UNLV Career Handbook - Magazine - Page 48
NETWORKING
Networking:
Making connections and building relationships.
Think the only way to network is to go to an in-person
event and try to make small talk? Good news — there
are even more ways to network online! Use social media
platforms, such as LinkedIn and Handshake, to connect
with professionals in your 昀椀eld and build your network.
Remember that you are always representing your brand
when you're networking and cultivating career contacts,
whether attending an in-person event or connecting on
social media.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Using Social Media Wisely
Social media can be an effective way to grow your
professional network and a powerful tool in your job search.
It can help you 昀椀nd job opportunities and connect with
people who can assist you in your search. But with the wrong
content, social media can also cost you a job opportunity or
even your job.
Most employers use social media in their recruitment efforts
and for researching candidates during the application process.
When a hiring manager searches your name, you want to
ensure the content is professional and represents you well.
Create Your Online Presence
You only get one 昀椀rst impression — make it a good one.
Present yourself online just as you would in person. Use an
appropriate pro昀椀le photo, do not use profane language, avoid
grammatical and spelling errors, and do not make negative,
insulting, or charged posts. Employers are looking for positive
and professional team members to serve as an extension of
their company.
Make a professional impact online by showing interest in your
prospective 昀椀eld. Share industry insights and post links to
interesting stories. Showcase your professional quali昀椀cations,
experiences, and skills on your social media accounts and
keep your information current.
Your pro昀椀les should include keywords that a recruiter or hiring
manager might look for in a search engine. Research the types
of jobs you are looking for and include keywords in your online
pro昀椀les so you stand out.
48
CAREER HANDBOOK
Research and Engage Online
Social media is not just for recruiters. It is also an effective
way to research a company or industry professionals, so
you are prepared when you interview or are networking.
Follow a company’s social media accounts to stay current
on their news and to research professionals with whom you
may interview.
Professional networking sites were designed to connect
professionals. Feel free to use these functions to your
advantage. Be mindful of when a company posts information
by commenting, liking, or sharing. Join groups that pertain to
your 昀椀eld of interest to network and broaden your knowledge
of the 昀椀eld and industry trends.
Be sure to connect with your fellow UNLV alumni, who can
provide valuable insights about companies you may be
interested in and provide connections within those companies.
Follow the many UNLV social media accounts and the UNLV
Alumni Association Facebook and LinkedIn groups to leverage
this resource.
Protect Your Online Presence
Once your social media accounts are set up, it is important
to keep your information and privacy settings up to date.
Social media sites can change their privacy policies, so do
not assume that private settings mean everything is private.
Considering anything you put online will never go away,
approach content as if it will be public.
It is a good idea to search for yourself occasionally, so you
know what is on the internet when people search for you.
If anything questionable shows up, remove it if you can. A
few recommendations to minimize harmful content would
be to delete any unprofessional posts, untag yourself from
questionable pictures, and remove any derogatory third-party
links. Even if your privacy settings are on, it does not mean a
recruiter cannot 昀椀nd it.
