My engagement with social media has been about finding where I see myself fitting in to the already booming online dimension of social. At first, I was wary of Twitter and I didn’t see the point of G+. Now, I am active on both and feel more confident as a current job seeker as a result. As a college student, harnessing the power of social, and using it to your advantage, shows that you are a budding professional. I don’t shy away from questions about social media and my involvement during job interviews.
In my own field, public relations, social media is firmly embedded into the daily rituals of the industry. Being knowledgeable about social media, in all of its forms, allows me to
1. have a conversation point and
2. be relevant.
It is surprising how many job seekers still don’t have a LinkedIn (you can find mine here) or a Twitter account (Follow me!). I think FEAR of social media, its real-time nature and public/privacy settings, turns a lot of people off to the powerful tools.
For all of you who still have Twitter fear, this post, though a bit dated, offers up the easiest advice on getting started on Twitter. The most important thing to remember, which has helped me immensely, is to dive into those conversations on topics relevant to your interests. Only then, when you have immersed yourself in Twitter, will you feel confident about your tweeting abilities.
Post often. Tweet responsibly!
JD
Seeing Social 