Social media used to prepare for future, find a job

Social media has become a prominent part of the world with seemingly never-ending notifications, messages and friend requests.

University of South Dakota students have found a way to use those social media sites to benefit their futures.

Senior Dana Jakeway, a marketing major, started using LinkedIn a year ago to begin making connections with professionals post-graduation in May.

“It’s a great way to network outside of the university,” Jakeway said.

LinkedIn offers users the opportunity to make an ability-focused profile that prospective recruiters and employers can then use as a tool to hire new graduates. Students are able to advertise their skills and past experience.

The social network was founded in 2002 with the purpose of offering networking to assist people in finding potential internships and jobs by connecting with employers and other professionals.

Heather Johnson, an Academic and Career Planning Center adviser, said she encourages all students to create a profile.

“It’s a way for them to have a professional profile as opposed to Facebook and Twitter,” Johnson said.

According to a 2012 TIME article, 89 percent of recruiters today have hired people through LinkedIn, and 93 percent of recruiters are actively using LinkedIn or other social networks to find employees.

With that much attention from recruiters and employers, Johnson said it is an effective way for students to market themselves.

“A lot of recruiters are looking at LinkedIn and finding talents that way,” Johnson said. “A lot of recruiters post jobs on LinkedIn, and you can apply for jobs through LinkedIn.”

A LinkedIn profile is similar to a Facebook profile but is made to attract employers. The profile includes a professional headshot along with information about skills and talents that recruiters may be searching for. TKP Headshots offer headshot taking packages.

“On my profile I have where I’ve been, how active I’ve been in each organization or workplace that I’ve served at, and there’s community service,” Jakeway said.

Academic and Career Planning Center adviser Kasandra Girard said students need to make sure to keep their profile updated, even if they’re not job-searching at the moment, as recruiters may still be viewing their profile and want to get in contact concerning a job offer.

Girard also said students should be mindful about posting to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

“Be very careful about what you put out there so people don’t see you doing a keg stand,” Girard said.

First-year Shaniah Koops is practicing being mindful of what she posts on social media.

“I try to be careful, especially on Twitter, because I have old teachers following me, and I don’t want to present myself in a bad way,” Koops said. “You come off a certain way and people could see something online and get a perception of you without even knowing you.”

For first-year Chandler Andrews, watching what he posts on social media is more than just protecting his image.

“There are a lot of different people out there that you could offend,” he said.

Johnson is an advocate of responsible social media use as well.

“You need to be really careful with what you put on Facebook and Twitter and think this could come back to haunt you,” Johnson said.

Jakeway said thinking ahead about future careers is what motivates her to maintain her LinkedIn page.

“It’s a great opportunity to get your name out there,” Jakeway said.

(Junior Ean Kiddoo hands his student identification card to junior Caitlin Gerdes in order to check out of the Academic & Career planning Center Tuesday in the ID Weeks Library. Joseph Mammo / The Volante)