3 Steps for bachelors in communications majors to create a strong online presence

William Woods Undergraduate

According to a 2014 Jobvite survey, 93 percent of employers look at a candidate’s profile on social media before making a hiring decision.

As a Bachelor of Science in Communications major, social media will play a large role in your future as a professional, whether you find yourself working as a Social Media Coordinator or you want to increase your marketability.

BrandYourself, a specialist in online reputation management, highlights several reasons a strong online presence is beneficial in the job search, such as networking, growth opportunity, getting your work out there, to name a few.

But the main reason: It’s where employers are looking.

And they are not just looking at online profiles, but using them as a resource for evaluating candidates, with the survey also indicating that 55 percent of recruiters have reconsidered a candidate based on their social profile.

Employers hold online presence at high value when determining whether or not a candidate is a right fit for their company or organization, with goals of uncovering mutual connections and, especially within the communications field, evaluating written or design work.

Here are three steps for communications students to create and maintain a strong online presence:

Step 1: Build your brand. It is beneficial to be active on multiple social media platforms, such as LinkedIn and Twitter, to increase your social presence and relevance. And when working across multiple platforms, consistency is key. Make sure you use the same name and information in the bio of each account so employers can find you easily.

Step 2: Show your stuff. LinkedIn specifically has strong features that allow you to display your work well, along with accomplishments, a substantial bio, skills and previous jobs. It is also the social media platform most used by employers in the recruiting process. Careerealism shares some great tips for making the most of your LinkedIn account. Also, creating a personal website using free tools like WordPress or Blogger is another great way to feature your work.

Step 3: Engage your audiences. It is not simply enough to create social media accounts, but you must remain active on them. Use these accounts to share relevant news articles in your field, participate in discussions on relevant topics, join groups and networks in your industry, and make connections or follow requests on a regular basis with those in your field, increasing your presence.

Bachelor of Science in Communication students take William Woods University courses such as COM337: Interactive Web Communication to learn more about the ins and outs of social media in communications and how to use it to their advantage.

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