Your online presence
Do a Google search of yourself in incognito mode. What comes up?
If YOU didn't know YOU, what would you think of the person from the search results?
Did nothing come up when you searched? In some ways, this is even worse!
In today's highly-connected online world, having nothing to show may put you at a disadvantage against your fellow students.
Typical results from an online search include:
-
Your LinkedIn profile
-
Your social media accounts
-
Any tweets your school may have posted about you
-
A blog or website you have created yourself
-
Newspaper/charity articles
When you apply for anything - a job, a uni course, an apprenticeship, an internship, a volunteer position - it is highly likely that the recruiter will do a quick online search of you.
This can be the deciding factor of whether you get called for interview or not so here are 3 Top Tips to help you shape your online presence to your advantage
#1 Know yourself
Spend 5 minutes thinking about the type of person you want to come across as online.
For example, hard-working, focused, motivated, sporty, a team player, an independent thinker, a creative, an influencer, a fashionista, a leader, someone with good communication skills....
Now, honestly look at what comes up. Does this match the image you wished to portray? If not, start editing, adding, amending and deleting!
#2 Get your LinkedIn profile filled out
Nearly half of all LinkedIn profiles are not fully completed. When you consider that this is one of the first things that search engine algorithms show, it is employability madness not to highlight yourself on this platform.
According to LinkedIn , a hire is made every 8 second on their site so make sure you profile is filled out so you are visible to potential recruiters.
#3 Social Media
Depending on how you use social media platforms, you can make yourself look creative and entrepreneurial OR you can come across as someone who is utterly superficial.
Imagine being the young student who has a blog or Instagram which showcases their interest and skills in business, the arts or cuisine (for example).
Or someone who has created something which helps others: like 15-year-old Uptree student, Josh Lowes, who designed EduBlocks , a website and programme designed to support the next generation of computer programmers ( read more here... )
If you're not sure you want a future employer to see the inner workings of your social life, then have your privacy settings high.
Good luck! We believe in you.
By Uptree
Published on:
Thu 13 Feb 2020