You finally have your LinkedIn profile honed after revising time and time again. Your content may be impressive, but what does your profile photo say ABOUT YOU? That thumbnail image of yourself can have a much larger impact than you would think.
Use these tips to have the perfect photo that shows your personality, but also shows you are a professional.
Social Media has practical uses within our everyday personal spheres, but what about its use in the professional ones? Employers today use social media in their recruitment, hiring, and evaluation processes, so it’s crucial for young professionals today to be aware of their digital image. Here are a few, easy tips to revamp your profile to be attractive to potential employers.
Facebook
Use a professional-looking picture—you can use the same picture on all of your social media pages.
Add the following to the “about” section: internship and other educational experience, a short bio, and links to other professional social media.
Follow organizations you’re interested in to discover intern and full-time job opportunities, announcements about the company, and potential contacts in the organization.
Linkedin
Drop in your professional photo.
Customize your headline with keywords and phrases that are related to your desired industry or profession.
Request a connection with professionals you’ve worked with at internships or met through networking channels. Be sure to “personalize” your request by offering some information on why you would like to connect.
Twitter
Use a professional profile photo. Your cover photo can indicate your interests.
Choose a Twitter handle that will be recognizable as you.
Tell your story in your bio: university, class year, major, and keywords describing your career interests.
Add a link to your LinkedIn profile, your personal website, blog, and/or online portfolio.
Pinterest
Drop your professional-looking picture on your main page.
Select a username that is consistent with your other social media platforms.
Create a bio that reflects your goals and brand. Who are you? Why are you using Pinterest? What are your professional aspirations?
Create boards using images and content to share your interests and experiences in your field.
Mark boards “secret,” if they are going to contain content you would prefer to keep private.
With these tips in mind you can make a real impact. Use these tips to renovate your personal pages or create separate professional social media pages specifically for employers.
So you set up your LinkedIn account, filled out your resume, and made sure your profile photo is professional looking. Now what do you do? This blog entry shows you how to set up your profile and market yourself so that you can wow employers even over the Internet.
