Tips for Recent North Louisiana Grads
Did you just graduate virtually from LSUS, LA Tech, ULM, SUSLA, BPCC, Centenary, or NSU? Want a boost in the job market? Here are some tips to land a job or internship through your social media. And yep, you can do it from home. ;-)
First things first: audit your profiles. In other words, comb through your social media and be sure you’ve never posted anything outright derogatory or offensive on your page. We were all young once and thought that meme was hilarious, but chances are, your potential employer won’t. Hide or delete offensive posts all together on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Did a friend post a really embarrassing video of you drunk at a concert? Ask them to take it down or remove the tag so it won’t show up on your profile anymore. If they’re your friend, they’ll understand.
Secondly, make your Facebook and Instagram profiles private. If you’re an artist who wants to land a job through your posts, consider separating your profiles to have one for personal use and a “business” profile where you post your art. Employers don’t care what you ate for lunch, but they probably want to see your creations. Don’t make them sift through the sandwich pics to find it.
Third, and I cannot stress this one enough: LINKEDIN IS KEY, but DO NOT POST PERSONAL THINGS ON LINKEDIN! Chances are employers will look at your Linkedin profile before they’ll do anything else. Linkedin is designed as a tool for networking for business professionals. It’s not a place to find a date, post pics of your pups, talk politics, or share a new dance move. AVOID THOSE THINGS AT ALL COSTS!
On Linkedin, you’ll want to be sure your profile is completely filled out and up-to-date. Make sure you include your work history, internships completed, volunteer work and any leadership roles you’ve held, as well as education info. Potential employers want to see that you didn’t just go to class; they want to know that you’re a well-rounded person who can handle the stressors of the day-to-day. Is your only work experience waiting tables at your mom’s diner? Fine. Put that in there! In your “About” section explain what your goals are for the future and skills that you may have gained while at the diner. (“But Erin and Dellanee, what skills did I get at the diner?” Answer: customer service/relations, time management, organization skills, and multitasking are just a few quick examples. You’ve got to think about skills as if you’re an outsider looking in.)
Next, use a professional profile pic. Preferably you should use a professional headshot, but if you don’t have one or can’t afford one right now, have someone take a good photo of you where you’re dressed professionally. Throw on that blazer you’ve only worn once and let mom or your partner take a “portrait mode” photo of you with good lighting. You want people to be able to see you and give the air of “I’m ready for the business world.” The photo should be mid-chest up. We don’t need to see your footwear, just a good pic of your face. (“But E and D: I’m going into the medical field/oil field/forestry/etc. I won’t wear a suit to work.” Doesn’t matter. Looking professional is never wrong, no matter the role. Job fillers of any profession will take you more seriously, if you look professional.)
“OK. I did all of that. Now I’ll get a job, right?” WRONG. Now you’ve got to be proactive and make connections on LinkedIn. Here are some good places to start. What company would you love to work for? Disney? Then find them on LinkedIn and follow their pages. This serves two purposes. One it shows you’re engaged on the platform and two, also helps fill out your profile more. Next, find your alma mater. Follow their profile and begin connecting with alumni. Many people will add LinkedIn connections just because they see that you’re a fellow alum. The alumni network can really open doors for you if you’re hitting a brick wall. Find a connection of someone you used to work with or for. Ask them to write a recommendation for you on LinkedIn. These can be short or fairly detailed. Plus you get the option to review it before it goes live. (Also, you can follow Dellanee and I and Maltshop on LinkedIn. We’d be happy to accept.) Get involved in groups on LinkedIn, too. Sometimes you can pick on job openings, new skills to practice, or good keywords to use when doing a job search.
Now, what should you write in that headline section? Something short that lets potential employers know what professional area you’re looking for a job in. Don’t include “recent graduate.” It takes up too much space, and it’s not compelling. It also doesn’t make anyone want to hire you, sadly. Use things like “forestry professional,” “customer relations advocate,” or “marketer on the rise.” I know this sounds deceiving, but I promise it’s not. You’re no longer a student and don’t need to define yourself that way.
Lastly, have someone outside of your social circle review your social media profiles and report back to you. Maybe have a mentor, professor, aunt or uncle look for you on each platform and report back how they’d feel about hiring you, based on what they saw. Take their criticisms into account when you’re deciding to modify anything.