Using Social Media to Enhance your Employability Employability Adviser: Nicola Urquhart

What we will cover: What is employability? What is social media and how you can use you it to enhance your employability? Linkedin Facebook Twitter Blogging MyFolio Careers and Employability Service Questions

What is Employability? ‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.’ (CBI, March 2009)

Why are employability skills so important? Increased competition – over 400,000 graduates leaving university each year. ‘Our latest UK recruitment campaign closed having attracted c The bank will offer c.475 places in 2012.’ HSBC newsletter April 2012

What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for? Communication Report writing Team working Leadership Planning and organisation Project management Enterprise Problem Solving Reflection Adaptability Energy Drive and resilience Honesty/Integrity Reliability Enthusiasm/passion Self awareness Confidence Contextual/cultural awareness Capacity to develop Numeracy Positive attitude Business and customer awareness IT skills

What is social media? “an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos, and audio.” enabling conversations and facilitating discussions

Why should you be using social media? The Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey 2011 received responses from over 8,000 human resources professionals in the US and found that 89% will recruit from social networks and 55% will increase their budget for social recruiting in survey of 1,205 job candidates found that 16% of them found their current job through a social network compared to 11% in (Jobvite survey quoted in Guardian Careers Dec 2011) ExecuNet showed that 77% of recruiters said they used search engines to find background data on candidates. (Guardian Careers April 2011)

Why should you be using social media? Enables you to build links and to learn about an industry and potential employers Allows you to connect to networks and explore possibilities Some employers will expect you be using it e.g. the media, advertising, publishing and many more. Can provide you with an excellent platform to showcase your knowledge and interest in a career area. Allows you to make an impression (good and bad)

What employers say… "Few students are able to articulate what they have gained from their experience in higher education." (Association of Graduate Recruiters, 1995)

What is ? Professional / business social networking site (launched 2003) Over 100 million users in over 200 countries Over 5 million users in the UK (March 2011) om/students/step-1/ om/students/step-1/ x2UhM&feature=relmfu x2UhM&feature=relmfu

Why use Linkedin? Exploring career ideas Finding out about an employer and their competition Professional networking Opportunity to join groups For self marketing and increasing your visibility Asking for advice Staying in touch/reconnecting

Your LinkedIn Profile Setting up a profile go to and enter your details. Be sure to include: Profile photo Profile summary/ Professional headline Education details Details of current and past job roles/volunteering/ internships etc “You are 40 times more likely to receive connections if your profile is 100% complete” Denise Taylor ‘How to Use LinkedIn to find a new job”

Your Professional headline – 120 characters Is your marketing document so make it memorable. Include: what you currently do, who you do it for, the results you deliver and what you are seeking. Recent Politics Graduate 2:1 from the University of Kent seeking Marketing Position.

Getting started - Networking You start by adding people you know in the “real world” You connect bit by bit with others with similar interests or goals Explore 1 st and 2 nd degree connections

Finding out about organisations/groups Companies/Organisations: Search organisations and find out more about their line of work Learn more about an organisation, access their vacancies Groups Find out more by joining groups Ask questions, answer questions, find out what people in the industry you are interested in are talking about

Key Points – Milkround 1. Customise your profile URL – linkedin.com/in/yourname 2. Post a picture – recent headshot 3. Brand yourself – headline to include current position/the job you are seeking 4. A clear summary – brief paragraph, who you are, what you’re looking for, unique skills, experiences and qualifications 5. Promote yourself with recommendations – colleagues from work and university 6. Use keywords – keywords to reflect your experience and education. Helps with the search functions for recruiters 7. Update your skills –Especially if you change your mind about the type of opportunities you are looking for. 8. Integration – you can integrate Twitter and a word press blog to your profile if appropriate 9. Use applications – you can upload articles/portfolios etc. 10. Be active – join groups and answer questions in the Q&A section

Useful information Training Videos:   step video to success New Users Starter Guide  Webinars: 

Facebook In 2010 The Telegraph said that 50% of employers had rejected candidates after looking at their Facebook page - Reasons: candidates lying about qualifications, boasting about drink and drugs, racist comments and inappropriate photographs Employers might look at your Facebook profile, so make sure you look ‘professional’, and if you don’t, change your privacy settings.

Facebook Job hunting ‘like’ pages such as ‘Milkround.com’ for featured jobs and additional career advice ‘Like’ organisations you are interested in working for Keep up-to-date on the latest news of your ‘liked’ companies – this will prove useful in applications and interviews Many organisations offer Q and A sessions. e.g. Civil Service Fast Stream Remember distinction between personal/public

What is Twitter is a form of micro-blogging Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to say what’s on your mind You can follow people/companies/ recruiters who interest you. Gather an audience

Twitter Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to say what’s on your mind Twitter is a form of micro-blogging Follow people/companies/ recruiters who interest you. Make your posts relevant to companies who might be viewing your profile. Learn how to use # View, Master, Slide Master to change this text to the title of your presentationPage 21

Example Tweets

Twitter Setting up an account Setting up an account go to Your starting point should be completing your profile: add a bio, location, link to your other sites, and upload a photo. Other users are more likely to engage with you if you provide this information. Your Twitter Bio – you in 160 characters – be concise but be informative. If you’re a job seeker be specific about what you’re looking for, e.g. placement, internship, graduate vacancy.

What can I do with Twitter? Tweet (140 characters) Retweet (RT) Follow Hashtags (#)

Ideas on who to follow: Companies/employers you are interested in working for Industry experts/bloggers Professional networks and industry/professional publications Job sites and job boards Recruiters / headhunters / HR personnel who are hiring for the roles you're targeting Your Schools Academic

Building Relationships Just like in any other relationship get to know the people you’re following - is their tone businesslike, friendly, humorous? Tailor your interactions accordingly. Respond to questions asked or content posted Tweet about industry topics, tips and advice Ask questions

What is Blogging? A personal diary, a political soapbox,a collection of links, your memo to the world – a website you update on a regular basis.

Eg Posterous/ Word Press/ Blogger

Your Blog Get an account eg. Write a paragraph post explaining who you are Tell your friends, lecturers and if you feel confident potential employers about your blog Respond to comments Link posts to things in the news and media When you post – tell the world (Linkedin, Facebook, twitter, etc) Keep at it

What is MyFolio? University's new e-portfolio tool. An online space for you to record your achievements and reflect on your development (like a blog) a journal tool for reflective learning You can keep a record of what you have done at university to help you when you come to apply for jobs. a portfolio for showcasing achievements you to upload clips from You Tube etc.

My Folio

What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for? Communication Report writing Team working Leadership Planning and organisation Project management Enterprise Problem Solving Reflection Adaptability Energy Drive and resilience Integrity Reliability Enthusiasm/passion Self awareness Confidence Contextual/cultural awareness Capacity to develop Numeracy Positive attitude Business and customer awareness IT skills

Different social media tools can help you develop and showcase your employability skills. Linkedin Business and customer awareness, confidence Twitter Communication, capacity to develop Blogging Communication, drive and resilience, positive attitude, self awareness.

Action Points Google yourself – think about what impression you are giving employers. Explore these tools, find out which ones you like, you don’t need to use them all! If you are using Linkedin don’t leave your profile half finished. Look at how you can link these different platforms.

Telephone: Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed): to & 2 to 5 pm

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