college guide 2016-17 Sept. 2016 | Page 132

Your Online Image
Makeover
Study the online profiles of people
you admire

O

ne of the great things about the web
is that you can research the way other
people, from student leaders to CEOs,
present themselves online.
Take some time to research and bookmark
the online presences of people who have the
kind of career you aspire to. Search Google (to
find blogs and personal websites), LinkedIn,
Twitter, your university’s alumni database and
professional association directories.

Then, ask yourself these questions:

▶ Where do these people appear online

where you’d like to appear? Could you
set up profiles on the same sites?
▶ What keywords do these people use to
describe themselves that would be
appropriate for you to use?
▶ What kinds of status updates do they
post? Could you post similar updates?
Beef up your LinkedIn profile

H

aving a presence on LinkedIn is essential
for career-minded students and recent
grads. Follow these steps to make sure
your profile is the best it can be:
▶ Create a strong profile headline that includes
your career aspirations, any major leadership
position, and/or industry you plan to enter.
Examples: Honors Finance Student at XYZ
University; Student Government Secretary
& Pre-Law Student at XYZ.
▶ Fill the “Specialties” section of your
LinkedIn profile with keywords that relate
to the kinds of jobs or internships you’d
like to attract. Find these words in the job
postings that interest you.
▶ Complete the “Experience” section with
internships, substantive volunteer work,
freelancing and part-time work. This section
is not just for full-time, paid positions.
▶ Take advantage of LinkedIn apps that
will show off your professional work and
interests, such as those built for presentation
sharing or providing book reviews.
▶ Collect at least two recommendations.
When possible, try to obtain them from
people who have directly managed or
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supervised you. Remind each recommender
of the key elements of your personal brand
(your biggest accomplishments, your top
skills and your professional goals) to make
sure their recommendations support the
rest of your profile.
Add professional elements to your
Facebook profile

T

hese days, there’s less of a divide between
one’s personal and professional selves.
For this reason, it’s wise to incorporate
some professional elements on Facebook
and any other personally oriented sites you
frequent. You never know when a friend
might have a professional lead for you.
▶ Add your current work information to
your Facebook profile.
▶ Become a fan of pages that relate to your
professional interests, such as people,
books, professional organizations and
companies you admire (or might want to
work for someday).
▶ RSVP to professional events on Facebook
(company information sessions, career
workshops, professional conferences, etc.)
so you can show that you’re out there
networking—and check out the other
attendees before an event.
▶ As always, make sure your Facebook
profile is free of any inappropriate or
potentially offensive photos, videos, wall
posts, updates or any other elements that
might damage the personal brand you’re
working so hard to build. Even when your
privacy settings are tight, you never know
who might see your profile.
*Excerpted from PwC Personal Brand Experience at pwc.com/campus
© 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PwC” refers
to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a Delaware limited liability partnership), which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International
Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity. We are
proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

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