How your online persona can help you to secure a job after graduating from UNYP

These days, all hiring managers look at the social profiles of candidates before making hiring decisions – but they aren’t just looking for obvious cases of bad behavior! In addition, they want to make sure that what they find online reflects well on the candidate as a potential employee. You need to stand out on paper, in person, and online in today’s competitive job market. What’s more, as a young professional, you must be mindful of what you post on your social networks, in addition to submitting easy-to-read, well-designed resumes and smart, personable cover letters. There are things that you can do to make yourself more attractive to prospective employers, in addition to eliminating bad habits, such as flooding your Instagram feed with inappropriate images or swearing like a sailor in your TikTok videos.

The following guide highlights key “red flags” on social profiles that hiring managers are watching out for, and provides quick and straightforward steps to help turn a possible catastrophe into professional success. 

A student guide to a professional online presence

A beautiful professional image can easily be ruined with just one offensive photo or blog post. Social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn are widely used and publicly available, so you need to be very vigilant about the details on your profile. Be sure to study your online identity from a prospective employer’s viewpoint, as you prepare to embark on your professional life after graduating from UNYP. 

Remember that nothing is private on the Internet! Think of your profile as your own personal PR tool. Instead of using it to settle scores and attack others, find ways to present your successes, creativity, and expertise. 

  • Google yourself regularly, and set up an alert for your name.
  • Lock down your social Facebook and Instagram profiles to the strongest privacy settings, unless you use these platforms for professional purposes only. You may want to erase old entries, unflattering photographs, or dubious individuals and businesses that you have liked or friended. 
  • Know who your friends are. Control what your friends write in their comments under your posts. Employers can and will hold you responsible for their actions. 
  • Don’t criticize your current or former bosses, colleagues, professors, or classmates online. If you have a terrible boss or an annoying co-worker, let off steam with your family and friends in person. 
  • Always use an email address that looks professional. Don’t use your UNYP student account. If you use a Gmail or similar account, stick to your real name, or consider using a professional pseudonym/nickname that matches your Instagram or YouTube identity. A prospective employer’s first impression should not be an application emailed by imstoned420 or beerguzzler96! 
  • Consider building a personal website for your career hunt, in which you can include your resume, your portfolio, samples of your work, and any certifications that you have. There are many easy-to-use and affordable platforms (such as Wix, WordPress, Weebly, and Squarespace) which you can use to build your first website without having to learn website design or programming in depth. 
  • Book an appointment at UNYP Writing Lab to get assistance with writing your bio and checking your résumé. 
  • Demonstrate your interest in your chosen career field by launching a website, releasing a podcast, or starting a YouTube channel. You could consider blogging about industry trends, news, and related topics if you are interested in a career in Communications and Media or Business, review the latest research and interview professionals from your field if you are studying Psychology, or provide commentary on global and international affairs if you are dreaming about a career in International Relations. 
  • If there is any embarrassing, false, or misattributed content which is associated with your name online, be ready to answer questions about it when you are interviewed. Naturally, it is best not to lie in the interview! You would do better to make it clear that you are truthful, conscious, and prepared to answer difficult questions. In the meantime, use good judgment before putting anything online. Remember that anything you post could reflect on you positively or negatively when seen by a potential future employer.

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