Social Media Overhaul & the Amazing World of LinkedIn

Step 1: Organize a Resume (see my last post)

Step 2: Social Media
    Before handing your resume over to any employers take a look at all your social media sites. Employers DO  look at your Facebook/Twitter to find out what kind of person you and if you are the right fit for their company. Most students refuse to believe this and deny that a future employer will have access because they have profiles set to private. WRONG! Within the past few months I have heard from two company top dogs that the first thing they do after interviewing a prospective intern is check them out on Facebook and Twitter. One woman, a past Vice President of a communications co. and now Managing Partner for a prominent Orlando PR firm, said she hired an intern and promptly fired her one week later after coming across her Facebook profile. Employers are looking for red flags including:

• Posts relating to partying, drinking, drug use, and profanity
• Pictures showing underage drinking
• Tweets with alcohol related content and hashtags (#sodrunk), especially if your underage
• *These all include pictures /posts you are tagged in so watch out*

Pictures: You went to the party, you had a great time, and you may have drank a little too much. The Internet world doesn't need to know about it. If you are serious about working in the professional world one day it is important to keep inappropriate pictures off of social media sites. I sometimes even have a hard time letting go if a photo is great but there happens to be a drink in my hand. Every now and then I go through my photos and delete anything I have to pause and think about as being inappropriate. 


Step 3: Linked In
 If you've never heard of LinkedIn, it's basically the professional version of facebook. You set up an account and your profile is your resume. From there you can search through an endless amount of companies and other business people who also have LinkedIn pages. From there you choose to form a "connection" with them. Almost like friending someone on facebook. You can find companies positing about job/internship positions all over the world. You can also email people directly from their LinkedIn page inquiring about any openings they may have. THE BEST FEATURE: anyone you "connect" with shares their connections with you. I have a connection with a one of my  college professors and through him I now have contact to 500+ professionals that he has done business with all over the world.

Check out my LinkedIn site for an example:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brittany-szafran/46/179/361 

Get Yourself Out There and Onto Your Dream Track!

It's time to take a short step back from Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Take a moment to think about where and who you want to be in 5 years. Not 10 years or 20 years but just 5 years down the road. I want to be a hard-working, professional business woman, active traveler, and an overall happy person. No matter what you see yourself as the bottom line is BE PROACTIVE! Don't wait to go after that perfect internship, don't put off putting that resume together, and don't blame others (parents,friends,boyfriend, job, and even school) for not being on your "Dream Track". Not the perfect track or the right track. Your "Dream Track". Having a dream for your life can be an amazing motivator and when you accomplish that dream you can set your sights on a new one. Life is about fulfilling your dreams and it's never too soon to start on your journey.

Step 1: The Resume

School advisors, friends, and parents can all be great tools when putting together materials such as your resume and portfolio, however, the internet can be quite the tool itself. Start simple and don't stress over the small details at first. I am continuously working on my own resume (especially since I'm not extremely design savvy). Stick to including professional experience only. If you wouldn't want the CEO of a respected company browsing the information then DONT add it. I've included a sample below of my simple resume. With just a few important points such as education, experience, and skills I have successfully been hired by a great company for my first internship. I was even offered a paid position! You don't need fluff, frills, and expertise in graphic design to create a classy, elegant, and functional resume. 

Brittany Szafran

Work Phone: 407-555-5555 Email: szafranbrittany@knights.ucf.edu

Address: 555 Cherry Lane Sanford, FL 32771

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brittany-szafran/46/179/361

Objective 

To obtain an internship position where communications, public relations, and advertising skills can be utilized.

Education           

University of Central Florida             Orlando, FL                                     Graduated: expected 2014

BA, Advertising & Public Relations

Minor in Psychology  

Work Experience

Liam Fitzpatrick’s Irish Restaurant & Pub, Lake Mary, FL                        March 2010 to current

·       Server/Trainer

·       Creating a pleasant dining experience for guests

·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Knowledge of the restaurant's food and beverage items


·       Handling cash and credit card

·       Delivering drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert in a timely fashion


·       Complete knowledge of wine and alcohol inventory

           

California Pizza Kitchen, Waterford Lakes, FL                                    August 2010 to May 2011           

·       Hostess/Trainer


·       Greeting and creating a pleasant dining experience for guests

·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Running/organizing the seating chart and wait-list

·       Handling phone calls/take out orders

·       Knowledge of the restaurant's food and beverage items

·       Delivering drinks, appetizers, entrees, and dessert in a timely fashion

                                   

Hut No. 8 Clothing Store, Sanford, FL                                                August 2009 to January 2010

·       Sales Associate


·       Handling cash/checks/debit and credit transactions


·       Maintaining a sanitary environment


·       Facilitating returns

·       Exhibiting exemplary customer service

·       Creating window displays for store

·       Organizing merchandise

·       Assisting customers in making purchases

Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital & Specialty Clinic, Orlando, FL         October 2010-March 2011

·       Administrative & Activity Volunteer

·       Creating new patient charts/ updating current charts 


·       Sending and receiving faxes and organizing paperwork


·       Facilitating crafts/activities for patients and families in waiting rooms

·       Directing patients to their proper rooms

Skills & Achievements

·       Experienced in Mac, PC, Microsoft Office, and online communities

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·       Public speaking and organizational experience

·       Deans List- three semesters