LauraHiggins 2.0 – The new and improved online professional profile.

During the #UOSM2008 module I have been continuously developing my online professional profile. I am currently a Marketing Bsc (hons) student at The University of Southampton and as part of my course I have to do a year in industry during my third year (next year). My online ‘make-over’ has been very helpful in securing my year in placement. If you haven’t noticed in my other blogs, I have a year with The Walt Disney Company as Studios EMEA Marketing Intern! I am very excited about this opportunity and want to share how I used social media to increase my employability.

First things first, from the blog topics I realised I needed to be up-to-date on social media because employers will look for you there. This encouraged me to create a new twitter account – one that was specifically tailored to marketing and #UOSM2008 content. I began with zero followers but the followers I now have on this account aren’t my everyday peers, but fellow students and marketing professionals. I am happy with the progress I’ve made on this account over the past four months. It was also essential I was following the companies I had applied for. This was to ensure I was well aware of their current affairs and trends in the market. Knowing this extra information was vital during assessment days and interviews.

Secondly, it was important to continue growing my Linked-in account, adding the new contacts I had acquired along the way as well as once again following the companies I had applied for. One company even commented on my endorsements and were impressed by my social media skills – don’t underestimate the power of endorsements! Recommendations can go a long way in the business world. See your linked-in account as an online CV!

I used Linked-in to find and connect with employers and it was a valuable tool to use when I couldn’t reach them by phone. Many companies wanted to know about the projects I was currently involved in and one of the easiest ones to show them was my new WordPress blog, which was developed for UOSM2008. They were impressed with the relevant content and frequent peer interactions, (where I feel I also made some good online friends), but also with the way I expressed myself online.

I also wrote a blog about my au-pair experience in Valencia last Summer. This pulled in many visitors to my site and my blog now features on the au-pair agency’s website. This has shown me how powerful a blog can be to network and inspire people all around the world! I plan to continue writing a blog during my new internship at Disney and whilst living in London – a complete contrast to my country life in ‘Ham, Sandwich’!!

From researching during the module, I now know that employers will use online channels to screen you. Therefore, I plan to keep growing my twitter accounts, (professional and personal), my instagram account, this WordPress blog and my Linked-in account appropriately. I am also new to about.me, but think it’s a great platform to share your links and network with people.

I also have a slight addiction with my Pinterest site and believe it’s a great way to express yourself visually! As a Marketing student I understand the importance of online presentation. The fact is you are selling yourself online to a global audience. This module has helped me to develop myself on appropriate platforms and has shown me how to present my skills through blogs and online sites. I am going to continue growing my connections and online profile because I believe it will help me when I look for a graduate job.

Remember to keep coming back to my blog to hear more about my Disney adventures and how I plan to be a Princess every day for a year!

Laura :)