Page for your interest. This allows you to communicate with others who share the same interest.
A Facebook Group is a listing of friends on a separate page, provides its own Wall, discussion, profile
A Facebook Page allows users to become Fans. People will want to associate their interests with you
Any time you have new content for your blog, post to Facebook
You are likely to need to set up social media accounts for future employers, so important to understand their usage now.
Don't worry about what you are doing at first
It's not as much about who follows you as who you follow
Sometimes, it's not about the tweet, it's about the link
Retweet
Use a hashtag for conferences or conversations (#)
Any time you have new content for your blog, Tweet it
Realtime search
Find desktop and mobile applications to help you manage your Twitter account – TweetDeck, etc
Interview people, have a talk show, do a video blog with commentary, make short films, be creative
Embed the video on your blog. Embed code is readily available to the right of your videos on YouTube
Your username becomes a channel
Tag videos with appropriate keyterms to help others find your content
Other sites, like Vimeo, Viddler