It astounds me how many of them do not have an online presence further than Facebook.
And I need your help in deciding what they should be focusing on.
My friend Nikki recently wrote a post about a presentation she gave to an Online Journalism class about how blogging can kick-start a career... and she hit the nail square on the head.
"To put it simply, students have the power to be their own marketing managers. Their personal blog can be the “brand” they want to put out to the potential job market. It can give them an edge on another student, even when applying for internships.
In my day … potential employers only had my type-written CV, some clippings of published work and an interview to go by. Today, employers can – and are – Googling you long before they’ve invited you into their offices to ask about where you see yourself in five years.
And in that Googling, what are employers going to find out about you? Will they be impressed by your “voice”, your passion for fashion photography, cooking, your love of a good rant or will the just find a random Tweet about your disdain for a telco company.
And if you’re long past student age or inclination, then this is worth thinking about too. You don’t really know who’s reading your blog, Tweets or Facebook updates. Opportunities – freelance writing gigs, sponsorships, book deals – present themselves every time you make an electronic communication."
And I absolutely couldn't agree more. It is becoming readily apparent that people are consuming their news online. Newspapers are moving toward more editorialising and commentary, because people already know the news - it's up to them to provide more background, opinion and discussion because they've been scooped by the internet.
Internet, internet, internet... it's where we spend a huge chunk of our time. And yet students are promoting themselves less and less in that arena. And to my mind, it should be the first place they go.
So in wanting to upgrade and update our classes, I'm throwing it over to you - those of my friends that know the value of an online presence and can rock a social media platform like nobody's business. What do you think these students should get a handle on? What has worked for you in the online publishing arena? Help me get them off Facebook!
I think they need one of these as their very first port of call:
A blog. The fastest way to get yourself published. And I'm not kidding when I say employers are expecting you to be published several times before you finish your degree. There really is no excuse. And a blog is the fastest way to do it. So much an online portfolio, so much an easy-access example of your voice and writing style.
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| Stolen from my college buddy... thanks Brit! xx |
So peeps, what do you think? Do you agree with these basics, and do you have any more? What about things like LinkedIn... I've never used it, is that a good resource? Do you think it's worth sticking it out with Google Plus? How have Twitter and blogging helped you? What can I tell these future newsmakers about how the online world works?
Hmmm I had the same dilemma. I told my students to Tweet and blog. They seemed to be uncertain about how both worked. They do understand YouTube, so as you said YouTube channels might be a nice way of engaging them. Google reader or Stumble Upon are great ideas and Pinit may be able to engage some of the more visual students.
ReplyDeleteI think having a LinkedIn account is essential when you plan to look for work - recruiters check it all the time.
Great list, I'd definitely include LinkedIn, lots of opportunities have come to me through it, as far as I'm concerned it's the new resume.
ReplyDeleteLinkedin definitely - it's like having your CV online - and a lot of business people may be scared of other social media but they're definitely on Linkedin.
ReplyDeleteYouTube channel - particularly if they've got their sights set on TV journalism.
Depending on what they blog about - I would keep the bio stuff in the same place as the blog - this won't work for everyone's blog topic but if they're aiming for magazines, and blogging about fashion and beauty, keep your portfolio in that same place as well.
Twitter should be mandatory. Set up a hashtag and encourage tweeting during lectures - this is what the QUT group did - and they had the tweet stream streaming across my presentation!
Fab list Stacey. I tell my students similar things but they look at me blankly. I'm going to point them to your post and see what the wise folk have to say! I agree with Nikki that you don't know who's reading your posts and I'm careful to be tread the line of sharing honestly vs being vindictive or sharing what I wouldn't share with my best friend. And the big one I would emphasise is the widely read one - it amazes me how students expect to get a job without knowing the major industry publications or what is going on in the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat list and all definitely worthwhile - including LinkedIn.
ReplyDeleteHowever...with all of these things, they first have to learn how to EDIT. Otherwise they could end up with an overloaded mish-mash of work that actually does more harm than good.
It's important to remember that in newsrooms and TV production (my background...not sure about print) there are still a number of people who have not embraced online media - and many of these people do the hiring.
Content is and still always be king. Developing a cohesive brand that goes hand in hand with high quality work has to be at the front of their minds when they embark on any online identity. If they do that well, and follow all of the above, they'll be way ahead of the game.
I have personally benefited from my blog by landing my first ever writing job. I use a Facebook page and twitter to share my posts and I know for a fact access to my blog is mostly via those 2 sources. I cannot even start to imagine how much more work it would have been for me to 'advertise' my brand without my blog.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a well written and informative post. I think you've hit the nail square on the head.
ReplyDelete