Get Social over the Holidays: Google Profile

Probably one of the first things a recruiter will do is “Google” your name.  So, what do you want them to find?  Your best bet is to create a professional Google profile to make a great first impression.   It allows you to connect to all of your social sites in one location and create a unique URL.  As Google explains it, “You can control how you appear in Google by creating a personal profile.”   After you create a Google profile, be sure to read how to increase your profile’s rankings and visibility.

Content credit:   Gail Houston, Social Media Program Manager and Sourcer at Intuit

Get Social over the Holidays: Twitter

Can you really find a job and be recruited in just 140 characters?  The answer is YES!  Twitter has become another giant of social media job-search tools.  Follow companies, recruiters, and professionals in your field.  In turn, you should regularly provide content and share articles and links regarding your industry.

What to include on your Twitter profile:

• Visible email (same email used for LinkedIn and Facebook; people search via email addresses)
• Professional picture or icon (if you do not want to use a personal picture, select an icon that best represents you)
• Full name
• Website
• Biography with key words

To be found (and to find others to follow), register yourself in Twitter directories like www.twellow.com.

Use an APPROPRIATE user name or you may be immediately and automatically blocked on Twitter.

Content credit:   Gail Houston, Social Media Program Manager and Sourcer at Intuit

Get Social over the Holidays: Facebook

Yes, you can be professional using Facebook!  Recruiters are using this as a sourcing tool.  Many people have already been hired from Facebook!

It is important to give your Facebook profile a professional face-lift to make it ready for the job search.  Part of the job search is being findable by recruiters who would like to review your credentials.

• Use keywords to tell recruiters what your skills are.
• Understand the privacy settings to make sure that private things stay private.  It is a good idea though to make your professional email address and websites publicly visible.  Make your Info tab visible, and hide the rest.
• To allow recruiters to find you, set all of these to “public”:  search for me, send me a message, and see my education and work.
• Use the same user name as LinkedIn to keep things consistent.
• Keep your main profile picture professional (you can use the same one as LinkedIn).
  

You can also find recruiters through company “fan pages.”  The savvy job seeker will “like” these pages and add intelligent comments to posts.  Also, keep an eye out for job leads and postings on these pages.

Content credit:   Gail Houston, Social Media Program Manager and Sourcer at Intuit

Get Social over the Holidays: LinkedIn

As LinkedIn puts it:  “Your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets.  LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return.”

With recruiters now sourcing active (and passive) candidates on LinkedIn, would you want to be left out?  Of course not!  So, make your profile easy to find and professional.

• Add an email address to your Summary section so recruiters can contact you easily.
• Add what types of roles and jobs you have done – your keywords are critical.
• In the Websites section, select “other” and then add up to 3 websites:  blog, product, personal.
• Add your Twitter account.
• Make your profile visible.  Let recruiters know they can contact you regarding job opportunities.
• Join appropriate groups and introduce yourself.  Employers post jobs for free in groups – this is a goldmine!
• Customize your LinkedIn URL; use your name instead of the generic letters LinkedIn first assigns to you.
• Use a professional profile head shot.  It brands you!
  
• Connect, Connect, Connect!

Content credit:   Gail Houston, Social Media Program Manager and Sourcer at Intuit

Get Social over the Holidays

With time off from classes, the next few weeks will be a great time to create your social footprint so employers can find you!

Employers have moved to social sites to advertise job openings and source candidates.  It is no longer enough to just post your resume on job board sites or search for jobs in the newspaper classifieds.

A savvy job seeker should be searchable by employers and have up-to-date profiles on these sites:  LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Amazon.

In the next six blog posts, we will explore how the above sites can be best utilized by job seekers and also talk about your email signature line.

Content credit:   Gail Houston, Social Media Program Manager and Sourcer at Intuit

Spotlight on UT Dallas Interns

The UT Dallas Career Center is proud to assist so many great students with their internship experiences.  Check out some spotlighted interns here.

Would you like to learn more about our Internship Program?  All students (except ECS majors: you will visit the IPP Office for your information) should read about the process for getting started.  Students who intern are much more likely to land that full-time job right after graduation!

Get Critiqued for Job Search Success!

Graduation is here – are you ready to enter the workforce?  The Career Center can help with resume and cover letter critiques as well as mock interview training to help you be successful in the job search!  Don’t wait until after you graduate to begin this process – finding a job could take months!

There are four ways to get your documents critiqued:

• By stopping by the Career Center during a drop-in time for a 15 minute, face-to-face chat– the best option!
• Dropping off your resume and picking it up 48 hours later.
• Emailing your resume to resumeeditor@utdallas.edu.
• Scheduling an appointment with one of our resume editors.

Don’t forget to check out our website for other services we offer!

The Career Center offers an Online Portfolio Product

A portfolio is a job search tool that students can use to digitally compile information about themselves in one location.  Portfolios document skills, achievements, and academic learning.  Portfolios can include artifacts, work, and experiences in a variety of media (Word documents, photos or other graphics, links to web pages, etc.) to demonstrate competencies that you have learned through classes, work experiences, or other areas.

Students are able to set up an online portfolio through UTD CareerWorks (our online job/internship posting database – you should already have an account!).  The portfolio product used in conjunction with UTD CareerWorks is called Folio21.

Visit this web page to learn more about Folio21!

Going to Grad School?

Did you know that the Career Center can help you with your grad school application?  We have editors who will critique your personal statement, resume, cover letter, or any other application-related document!  If the document is long, be sure to make an appointment so the editors can be thorough with your work.  Remember, our editing services are free even for alumni, but don’t wait until you graduate to get started!

Stop by the Career Center during drop-in critique times (below) to get started, or call our front desk to make an appointment at 972-883-2943.

Drop-In Critique Times:

Monday 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Friday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Building Value on The Job

• Establish yourself as a source for valuable information and contacts across your company.  You will create valuable control over your job situation.
• Increase your leverage by developing job skills valued at other companies.
• Take advantage of all trade shows and company or partner training to build skills and expand your network.
• Keep a file of your accomplishments, including letters or emails from managers or others documenting your good work.
• Get exposure to senior management.  Be known as a contributor.
• Become known as a company spokesperson outside of the office.  It is harder for a company to let go of someone the community knows as a company spokesperson.
• Build toward promotion.  Demonstrate you can do the work one job level above your own.
• Associate with positive people.  They will be the leaders.
• Understand office politics.  Align with the true power in the company, but never be a backstabber.  Guard and maintain your integrity.

Source:  “Rapid Guide to Job Hunting.”  Printed booklets available in the Career Center.