To post or not to post: How social media can get you a graduate job

09 May 2019

With a huge pool of fresh graduates now available to employers across the country, graduate scheme applicants amid a pool of eager and qualified candidates if they are to get noticed.

The class of 2019 are about to be wrenched away from the Student’s Union and into the fray of finding a job, but separating yourself from the hoards of humdrum CV’s and applications is no easy feat.

JOB TODAY, the UK’s number one hiring app that helps students and graduates around the UK find their perfect job, has put together some great advice on how to fine-tune your social sites and your CV to get ahead of competition.

“The truth is, employers are often inundated with applications and it can be hard to make a standard CV stand out,” says Polina Montano, Managing Director of JOB TODAY.

“Many would suggest that adding your social channels to your application is the worst thing you could do (and they’d be right) however, carefully linking some of your social media accounts to your credentials may also be the key to success and allow you to grow from a piece of paper to a compelling individual with something more to offer than just your degree certificate.

“However, this comes with a huge caveat: it’s really important to be selective about which channels you showcase and to have a reason as to why that particular profile adds some ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your résumé.”

Be selective about which channels you add to your CV. Source: Shutterstock

Take care on Twitter

Twitter can be a great place to exhibit your employable self by sharing stories and issues that matter to you through composed and thought-out tweets. However, we would advise that your profile should not be made public if it’s studded with controversial claims or drunken anecdotes from your Saturday night, at the risk of putting off potential employers.

Your profile should broadcast your attributes and abilities rather than your tweets on last night’s takeaway or your opinions on Brexit – with an editorial eye and a good sense of social awareness, a professional Twitter could really help your job application move forward.

Keep an eye on Instagram

Similarly, Instagram can act as the perfect portfolio – and why not? If the job you’re applying for has an element of design or photography, Instagram could be a fantastic addition to your CV and a good way to start a creative outlet. Saying that – social success on your smashed avocado brunch plate or your recent selfie will not translate to future employers as a stand-out factor. If your Instagram is a gallery of getaways and pet pictures, it’s best to leave it out of your CV.

View this post on Instagram

Simplicity in Cooler Tone. • Special request from Mr. Rian, neat, clean and professional in cooler tone for his resume! • Book yours now!

A post shared by Professional CV Maker (@thecvmaker) on May 7, 2019 at 4:47am PDT

Avoid Facebook

Though Facebook has a variety of privacy settings specifically designed to protect private information from prying eyes, we would still exclude it from your résumé. It’s the most personal platform and isn’t a necessary extension of your chances of employment. Best to keep Facebook and Messenger for your social life and catch-ups.

Liaise with LinkedIn and WordPress

Both of these platforms are a great way to give an employer a bigger picture of your accomplishments, relevant experiences, drive and creativity: just make sure the content isn’t too garish and your sites are up-to-date. Organisation and experience are desirable traits for any candidate, and your LinkedIn can certainly exhibit these things.

If you’re applying for a role and need help designing your CV, visit https://jobtoday.com/gb, or click here to browse Study International’s expert help and advice on all things Graduate Careers.