Well, the Career Fair has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean all hopes of getting a job or internship are lost! There are still plenty of opportunities for on-campus interviews and various networking events, so make sure you check out our calendar of events for October. Next week, there is an event being held to give students tips on how to use their social media accounts to their advantage when looking for a job. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the dangers of social media, especially in the context of applying for a job. But social media can also be extremely helpful in getting a job! How? I’m glad you asked.
Networking is a big scary word. A lot of us don’t know how to effectively network, but everybody says that it’s crucial for entering the workforce. People underestimate the use of social media in this endeavor, and the most underestimated social media site, in this case, is LinkedIn. So many college students don’t even have a LinkedIn account, but any employer will tell you that it’s the best way to network and communicate professionally. Here’s a little secret: your boss does not want to be friends on Facebook, and they DEFINITELY don’t want to see what’s on your Snapchat story. If you want to have a social media connection with professional colleagues, LinkedIn is the place to go. Here are some great ways to use LinkedIn:
You can search for jobs in your area and connect directly with employers through the site
You can put your LinkedIn URL on your resume so that employers can go directly to your page and see what you’re capable of
There is a UMBC Alumni-Student Networking group on LinkedIn where you can connect with UMBC Alumni and talk to them about their current jobs and their journey. This would be a great way to set up an informational interview with someone in your desired field!
If you need tips on how to set up your LinkedIn account, or how to make your existing account really shine, check out the Career Center’s page about LinkedIn for a step-by-step guide to properly advertising all of your skills and experience. If you want to learn all the special tips and tricks, you should attend the Keys to Success workshop specifically about how to use LinkedIn to your advantage, led by a UMBC Alumni who now owns a consulting group. Come to this lunch-time session hosted by Mike Shelah '95 to learn invaluable career management techniques that can lead to job offers, help you to to make connections, uncover job openings and get referrals. You will also learn the ins and outs of using LinkedIn. The event will be held in Commons 331 on Monday, October 9th at noon.
