You’re a recent graduate and need to build your professional network. How can you use social media to do it?

As a recent graduate, leverage social media to build your professional network by: - Optimizing Profiles: Ensure your LinkedIn and other relevant social media profiles are professional, up-to-date, and highlight your skills and achievements. - Engaging with Industry Leaders: Follow and engage with professionals and thought leaders in your field. Comment on their posts to gain visibility. - Sharing Content: Post articles, insights, or projects you’ve worked on related to your industry to showcase your knowledge and enthusiasm. - Joining Groups: Participate in industry-specific groups on LinkedIn or Facebook to connect with like-minded professionals and contribute to discussions.

LinkedIn is a platform people are more open to connection on the professional front so I would start here. Follow industry leaders and people who work at your company, this helps build your network and personal brand.

Create a professional LinkedIn profile that showcases your education, skills, internships, and any relevant coursework or projects. Use a professional profile photo and write a compelling summary that highlights your career goals and aspirations. Connect with classmates, professors, alumni, and professionals in your desired field.

Think of your profile, especially on platforms like LinkedIn as a mini CV. You want to make sure your profile pic is professional, optimise your about you section and shout about your experiences and achievements!

Join industry-specific LinkedIn groups related to your field of study or career interests. Participating in LinkedIn groups is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your network. Leverage your university's alumni network on LinkedIn to connect with graduates who are working in your desired industry or at companies you're interested in. Reach out to alumni for informational interviews, job shadowing opportunities, or career advice. Alumni can provide valuable insights and connections to help you kickstart your career.

While social media plays a pivotal role in networking, the importance of in-person connections should not be overlooked. Attending webinars, online conferences, or industry events provides the opportunity to meet key professionals and strengthen your network through more personal interactions. Relying solely on social media connections can be problematic, as it often results in weak ties. Meeting people in person ensures a better alignment of interests and can significantly enhance the strength of your relationships with your contacts. This, in turn, increases their engagement with you, such as likes, comments, etc., making your professional network more robust and active.

You need to identify your area of expertise and influencers in your network and engage with them regularly and professionally to establish a cordial relationship

Imagine entering a room full of people you know, making eye contact with everyone... and saying not a single word. Sounds wild, right? That's essentially what it's like to not engage with your network! Block time out each day to interact with what your network is sharing, and make it meaningful. Three fire emojis or a 100 emoji doesn't take you very far.

This!! You can't engage with your network too much, spend time interacting with content and building lasting relationships. It can be easy to get lost in vanity metrics rather than building quality connections.

The more you build your network the easier it becomes to grow. When I only had 1000 connections on LI, not a whole lot of people accepted my invite to connect. Once I got to 4000 connections, the percentage of people that accepted greatly increased! LinkedIn premium gives you 100 invites per week, USE THEM ALL!!! :)

When reaching out to new connections or engaging with professionals on social media, be genuine and authentic in your interactions. Personalize your messages, express genuine interest in the other person's work or experiences, and offer to provide value in return. Building meaningful relationships takes time and effort, so focus on building genuine connections rather than simply growing your network numbers.

Establishment of a Personal Brand Prior to embarking on any professional endeavor, it is imperative to articulate one's personal brand. This entails a comprehensive elucidation of one’s area of expertise, pivotal skills, core values, and distinctive attributes that differentiate oneself from other professionals within the same field. The personal brand should be consistently mirrored across all content disseminated on social media platforms, thereby ensuring a coherence that bolsters credibility.