MARKETING YOURSELF ONLINE GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME 10 th June 2015
To begin Make sure you have set-up and can access a linkedin account See the introducing linkedin handout Task 1 In pairs, discuss: 1. What social media sites do you use regularly for personal use? are you using any of them actively as part of your job search? If so, which and how? 2. How do you think recruiters use social media?
Aims of today s session Review how employers use social media to engage with potential recruits Understand why you should engage with social media Understand the importance of personal branding Look at how to grow online networks and get advice Start putting together an effective LinkedIn profile
What is social media? Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, exchange and comment on contents among themselves in virtual communities and networks
Quiz What % of employers use social media to support their recruitment efforts 94% What % of employers Google an applicant when they come for an interview? How many people worldwide use LinkedIn? What % of employers who use social media to search for employees do so via LinkedIn? 93% (42% have reconsidered a candidate based on social media content) 300+ million 96%
Why do employers use social media? Recruitment finding and vetting employees Connect with future employees Advertise events Company information It s cheap and instant!
Social media and job hunting / recruiting Jobvite s Social Recruitment Survey 2014 8
Why should you engage with social media? Help look for jobs Research sectors and employers Improve employers access and perception to you; personal branding and a chance to show your skills and achievements Connect with interesting people for advice and information Keep up to date on the industry and organisation news/info and recruitment methods
Building your online brand
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Social media blunders Social media blunders
Personal branding What happens if you Google yourself? Good idea to do this Identify and communicate what makes you unique and relevant what have you got to offer? Be professional think before you put content out there Be consistent using your real name Join relevant groups, follow relevant people/companies build your network before you need it Keep your online profiles up to date and informative Share interesting content Consider creating a personal homepage - About.me Be careful about grammar and spelling Consider the language of the industry and company of interest. This improves your chances of appearing in the search results of potential recruiters, businesses and suppliers. Put links to your twitter/linkedin etc. on your CV
What is LinkedIn? A professional social network An online, dynamic, CV A chance to prove your social media/ /self-presentation/ professional networking skills A way to showcase references ( recommendations ) A way to get career ideas A way to get involved in the industry A way to be found A way to find jobs
Example profiles Andrew Ternouth Kiren Gui Elizabeth Reynolds Lindsay McCurdy Linsey Chrisman Irrum Ali
Nice clear headline
Actively posting content (if relevant). Full skills and recommendations section. Background picture.
Interesting summary, lots of skills and endorsements, member of relevant groups.
Top 10 overused profile buzzwords Extensive experience Innovative Motivated Results-oriented Dynamic Proven track record Team player Fast-paced Problem solver Entrepreneurial Specific and tangible Arabic Environmental Science Policy International relations Governance Spanish Portuguese Project management Excel SPSS Java, Python etc.
Privacy Important to understand what others can see about you: determine who sees what elements of your profile, connections, images turn-off annoying alerts that others receiving about you/ vice-versa Especially key on Facebook check your privacy settings monitor posts you ve been tagged in
Hands-on LinkedIn exercise Task 1 and 2 from handout Create your profile and edit your privacy settings
Connections 6 degrees of separation
Linkedin Case study Dan Frith UCL Economics alumnus interested in risk work within financial services months went by applying for jobs without success had used Linkedin purely for advertised job roles Careers 1 to 1 coaching: New strategy improved profile, starting researching and then connecting with staff within insurance companies involved in risk took conversations off-line information interviewing: met for coffee asked lots of questions to become more informed about role/sector found out about insurance roles more interesting and aligned to skillset now on radar of a number of organisations kept in contact, appeared on news feeds latterly 2 organisations contacted him about opportunities not publically advertised researched, company, sector and interviewers on LinkedIn Offered position at Reon as Reinsurance strategist in July 2014
Utilising connections Knowledge: Gain more insight about a industry/ job role/ company Information interviewing: Link in to fellow members to ask advice and potentially talk/ meet in the real world Signposting: ask connections to suggest more places to look, anyone else you could talk to etc. Gain exposure: through group discussions; show knowledge and ask questions to impress members Vacancies: finding out about advertised/ non-advertised opportunities Career paths: check out a connection s CVs to see how they got where they are. Could help in making decisions about e.g. doing further education etc.
Hands-on LinkedIn exercise Tasks 3 and 4 on handout - Start making connections and searching for jobs
Summary: why social media? Help look for advertised jobs Research sectors and employers Improve employer access and perception of you; personal branding and a chance to show your skills and achievements Connect with interesting people for advice and information Keep up to date on the industry and organisation news/info and recruitment methods
Further resources: LinkedIn tutorials https://university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students
Further Help Resources http://www.careerstagged.co.uk Search Social Media UCL Careers www.ucl.ac.uk/careers 020 3549 5900, careers@ucl.ac.uk GradClub can access us for two years after your course ends Short guidance sessions and CV/cover letter/application checks 60-minute Career Discussion for more in-depth help if necessary Interview Practice (if have an interview confirmed)