Social Media Tips and Best Practices for New Graduates

Michael GermanoCalifornia State University, Los Angeles

Agenda

• Online reputation management• Building an online personal brand• Social media as a vehicle for ‘proof’ of soft

skills• Networking• Career hunting

I am so glad I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s!

So much of your lives are online. ORM matters.

Managing your digital footprint

• Google yourself; Diagnose the problem• Delete old social media accounts• Optimize privacy settings for the ones you use• Create new ones that help (a thoughtful blog,

LinkedIn account, Twitter)• From here on in: Think before you post!

Bring clarity to online presence with personal branding

Why brand?

Effective brands arememorable, clear and conveyvalue

Personal Branding

• You are going to be Googled by employers!• Create an online presence that reinforces the

brand message delivered during interviews and networking

• Blogging, Twitter and LinkedIn are the obvious vehicles

• Use effective images and content

Soft skills—the real reason people get hired

Foundational and elemental

Technical skills are meaningless without soft skills that support them

Social Media and Soft Skills

• Represent an opportunity to demonstrate competence and capability in one of the most critical soft skills: Communication/writing

• Make sure you post intelligently and thoughtfully

• Can also demonstrate analytical thinking and problem solving

Social Media? You’re doing it wrong. It’s social networking. The technology isn’t important. The access to people is what matters.

Terrifying or energizing?

Some social networks matter more than others and have more worth. Higher value social networks.

Networking and Your Career Search

• Let people know you are looking• Reach out to people before and after you

apply• Twitter is particularly helpful since you can

follow and retweet• Hashtags related to job hunting and industry

conversations can be another source of network building

Online is not real life.

There should be a professional version of you readily available online that promotes your strengths and value.