This week the nation celebrated the 4th of July and I got to take part in the biggest celebration of all: Washington, DC. Much like New York City hosts the largest Thanksgiving day parade, as one would imagine the largest 4th of July parade is in the District of Columbia. I wish I could say that it was really amazing and wonderful and cool to see, but by the time I got there the parade was almost done. This was not my only fail for the day though. After the parade we went to a friend’s rooftop pool to swim and watch the fireworks. I had grabbed my phone just for a second to take a photo and as soon as I sat down next to the pool I dropped my phone in the water.
This situation is upsetting enough but once I tell you that that phone is the fourth phone I have had in a span of one year, it instantly becomes even more upsetting. So on to Verizon I went on July 5 to go purchase a new one. After my phone fell one thought instantly crossed my mind; “How will I post the picture that we just took on Instagram now?”. This is when I realized that I truly am addicted to social media, Instagram in particular. Any addiction is not good for anyone but as I transition into the world of Washington DC I realize just how much social media platforms much like Instagram can be great tools and add great value to our lives.
Market Yourself
Social media is a great way to get your name out to others. Many see it as a way to maintain relationships but I see it as a tool to build new ones. Yes, it may be really cool to be able to stay in touch with your friends who live 100 miles away but it is even more exciting to build a relationship with someone who is 700 miles away. When going on the job hunt you can use your social media to show yourself off so post cool things you have done or organizations you are a part of.
In today’s job market being able to easily navigate multiple social media platforms and be knowledgeable on how social media works in general is imperative. Given this, there are still many people entering the job market who do not have these skills. Being able to tell an employer that you frequent many social media platforms and are knowledgeable on how they operate instantly make you more marketable. Many people hiring want to know that a young applicant can bring in a fresh new perspective; this proves it.
College Done Easy
As this is true for college and whenever you movie into a new setting where you are meeting a lot of new people that could potentially be new friends or great new contacts, I have found the best way to expand these relationships is to trade Instagram accounts. When I came to Washington, I moved into a building with 500 other interns in my program. I met a LOT of new people those first few days. When you trade phone numbers as many people tend to do, all you are left with is a name and a number and nothing else to remember about the person and you will probably get 15 other faceless contacts soon after. When you trade Instagram accounts you can go on any time and look at them and know who they are. This helps for those of us who aren’t good at names. We can go on and study their face so next time you pass them you can be prepared and know their name. This makes people feel important and can increase the way people look at you.
“With great power comes great responsibility”
Be smart! Rule of thumb says that you should only post things you would be proud to show your grandmother. If your mom would not approve should it be out where thousands of people can see it? If you aren’t 21, do not post pictures of you with alcohol. Do not post foul language. Do not overshare. If It is not something other people really need to know about you or your friends, do not publicize it. Your future employer may use your social media postings as a way to decide whether or not they would like to hire you; keep this in mind. If you absolutely must break any of these rules, utilize the option to set your profile to a private setting where only the people you give access to can see what you have posted. This is all how to manage a social media account responsibly.
THRIVE
When all of these steps are followed, social media can be a great tool to get ahead in the professional world. Great things can be done when you are able to reach out to large groups of people at once. Staying current and posting often are ways to keep you at the front of others minds and this keeps you relevant. When you are relevant people turn to you for things and who knows, maybe one of those things could be a job offering some day! So as the millennials would say, “brb, omw to go post this cute pic on Insta” since I never got the chance with a broken phone!
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