Social Media DON’TS For Job Seekers

In today’s world of technology, it’s easy for potential employers to learn a lot about you without ever having a conversation with you. Most of us have some sort of social media presence, which is often the digital first impression we give off.

A savvy job seeker can utilize their social media accounts to their advantage, but the opposite is also true. The following social media behaviors can prevent you from ever getting a shot at your dream job, so make sure to scout out your profiles!

Don’t bash employers

Social media might feel like the right place to vent about your trials and tribulations, and in some cases, a brief rant might get good attention. But if your profile is especially negative, especially to your employer, potential future employers will get the ick.

You might have legitimate reasons to complain about a previous employer, and there are plenty of bad bosses and organizations out there. But for the same reasons you wouldn’t want to badmouth a previous employer in an interview, you should also avoid bashing them on social media.

Posting negatively about your employer displays a lack of professionalism and disrespect toward workplace confidentiality. A company will think you’d be just as willing to bash them online and discuss their sensitive matters.

“Your social media accounts may be a place to express yourself, but if you’re in the job market, those accounts will be used to evaluate you as a future employee and culture fit.” –Adrianne Bibby, FlexJobs

Don’t overshare

Social media allows you to curate what type of person you want to appear as to your online communities. You not be involved in direct one-on-one conversations in the same way online, but many of the same principles apply. If you’re an oversharer, you’ll certainly rub your audience the wrong way, including potential employers.

If you did a wicked keg stand, that will impress some people in your network but not necessarily your next employer’s HR department. And if you’re constantly lamenting about your ex, it might show a lack of awareness and knowing the time and place for some conversations. Oversharing can be the difference in getting a job or not.

Your profiles are certainly just that—your profiles. But if you’re putting potentially embarrassing content into the digital world, employers have every right to judge you based on that content. That’s why LibGig says to choose which platforms to use privately and which to use publicly. Take advantage of privacy settings and decide what type of content you want each platform to display.

Don’t spam

This one feels pretty obvious, but all spam doesn’t look like “HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA.” Sometimes, spamming is just being a little too eager with connection attempts or being too aggressive in sharing something. It’s easy to get excited and cross the line, which is why it’s so important to be vigilant.

Recruit Military writes not to send potential employers or hiring managers friend requests on sites like Facebook or to follow personal accounts on Instagram on Twitter/X. Unless a profile clearly exists in a professional-facing manner, you’re trying to creep on a stranger’s personal account. And, of course, there’s an irony there because companies might try to do the same to you. But it’s best to keep a professional distance.

Don’t share misinformation or highly controversial posts

If you’re searching for a job, ideally you want to appear as a wise, capable individual. Your resume might sell that, but if you’re spreading questionable information on social media, an employer will think you might not be capable of filtering information or you may have strong biases that could impact your work.

Wiser Brand’s Eugene Koplyk reminds us to always fact-check before sharing something. There’s a lot of misinformation out there and many malicious sites looking to exploit you. Sharing misinformation lowers your chances of being viewed as an expert and shows that you can’t take the time to verify something before sharing.

“Expressing your opinions on debatable topics can give the impression that your advice might be biased. As a result, employers could be reluctant to interview you or offer you a job.” –Job Store Staffing

Don’t neglect spelling and grammar

Finally, make sure that your posts and content on social media are legible. The days of writing in l33tspeak are over, and even meme accounts are rarely dropping “ u r”s anymore. You want to appear coherent.

FlexJob’s Adrianne Bibby says that even if you aren’t applying to a role with a lot of writing or editing, you still need to look professional. An employer may have doubts about your competence if they see consistent errors. Beyond basic grammar, avoid things like speaking in all caps, aggressive exclamation points, or dropping an absurd amount of hashtags.

“The occasional grammar or spelling error isn’t the end of the world, but don’t let it become a pattern.” –Doug MacMillan, Mechanical Business

Wrap up

Your social media accounts may be a place to express yourself, but if you’re in the job market, those accounts will be used to evaluate you as a future employee and culture fit. By avoiding these common social media pitfalls, you’ll be clearly visible as a professional, courteous, self-aware, and competent individual. Be aware of your posting habits and consider how you’ll appear to any hiring managers.

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Increasing Your Visibility On LinkedIn

Having a presence on LinkedIn is a must for the modern job seeker. Simply having a profile and being a ghost on the platform isn’t enough. If you’re trying to stand out and find a new job, you need to make an effort to be visible to recruiters and hiring managers.

Competition for jobs is tough, and you need to find a way to stand out from thousands of other users. Make sure that your profile is working for you and keeping you visible by taking these expert-recommended steps!

Have a catchy headline

By default, LinkedIn will make your headline your current job title. While these might make sense at first, many people don’t realize that your headline can be up to show up to 200~ characters on mobile. This gives you an often underutilized space to market yourself. Plus, it’s the first thing someone viewing your profile sees after your name.

A generic headline makes you easy to overlook, so get your personal brand out there. HBR’s Jane Heifetz uses the example of a marketing professional using the following headline to express interest in a health and wellness-related career:

“Holistic health/yoga instructor, consultant, connecter * Marketing executive for small businesses & nonprofits”

This shows the applicant’s passion for the industry, their specific niche, and provides desirable skills.

Keep your summary up to date

Likewise, you should keep your summary or “About Me” section constantly updated and tailored to make you stand out. Don’t just have a summary of your duties or create an indecipherable labyrinth of buzzwords. Instead, use this space to tell a story and communicate the value you’d bring to any organization lucky enough to have your services.

This is an ideal space to use keywords targeted toward your industry in a meaningful way. Find ways to relate your accomplishments to your desired role in an organic way. You’ll showcase your skills in a way that makes you appear in search engines and shows off your personality.

Have a headshot and banner

Don’t force your words to carry you by themselves, though. Unlike a resume, where having a picture of you is a bad idea, you want to have a clear headshot visible. Don’t forget that LinkedIn is ultimately a social media platform. If your name appears on every comment you make or every application you send out, you want your photo next to it. Make sure it’s a professional and current picture, of course.

“Instead of the default blue banner, use something that catches people’s attention and reflects what is important to you. It might be a picture of your workspace or something you use in your line of work.” –Careerist

While a headshot may seem obvious, an often forgotten space is the banner of your profile. You can use one of LinkedIn’s graphics or create your own as something like a virtual business card. CNBC Make It’s Gili Malinsky highlights this as a prime real estate spot where you can show off who you are as a professional. This lets you show off more personality while highlighting what matters to you.

Fill out your full profile

You’ve got the flashy, immediately visible elements updated, but don’t skimp on the core skeleton of your profile. The more you have filled out, the more information a potential recruiter will have access to, and the more likely your profile will show up in searches.

Of particular note is the “Skills” section, which Distinctive Web believes is often neglected. Job titles and desired skills are the two most likely types of keywords recruiters will search for. Having a solid list of your skills (worded slightly differently thanks to the way LinkedIn’s Skills section works) in addition to peppering them throughout your summary and experience will give you a better chance of being found.

Post regularly

Having a good profile is just the first start. Make sure to actually use that profile! You don’t want to be annoying, but you don’t want to be a ghost either. Finding a balance of posting, commenting, and sharing will keep you more visible than users who don’t.

By posting somewhat regularly, you’ll show up toward the top of your connections’ feed. This creates more engagement opportunities, creating even more visibility. Kate Wade says that when in doubt, shoot to create thought-leadership-type posts or light-hearted observations to build connections.

“Post at least once a week but not more than once per day. You can comment on content, share others’ content, or create your own.” –Elissa Harris, mbaMission

Wrap up

It doesn’t take much effort to have a visually appealing LinkedIn profile that will draw in recruiters. You’d be surprised how many job seekers neglect these seemingly easy steps. The key is to craft a profile that fits your personal brand and to make consistent efforts to update your profile. Soon enough, you’ll find recruiters looking your way!

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How To Find A Career Mentor

Navigating a career path is intimidating no matter what route you choose, but you don’t have to go it alone. One of the greatest champions you can find in your career journey is a mentor; not just a teacher or advisor but a trusted ally and friend.

Yet while many professionals believe a mentor is a boon, only 37% of people have them according to a 2019 survey. This study found the majority of mentor-mentee relationships formed organically, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive and find one. If you’re looking to form a mutually beneficial relationship with a mentor, embrace these strategies!

Consider what you want first

Before you start your search, ask yourself what you’re looking for out of the relationship. Are you looking for someone with a specific title, someone in a desired industry, or general career advice? Reflect on the type of success you’re looking for, what your values are, and what type of feedback you respond best to.

Forbes’ Liz Elting says that if you’re not honest with yourself, you’ll end up wasting your time and your potential mentors. As a mentee, you need to be coachable and open to feedback, take the initiative to check-in, and be comfortable discussing your goals, according to LinkedIn’s Jon Jennings. So take time to do self-scouting before you start looking.

Check within your existing networking

Once you know what you’re looking for, start by looking within your existing sphere of influence. There could be someone at your company, a former professor or colleague, or a member of an alumni association that could be a good fit.

Indeed’s Jennifer Herrity says to look at the people you admire in your network and write down why. Consider who has the attributes you admire and what challenges they have faced in their career. Then, you can reach out and break the ice. Don’t be afraid to go through your LinkedIn or social media profiles to see if there is someone you haven’t considered. You may already have the ideal mentor in your network.

Take to the internet

Even if the ideal mentor isn’t someone you already know, don’t be discouraged. Social media and networking tools like LinkedIn are great places to make new connections. With more people working remotely than ever before, it’s a good time to digitally connect.

You can start by asking your existing connections if they know someone who could be a good fit for you. Even if that doesn’t work, you can try alumni groups if you went to a college or worked with a particular group. If all else fails, LinkedIn Groups are a great way to find something in your niche, according to FlexJob’s Kimberli Lowe-MacAuley. Using LinkedIn, you can search for specific groups, and LinkedIn will offer some tips to get started!

“When searching, you can begin adding topical keywords to target groups specific to your career field. Rather than type in “designers,” for instance, you can try “freelance graphic designers” to find a more targeted group. You’re sure to find a group that will suit your career goals.” – Kimberli Lowe-MacAuley

Ask

Once you find someone that seems like you good fit, you have the most nerve-wracking task ahead of you—you need to ask! You don’t need to write a note saying “will u be my mentor? y/n,” but you do need to find a way to ask that isn’t too forward or needy.

Harvard Business Review states that many ambitious career advancers will make their ask too soon—after just one or two conversations with a person. Being bold can be beneficial, but you want your request to have context and be a natural fit. You want to make sure this is going to be a good fit, and one conversation isn’t enough to know that.

Kimberli Lowe-MacAuley says that in your initial conversation, you’ll essentially be doing an elevator pitch and asking someone for their time. Explain why you admire them, what you hope to gain, and why you are worth their time. You don’t need to officially ask for the title of mentor. That relationship may just develop that way after having multiple conversations.

“You might also consider asking the other person to formally be your mentor, though this is not a necessity. While some people will be happy to take on the role of mentor, others might resist a formal title associated with increased responsibility. Use your own discretion when making this decision.” –Coursera

Wrap up

Remember: finding a mentor doesn’t mean finding the highest-ranked person you can find and copying their career path. You want to find a good fit, someone you can really connect with. You may have many different mentors at different stages of your career. In turn, make sure to be a good mentee and offer help where you can. And if you do find a good mentor, pass down that good fortune by becoming a mentor yourself in the future!

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LinkedIn Connections To Avoid

Networking is the best way to expand your career, and LinkedIn is one of the best tools at your disposal. But there’s more to successful networking than a huge number of connections. In fact, there are many types of unfamiliar connections you should avoid on the platform.

Remember, quality is more important than quantity in your networking efforts. Make sure you’re cultivating a meaningful community by avoiding these types of questionable connections.

The mysterious user

A mysterious unfamiliar character walking boldly into your life might be cool in a Western film, but on LinkedIn, it’s far less appealing. If you receive a connection request with no headshot, it’s a huge red flag.

“It begs the questions: Is this a real person? Is this some kind of scam or phishing expedition? Are they hiding something? In terms of perception, putting your pic on your profile is similar to signing your name to a legal document.” –William Arruda, Forbes

LinkedIn is a social media platform, and it isn’t uncommon for other platforms to be filled with anonymous or parody accounts. But LinkedIn is for making professional connections, and if someone can’t put their face on their profile, it just looks shady. Make sure your own profile has a clear, professional headshot!

The minimalist

Similarly, a LinkedIn profile stingy with personal information isn’t someone I want to connect with. LinkedIn has numerous features that can help you stand out from the crowd, and even simply having a well-developed “About Me” section can put you streets ahead of others on the platform.

While Forbes’ William Arruda says that while being able to use as few words as possible to explain your accomplishments is impressive, you need to make some sort of effort filling each section out. A person with minimal information sending requests your way can’t be counted on to offer anything of value if they couldn’t even be bothered to make a complete profile. In addition, a profile littered with typos and bad grammar is worth avoiding for the same reasons.

The company roleplayer

Roleplaying can be great in the right context. Dungeons and Dragons is one of the world’s most popular activities after all! But roleplaying on LinkedIn is a common and unfortunate red flag.

LinkedIn’s Rafael Magaña says that often salespeople will create profiles simply to push their company’s services—not foster a human connection. These profiles will often use the company’s logo as their photo and have overly “salesy” taglines. Unless you’re looking to be sold to, stay away from these profiles!

Overly aggressive sellers

Some LinkedIn sales merchants can be a little more subtle than the company roleplayers, but that facade won’t last long.

Inc’s Chris Ronzio says that some will be blatantly obvious. They’ll send a copy-and-pasted bio or selling attempt in their connection message. Others will wait for you to accept their connection before spamming their selling point.

“It is the digital equivalent of the flyers I find on my car’s windshield or the supermarket coupons that I can’t seem to rid from my mailbox. I didn’t ask for this. Mark as spam.” – Chris Ronzio

If you see generic, sleazy texts like “Make money while you sleep” or “Double your revenue,” quickly ignore, block, or report these accounts, says Rafael Magaña.

Thirsty connections

Some connections will appear “thirsty” in less obvious ways. They clearly want something from you and aren’t afraid to be aggressive, but it isn’t always clear what exactly they want.

Chris Ronzio uses people desperate to get you on the phone as a good example. They’ll want to schedule a quick call to get to know you but won’t offer much more than that. Most people aren’t willing to take phone calls from strangers, let alone shady anonymous connections from the internet.

William Arruda points to people pretending to make a personal connection as another example. These scammers will often use bots to gather information from your profile to make it seem like they care about your work before dropping their hard sell.

Finally, watch out for more literal thirsty connections—bozos who try to use LinkedIn as a dating site.

Scammers

Some of these connections are simply misguided about how LinkedIn connections and good networking etiquette work, but many are actively trying to scam or harm you in some way. The internet is a beautiful and powerful tool, but as long as it has existed, ne’er-do-wells have always found ways to use technology to scam the uninformed.

Aura’s Alina Benny points to phishing scams, catfishing scams, crypto and investment scams, employment scams, and tech support scams as just a few of the common ways scammers will try to get your information. Each one has its own nuance, and it takes practice to identify a scam. Generally, if something sounds too good to be too, it usually is. Read Alina’s piece for more detailed information on each type of scam and how to avoid it.

Wrap up

Networking should be a mutually beneficial arrangement. We’ve discussed in various articles how to sell yourself as having value to offer potential partners. But a connection should bring value to you as well, and the above connections rarely do. Whether it’s someone trying to increase their own clout, attempting spray-and-pray techniques, trying hard to push an agenda, or straight up stealing something from you, these types of connections are best left on read.

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Preparing For In-Person Networking Events

While we may have gotten used to doing all of our networking digitally during the pandemic, in-person networking events are becoming common once again. Making new contacts in person again may be refreshing, but it can also be intimidating after such a long pause.

Networking is still the best way to find helpful contacts to advance your career, whether it be through helpful advice, industry insight, or an in at your dream company. If you’re looking to get back in the groove of networking in person, give yourself a quick refresher on how to prepare with these proven strategies.

Do some homework

You don’t want to just show up to an event and hope for the best. Taking time before the event to research the event itself, its major themes, and who the attendees are is crucial. In addition, being prepared will help put you in the mindset for successful networking and increase your confidence.

Forbes’ William Arruda says to go online and do a deep dive on the event. You may find out crucial information like any particular topics the event will focus on, particular panels you may want to attend, and other topics of interest. Even a few fun facts about the venue or the history of the event can give you some valuable speaking points.

If you find people you really want to interact with, you can do further research on their social media profiles and LinkedIn. The more conversation points you have, the stronger connections you’ll make.

Refine your elevator pitch

Of course, don’t neglect to prepare what you can bring to the table as well. Networking is all about mutually providing value, so be prepared to cover your skills and ambitions. This is where your elevator pitch comes in.

“Time to start fine-tuning your elevator pitch. It should be bite-sized, ideally under a minute, and a brief overview of what makes you unique. A warm smile and firm handshake go a long way, especially when it comes to easing yourself into it.” –Jennifer McShane, Jobbio

An elevator is a quick, direct summary of who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and the value you can bring to someone. A good elevator pitch is brief, between 30 and 60 seconds. If you’ve been doing your networking online, you may not be as polished or concise as in the past. Don’t be afraid to practice in front of the mirror while timing yourself or have a friend listen in.

Be a good listener

Keeping your pitch short and sweet is important because you don’t want to dominate the conversation by only talking about yourself. If you do too much of the talking, you’ll come across as boring or self-involved. Being a good listener is a key component of good networking.

Resume Help says to remember that while networking is about exchanges, it’s not a “what can you do for me” type scenario. If you want to provide value to the other person, carefully listen to their needs and concerns. You may be able to provide helpful insight or use your experiences to assist. The key to finding common ground starts with listening, and you never want to make the exchange all about you.

Remember quality over quantity

It can be tempting to take a “spray-and-pray” approach to networking. You want to make valuable connections, and you may think that talking to everyone is the best way to find them. But it’s better to take a targeted approach.

“Focus on meaningful conversations and connections that can truly help you move forward to the next step.” –Byron Slosar, CEO of HelloHive

Popl’s Gerald Lombardo suggests defining your goal for the event before you arrive. Whether it’s casting a wide net to learn what’s out there, meeting people in a specific company, getting face time with a specific attendee, or meeting other entrepreneurs, having a clear focus will guide you toward specific connections. With a clear goal in mind, you’ll take a more measured approach, leading to more success.

Keep an open mind

Finally, while it’s good to create a clear plan and stick to it, the nature of in-person events means you may come across something you weren’t expecting. Keep an open mind during your conversations, and don’t be afraid to seize the day.

“Don’t shut down just because it’s not exactly what you were looking for. Be open to all opportunities and follow your gut.” –Gerald Lombardo

Maybe an unexpected opportunity arises, or you feel a connection with an industry or role you hadn’t previously considered. Maybe an unknown company or investment really calls to you. Human nature means we find meaning in aspects we aren’t always prepared for. Keep an open mind during your efforts, and don’t be afraid to adapt.

Wrap up

Many of these same rules apply to virtual events as well, but being in an in-person environment may be intimidating after time away. Thankfully, if you take time to do your homework and remember the core principles of successful networking, you’ll get back on the horse in no time!

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