There are a few things bound to happen before you may or may not receive a job offer. For instance, you are bound to go in for an interview before you receive any kind of formal offer. And you are bound to be asked to supply a list of references for your potentially new employer to contact. But what you may not realize is that your potential employer is also likely to screen your social media before making an offer. At AgCareers.com, we’ve written a lot about what to remove to look like an employable individual, but this article focuses on enhancing elements of your social media to help you stand out amongst your fellow candidates—in a good way.
- Professional Headshot
Make your professional headshot, or the most professional-looking self-portrait you have available, your profile picture. And not just on LinkedIn. Going forward, all of the shared rules are applicable across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other major social media that you use regularly and have made public to any degree.
- Branded Cover Photo
On Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, you don’t get just one but two photos that will display who you are to anyone who visits your profiles. Your cover photo doesn’t have to be a professional headshot, but if you’d like to get noticed, it should display your interests and career goals. Want to work for a livestock health company? Make your profile picture a group of steers you recently studied. You can also customize a Facebook or Twitter cover photo easily using Canva.com.
- Branding Statements & Language
Instead of writing that you’re a 22-year-old cat mom going to State, insert the branding or objective statement you used on your resume on your bio areas of your social media. “Driven, aspiring agronomist seeking opportunities in plant breeding; passionate about plant science and crop protection products” reads much more intelligibly than most social media bios. Also try to steer clear from the emojis; though they are very popular, they will look a little less professional onscreen.
- Shared/Created Content Relevant to the Job
Show your potential employer viewing your social media that you are knowledgeable about your field and are interested in continually learning more about it. Follow users, news organizations, and companies that produce content relevant to your field and chosen profession. Share and retweet content you find interesting; add your own insight where you feel appropriate.
Follow AgCareers.com on social media for more tips: https://blog.agcareers.com/.
Kristine Penning
May 13, 2019
Newsletter Article
