As well as the late nights, later mornings and the free pass to do (almost) everything, university has plenty of potential pitfalls for freshers.
We don't just mean the usual ones - don't blow your student loan the weekend you get it, learn to cook, etc - and we've got some great tips you might have missed. Our guide can help you make sure you sidestep danger zones to have the best time you can.
Don't limit your friends
Although the bad music you tolerate, the late-night antics you bear and the mouldy food you grimace at will be your flatmates’, you aren’t confined to those eight people for friends. If the people next door aren’t your type of people, don’t be disheartened. Being part of a lively flat can enhance the experience, but most students settle into friendship groups around second semester – don’t fret if you don’t feel like you’ve met people you ‘click’ with.
Get to know the flats around you (you’re on your own with that one), meet your coursemates, join clubs – there are thousands of students at university, many will be similarly aged, like-minded guys and gals. Don’t be shy! That weird kid you bumped into in the queue for the bar could be your best friend in six months.
Get stuck in!
When I first started, as a scared, shy 18-year-old, I thought that joining a society or a club in the first year would be too much to handle with the background worries of, well, going to university. Meeting new friends, living without my mum, cleaning, cooking, and going out – how would I have time for a society? Don’t get me wrong, first year was amazing, but if I regret anything, it’s not throwing myself into more sooner.
Not only do they offer the best socials (particularly sports clubs), they’re a great way to make friends, meet different people and come out of your shell (and if you’re lucky enough, experience a week’s ‘tour’ in Salou) Plus, if you’re brave enough to tiptoe out of your comfort zone to join up, doing something you enjoy will take the edge off the pressure during stressful work periods. Watch out for the clubs that have the most intimidating initiations (rugby and hockey, anyone?) and get in with some of the tightest-knit groups at university.
Don’t put if off – drag along a flatmate and sign up at the start of the year when everyone else is equally as new and nervous, before friendship groups are forging. I promise it will be one of the best decisions you’ll make at university.
Go political
Admittedly having a slightly poor reputation for being crammed with wannabe MPs arguing at demos and waving placards, many students are involved just to get the rest of us a better experience at university. The roles available are diverse, particularly ones like LGBT or women’s officer. There’s something for everyone. Not happy with something that the union have done? They listen to students and value their opinions highly, so introducing a new policy or getting rid of an old one is something that your university would take seriously.
It looks great on the CV - probably the millionth time you’ve heard that, oh, this year? But it goes without saying how impressive a student politics position is to a potential employer. With transferable skills like public speaking, leadership skills, a high work ethic and all that comes with running a campaign, it really can help you in any field. It also pushes you out of your comfort zone, representing your peers forces you to push yourself.
Don't sleep through lectures
Come every single September there will be an article about this, and yes, ‘first year doesn’t count’, but let’s be honest, it does. Although most universities count first year as 0 per cent of your final mark, employers will consider it, particularly in law/business fields. If two 2:1 applicants are against each other (almost an inevitability in the job market), one with a first in first year, and one having scraped a 2:2, who do you think will get it?
You’ll also be doing yourself a favour. Going from ‘nothing counts’, to a second year student whose next piece of coursework is worth 25 per cent is a shock to the system. Do the reading, answer the questions and do the practice coursework in first year so that when it does count, you’re prepared.
Although you’ll convincingly reassure your parents, grandparents, flatmates, advisor and yourself that you’ll work hard, simply because you can get away with it, sleeping through that lecture and promising yourself you’ll ‘catch up online’ will be a frequent occurrence. Having flatmates who won’t rise until gone 12pm will make getting yourself in gear harder than you think. Even as an admittedly ritualistic part of university, snoozing your alarm one too many times and getting the work off Blackboard will have its effects.
Think ahead
Most freshers don’t think ahead to life post-university. And, why would they? They’ve been given a taste of freedom, a sample of life without the parents and it’s understandable to barely look back long enough to wave goodbye, let alone think about what happens when you’re in employment.
Unfortunately, in an overly competitive job market, getting work experience from the word-go is a must. If you want to get into journalism, start writing for the student newspaper, or get work experience at a local one. If you want to go into accounting, start looking around at local firms. Making contacts, getting placements and thinking about what happens after you graduate should always be a concern, to make the eventual transition easier. Don’t ruin your fun though. Think about it after Jeremy Kyle finishes. Oh, it’s a double bill? Well maybe just after dinner then.
Appreciate it
I clearly remember putting on Facebook that I was graduating in 2013, after I’ve just received my UCAS confirmation, and feeling like that the day would never come. Alas, as I write I am sitting here in the library after my last ever Freshers Week with 10 months until I inevitably embarrass myself on stage in a fancy gown. As well as being the best three years of my life (it’s terrifying to hear people in their 20s and 30s still calling it that), it’s been the quickest. I’m a different person than I was when I dragged my stuff into halls and if you offered to take me back to that exciting (and absolutely terrifying) day; I’d bite your hand off.
Appreciate every second you are given the opportunity to be there (for the affordable price of £9,000) and take in everything you can. Work hard, play hard and make those memorable moments because once it’s over it’s over, and you’ll only be left with the memories.
Specialist student discount site studentbeans.com tell us your how your humble phone can also be your academic saviour.
ROSS JONES-MORRIS TUESDAY 09 OCTOBER 2012
You may have just started university or you may be a seasoned veteran staring down the barrel of your final year.
You may be going all guns blazing to get that first, or, more likely, balancing things as best you can and hoping to come out of the other side with a respectable 2:1.
Whichever group you belong to the chances are that the key to giving your results a serious boost is sat right there in your pocket, or handbag, or wherever it is you keep your phone.
Now obviously this works best if you have a smartphone but older models can still serve a purpose - it’s all about utilising what you have. And utilizing your phone in these six key ways can genuinely help you up your grade level - potentially to a mind-blowing, career kick-starting first.
Record your lectures and classes
Lectures and tutorials are incredibly important. They are full to the brim with information that is vital to your success but perhaps more significantly they provide key signposts, cues and warnings over how you should engage with a topic and crucially how your lecturer/tutor thinks. That’s the person who’s marking your work.
What’s more, they are a convenient and quick way to get you up to speed on a topic or provide an overview come exam time. With all that said, it’s almost a crime against your education to let them pass by in an hour-long flash. You need to record them.
Which is where your phone comes in. Plonk it down, hit record and you can start building your personal library of everything the lecturer has has ever said. This can then be used how you wish. We advise uploading it to a website like SoundCloud which has the advantage of being able to attach notes at various points across the recording. Brilliant. And of course, entirely free.
Reading
You’ve taken a trip to your library but you’ve realised you’ve left a book at home. Disaster. Or a book you’re reading has cited something which sounds interesting, but someone has already taken it out, or you’re nowhere near a library and you need it now. Disaster.
But never fear, as long as you have the Internet and your phone you have access to Google Books and (as long as you have a subscription) many other e-book services which may carry a copy of the passage that you need. Sure, you’ve got a laptop but you don’t take your laptop everywhere. Carrying a library containing hundreds of thousands of books in your pocket can enable you to do the breadth of reading required to get you that first. It also allows you to strike while your mind is hot on wider reading possibilities, therefore optimising their impact on your thinking and on your work.
Plan your time
There are many great organiser apps out there but amongst the very best reviewed is StudentLife Organiser. Not only will it allow you to break your time down into subject specific blocks, keep track of your classes and help you keep on top of deadlines, it can pretty much be used to plan your entire life as well.
Failing using an app, you can also simply use your phone as a mobile diary by using notes and your in-built calendar. Organisation is key to achieving good grades as is getting your work done in the most efficient way possible. And if you aren’t using your phone as a hub to do this, you should at the least give it a try. It is the thing that’s with you 24/7 - are we right?
Use it to revise
Apps like Flashcards can help with your last minute revision needs but as a long term proposition nothing is better than Evernote. It helps you collate, organise and utilise your revision material through a variety of different interfaces.
Revising using apps can often be directly equitable to real world methods but where app based revision comes into its own is in its slickness of presentation. Revising in quiz format can relieve some of that revision boredom and having easily editable and classifiable notes and revision cards that don’t take up a folder’s worth of space is clearly extremely convenient.
You may be into more old fashioned ways of going about your preparation and
So, you're about to graduate and can't wait to find that first job? Digital designer Mark Murphy has some help at hand and compiles advice from his agency Precedent’s collective creative talent
The transition from the fluffy, technicolour, dream world of university to the thousand yard stare of the real world is as much daunting as it is exciting for the young design graduate. The fact that graduates are emerging into the most difficult economic light in recent memory has only increased competition in a smaller creative jobs market. Depressed? Don’t be!
Remember you’re looking for work in the most creative, technology and innovation driven industry on the planet. The web is going to be one of the crucial factors in the creation of new jobs, niches and markets that drive economic recovery. A career full of as yet unknown opportunities to devise, design or develop. Optimistic? You should be!
Of course, optimism is something you and every other graduate have in spades, but how do you embark on those first tentative steps with success? There is no cheat sheet to finding your first creative job, but a tight game plan certainly helps.
1. How to get that interview
There are a multitude of channels to search on and offline for creative work. Leverage the tools and networks creatives already use to your advantage: search the creative ‘scene’ in the location you want to work. Forums, meetups and socials are fantastic places to network without the pressure of an interview situation.
Even when you do leave, many universities have an in house recruitment service that will continue to support graduates up to three years after graduation. It’s in their best interest to find you work as a graduate of their institution. Build up a relationship with your point of contact, think of every interview as a pitch. It’s all good practice which will help you eventually bag your first graduate role. Established agencies such as Precedent have a dedicated Twitter channel for available and upcoming positions
2. Into wilderness and the golden window
Most universities do a startlingly poor job at preparing you for the transition from the ending of your student life to the beginning of your professional one. They cover the basics but getting that CV up to scratch and building your portfolio online is only half the battle. You’ll need to hit the ground running to make the most of your ‘golden window’ – the first year after you graduate.
In this first year you still have the ace card that reads ‘just graduated’. Use it to its full effect; don’t waste this year working your old bar job just to tide you over. Do something relevant – freelance, explore personal projects anything that will keep you focused creatively while you find your first job.
Misspend this ‘golden window’ and you’ll not only find an additional fresh batch of rival graduates next year but also potential employers asking probing question about your unexplained extra year out of industry.
Tip by Mark Baillie, senior designer, Precedent Edinburgh Personal projects can be whipped up in a few hours and are great for mates and exposure
3. Be your own worst critic
You’ll never have as much time or support to develop your portfolio and creative process as you do at university. Capitalise on that before you leave this valuable network or peers and tutors. It’s difficult to comprehend now, but when the uni bubble finally bursts you’ll realise just how much support you had!
It’s important to be objective and self critical about your work. Don’t settle with filler in your portfolio; showcase only your strongest work. It’s always quality over quantity – you’ll be able to present and defend your most confident work robustly and effectively at interview. Don’t be over precious – If your showcase end of year project shreds at interview use that criticism constructively and positively. Industy isn’t as polite or accommodating as your favorite tutor so get used to being critiqued and learn to roll with the punches.
Tip by Emma Lawton, designer, Precedent London Precedents Ed Richard uses his portfolio as an outlet for both his professional and personal work
4. Does your face fit?
Remember in an interview situation, it’s not just your portfolio that is being assessed. Every agency has its own personality, process and objectives. The team at Precedent is critical to its success. Your interviewer will be looking to see what makes you tick, if you share the same ideals, passion and enthusiasm needed to work within the team. Ask the right questions, research the nature of the agency beforehand and be positive, engaged and listen. The right attitude can make all the difference even if you don’t have the most appropriate portfolio.
Tip by Andrew Lang, designer, Precedent Perth, Australia Make a list of your favourite agencies and and check their vacancies daily
5. Work fast, work smart
Time is money and efficiency will help make you competitive. Know the tools of your trade. Master shortcuts, maximise efficiency in your workflow when using software. I’ve known friends to land their first junior job on the strength of their portfolio only to fail the probation period because their workflow just wasn’t fast enough. You’ll need to be able to produce creative work with not only speed but also precision. This will give you a noticeable edge in the workplace, and don’t worry if you’re no Photoshop ninja yet. It will come with time, and the pressure of real deadlines! Learn keyboard shortcuts and time saving techniques and level up to a photoshop ninja
6. Money isn’t important
At least not initially. You don’t have a family, house or anything really to bankroll or lose just yet. For now you should priorities experience over financial reward. You might be working waiting tables but in your spare time build that portfolio. Take on worthwhile projects that have little or even no financial reward, it’s all exercise that will keep your creative skills sharp and you engaged. After all we do this because it’s our passion. Do not go into an interview expecting a generous basic first salary. Agencies hire graduates because they’re cheap, enthusiastic and, most importantly, brimming with potential. With experience and progression will come remuneration. Earn it by producing work that excites you, build your profile and portfolio. In time your confidence and credibility will afford you opportunities to advance within the industry.
Tip by Tom Nurse, designer, Precedent London
7. No surrender!
Persevere. Looking for a job is your full time job. Be proactive, positive and creative and you will eventually be noticed. Tailor your application, CV and portfolio to each specific agency. Never send a dispassionate generic resume. Do your research, and don’t feel afraid to develop your own novel approach. We’ve all heard about the guy who created a Google ad words campaign that targeted the names of six leading creative directors. If you have an idea that will get you noticed by the right people, ensure it’s innovative and delivered effectively.
Tip by Luke Smith, designer, Precedent London ‘Why didn’t I think of that!’ Why don’t you? Sit down and crunch some ideas… There you have it. Use these pointers to develop your post uni plan of attack. The web will continue to innovate and expand, with technology reaching ever deeper into people’s lives. The future is going to be devised, designed and developed by people like you. Excited? You should be
If you’re a graduate looking to get started in the digital world, take Mark’s advice and get in touch with Precedent. If you think you’d fit and you’re creative, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Keith on recruitment@precedent.co.uk.
Job seekers are increasingly being told that networking and professional contacts are essential for progressing your career. But what does an effective network look like?
Many people are turned off by the topic of networking. They think it's slimy, inauthentic. Picture the consummate networker: a high-energy fast talker who collects as many business cards as he can and attends mixers sporting slicked-back hair. Or the overambitious college kid who frantically emails alumni, schmoozes with the board of trustees, and adds anyone he's ever met as an online friend.
Luckily, building your network doesn't have to be like that. Old-school networkers are transactional. They pursue relationships thinking solely about what other people can do for them. Relationship builders, on the other hand, try to help others first. They don't keep score. And they prioritise high-quality relationships over a large number of connections.
Building a genuine relationship with another person depends on at least two abilities. The first is seeing the world from another person's perspective. No one knows that better than the skilled entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs succeed when they make stuff people will pay money for - and that means understanding what's going on in the heads of customers. Likewise, in relationships it's only when you put yourself in the other person's shoes that you begin to develop an honest connection.
The second ability is being able to think about how you can collaborate with and help the other person rather than thinking about what you can get. We're not suggesting that you be so saintly that a self-interested thought never crosses your mind. What we're saying is that your first move should always be to help. A study on negotiation found that a key difference between skilled and average negotiators was the time spent searching for shared interests and asking questions of the other person.
Follow that model. Start with a friendly gesture and genuinely mean it. Dale Carnegie's classic book on relationships, despite all its wisdom, has the unfortunate title How to Win Friends and Influence People. This makes Carnegie widely misunderstood. You don't "win" a friend. A friend is not an asset you own; a friend is an ally, a collaborator. When you can tell that someone is attempting sincerity, it leaves you cold. It is like the feeling you have when someone calls you by your first name repeatedly in conversation. Novelist Jonathan Franzen gets it right when he says inauthentic people are obsessed with authenticity. Strengthen your alliances
The best way to engage with new people is not by cold calling or by 'networking' with strangers at cocktail parties, but by working with the people you already know. Of the many types of professional relationships, among the most important are your close allies. Most professionals maintain five to 10 active alliances. What makes a relationship an alliance? First, an ally is someone you consult regularly for advice. Second, you proactively share and collaborate on opportunities together. You keep your antennae attuned to an ally's interests, and when it makes sense to pursue something jointly, you do. Third, you talk up an ally. You promote his or her brand. Finally, when an ally runs into conflict, you defend him and stand up for his reputation, and he does the same for you.
An alliance is when a co-worker needs last-minute help on Sunday night preparing for a Monday morning presentation, and even though you're busy, you agree to go over to his house and help. You cooperate and sacrifice because you want to help a friend in need but also because you figure you'll be able to call on him in the future when you are the one in a bind. That isn't being selfish; it's being human. The diversity of weak ties
Allies, by the nature of the bond, are few in number. By contrast, there are potentially hundreds or thousands of looser connections that also play a role in your professional life. These are the folks you meet at conferences, old classmates, co-workers, or just interesting people. Sociologists refer to these contacts as 'weak ties': people with whom you have spent low amounts of low-intensity time but with whom you're still friendly.
Weak ties in a career context were formally researched in 1973, when sociologist Mark Granovetter asked a random sample of professionals how they had found their new job. It turns out that 82% of them found their position through a contact they saw only occasionally or rarely. In other words, the contacts who referred jobs were weak ties. Granovetter accounts for this result by explaining that your good friends tend to be from the same industry, neighborhood, religious group, and so on. Consequently, their information is similar to yours - a job a good friend knows about, you probably already know about too.
Weak ties, however, usually sit outside the inner circle. Thus, there's a greater likelihood that a weak tie will be exposed to new information or a new job opportunity you'd otherwise miss. To be sure, weak ties are uniquely helpful so long as they hail from a different social circle or industry niche and therefore bring new information and opportunities. A weak-tie acquaintance whose job and background is identical to yours is unlikely to offer unique network intelligence. So when connecting with acquaintances, prioritise diversity in order to broaden the overall reach of your network. The best network: wide and (selectively) deep Several years ago sociologist Brian Uzzi did a study of why certain Broadway musicals made between 1945 and 1989 were successful and others flopped. The explanation he arrived at had to do with the people behind the productions. For failed productions, one of two extremes was common. The first was a collaboration between creative artists and producers who tended to all know one another. When there were mostly strong ties, the production lacked the fresh, creative insights that come from diverse experience. The other type of failed production was one in which none of the artists had experience working together. When the group was made up of mostly weak ties, teamwork and group cohesion suffered.
In contrast, the social networks of the people behind successful productions had a healthy balance: there were some strong ties, some weak ties. There was some established trust, but also enough new blood in the system to generate new ideas. Think of your network of relationships in the same way: the best professional network is both narrow/deep (allies with whom you collaborate regularly) and wide/ shallow (weak-tie acquaintances who offer fresh information and ideas). http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/how-to-network
Six months into his job on Sky's marketing graduate scheme, Alan Firmin reflects on what he's learned, and shares tips for the next wave of candidates nervously waiting for their interviews
Unbelievably, it has already been six months since I upped sticks to London and started on Sky's marketing graduate scheme. In many ways the time has flown by. It only seems like yesterday that I was sitting nervously in the Sky reception area, about to undertake a career-changing assessment process. I now go through that same reception area every day.
That said, in many other ways I feel like I have been working here for a long time. I think this is because of the huge amount I have learned about the company, and the extent to which I already feel a valuable part of Sky's workforce. It stands as a testament to how welcome I have been made to feel by everyone here, particularly those in my present team (Brand Media).
The feeling that time has gone quickly really hit home when I saw this year's marketing graduate applicants sat in the same seats I had sat in just a year ago. The new marketing graduate intake will be starting in August this year and my main piece of advice to them, and anyone else starting a graduate scheme soon, would be don't worry, be happy. Don't worry because while starting on a graduate scheme can be stressful, and you can often feel under pressure to impress immediately, it is important to remember that graduates are hired mainly for their potential so you are not going to be expected to run the company just yet. Be happy, because the first few weeks are when your colleagues will be forming lasting opinions of you, so it is important that you come across as positive and enthusiastic.
I'd also recommend that the new recruits use the first couple of months to learn as much possible and acclimatise to the new surroundings. Speaking to as many people as possible is a great way to learn (one thing I have learned is that people love talking about what they do) and you soon begin to understand how the company works and where you fit in.
The best part of my first placement has been the work I've done around augmented reality (AR) – a technology that allows users with a free app on their smartphones or tablet to scan a symbol on the poster and see the trailer for the programme. In particular, getting AR incorporated into the marketing campaign for Treasure Island on Sky 1 – the first Sky campaign to use this technology.
My job as a media planner is very varied and can differ day to day, however I would say my core responsibility is to understand, critique and improve media plans throughout their various stages (brief through to post-campaign analysis). On a day-to-day basis this involves constant communication between me, our media agencies and the campaign owners, to understand the status of the campaign. It also involves considering and feeding back the best and most efficient use of media to achieve a set of objectives.
I am just about to undertake my rotation and move into a new team. While my new placement will still be within the marketing department, it almost feels like I am starting a new job. As much as I will miss the team and role I'm currently in, I'm also excited about moving into a new role. I'm due to find out shortly which team I'll be joining but I know whatever the new role is, it will provide me with a completely different experience and a whole new set of skills. This is precisely the reason why I wanted to join a graduate scheme.
If you're at a complete loss when it comes to career choice, Clare Whitmell has some ideas about how you can gain a clearer idea of what you want to do
Psychometric tests and indicators
There are some free ones online. Perhaps the best known is the Myers-Briggs test which also suggests careers based on your test results. The questions are designed to make you think about how you work and about what drives your decisions and beliefs. However, as you progress through your career, you'll probably find that your answers (and results) also change.
Reflection
You'll need to do a certain amount of thinking to avoid falling into a role by accident. Pinpoint what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, and what you find interesting. Work out whether you have any particular values or needs that must be met.
If you have no idea where to start, a book like What Color is Your Parachute (Richard N Bolles) can help you understand your values, strengths and skills. It's primarily aimed at job-hunters and career-changers, but the self-assessments and exercises are helpful if you're seeking inspiration.
Talk to people who know you. Family, friends, tutors, and so on can often give illuminating feedback. Job ads and online resources
You can get a rough idea about various jobs through sites like Vault (US based) which has an A-Z of various job profiles and 'a day in the life' section.
Browsing the ads on Guardian Jobs can also give you information on the attributes that employers are looking for, plus the skills, experience or qualifications they require.
Your university careers service
Tap into the huge range of services and activities including one-to-one advice, psychometric testing, guest speakers and employer presentations. In Are you making the most of your university careers service?, Sara Whittam says: "We run alumni panels, where we invite graduates back to talk about their experience of working in the charity and development sector, teaching, journalism, environment, advertising, marketing and PR."
Make use of these facilities early and often, but you can also access your careers service beyond graduation. Sue Young says: "At Goldsmiths Careers Service we have a scheme for graduates which enables them to use their college careers service for a further two years post-graduation. The service they receive is exactly the same as when they were students."
Keep in mind
A range of jobs and experience will give you a clearer idea of what you like or don't like; or what you find interesting, meaningful or challenging. Work shadowing, temping and freelance opportunities are all useful ways to gain this awareness.
Don't base career choice on job titles alone. Roles change over time, and you may well have the chance to develop yours. For this reason, focus on finding companies where you feel you would develop professionally, rather than being led solely by job title.
Identify your levels of tolerance. No single job is always perfect - there'll always be a mix of what you love doing, and what you don't. But work out how far you can compromise. For example, how much micro-managing could you, the "independent, resourceful problem-solver" accept? Identifying your non-negotiables in terms of working environments or management styles (and the ideal scenarios where you're most likely to flourish) is a good step for finding a satisfying career. http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/making-career-choices
Consider the woman who was declined a second interview after a casual search pulled up near-nude photos on MySpace. "I think it's nice to get an idea of what applicants are interested in outside the office," the would-be recruiter wrote on askamanager.org. "Sometimes I'll stumble upon a cooking blog or travel photos, but her page shows serious lack of judgement."
Of course, most business and MBA students are far too savvy not to have made a complete audit of dodgy images and rambling posts from the past – but the internet does have a long memory. But more than just a clean bill of online health, the job market requires a focused, crafted and up-to-date online presence, say recruiters. "The point in using social media is to create and promote yourself as a brand in a similar way as a marketer would a product," says Duff.
A month before graduating, Durham Business School alumnus Sergio Brodsky was offered a role as a strategist and consultant with The Brand Union. He's active on Facebook and regularly updates his professional profile on LinkedIn. "Even now, employed, I constantly find new things about myself and update when relevant. Just like in real life, being true to yourself is the best way to portray an authentic image."
But credibility doesn't come easily. Nadim Choudhury, careers adviser at London School of Business and Finance (LSBF), advises MBA students to spend two to three hours each week on nurturing their online presence. "See it as an extension of your normal networking," says Choudhury. No aimless blogging or pointless posts though, or any genuine insights will sink without trace. LinkedIn leads the field in professional networking and is the most popular shop window for many recruiters. Some employers even conduct informal interviews via LinkedIn before meeting candidates in person.
Business students who are active online early on during their course are instantly more credible than those who begin a flurry of activity a couple of months before graduation, says Choudhury: social media is often a long game. But what to post? A well-written blog about your experiences of the course can help – although this is hardly new. The key is to specialise and become a "knowledge expert" in a particular field, which often provides the gravitas to break into a company. "Blogs are great if somebody is establishing a niche topic such as renewable energy for example," says Chris Higgins, assistant director of careers at Insead.
British students might find it culturally uncomfortable to blow their own trumpet online. Here it pays to be generous with intelligent advice. Sharing know-how in targeted forums and being active in discussions are ideal ways to connect with senior business figures, who might post genuine questions. "Always give something before you expect to get something back," says Chris Dalton at Henley Business School.
As an undergraduate, it's harder to be taken seriously enough to share your wisdom, but well-targeted appeals for help and updates on what you have learnt will flesh out your presence. "Be honest about the fact you are looking for opportunities and link to interesting content," explains Duff. "You don't have to know everyone really well to stand a chance of being recommended for a position."
Choudhury offers an example of how to get noticed in a sector such as advertising. Follow a slice of targeted companies on Twitter, so you can get completely up-to-date. Then start a blog observing what's happening in North America compared to Europe, for example. Download a campaign and blog about it, comparing continental differences, give opinions on Twitter and hash tag that company. "It won't happen overnight, but if you are consistent, [a company] will notice you," says Choudhury. "Even if they don't, it gives you a way to prove your passion."
While many professionals are sceptical about the value of Twitter, it's a minefield of job information – often the first way to hear about a job, and an excellent research tool. Building your presence is relatively straightforward, says Duff. Get a reasonable, professional looking headshot and use it across all social media channels to ensure consistent branding. "The other key thing is to write a killer bio. Really work on this one; you won't need to update it too often. LinkedIn, BraveNewTalent and Twitter are good places to put a really sharp, concise round up of what you have to offer."
While recruiters and MBAs say they favour LinkedIn as the most comprehensive network, other sites are also valuable. Most of the top-tier business schools operate closed forums for students and alumni to network – although etiquette dictates no direct appeals for jobs.
Cohorts tend to continue activity on closed Facebook pages even after graduation. Edinburgh Business School's Watercooler forum is an independent place to share information among students at one of the largest providers of online MBAs. Viadeo.com targets individual countries and specific professional groups in their own languages. Some recruiters are even beginning to use Pinterest, one of the fastest growing social sites worldwide.
"Social media has given candidates licence to express themselves beyond the confines of the traditional CV," says Nathan Bowles, CEO of recruiters Smart Solutions. He echoes the enthusiasm of many recruiters for social media. But, he says, it still hasn't replaced a solid CV.
What recruiters say
'It's an integral part of head hunting'
"We use social media as an integral part of our graduate and experienced hire recruitment strategy in terms of head hunting, general attraction and engagement. LinkedIn is an excellent way of establishing yourself as an expert in your field." Sammie Stapleton, PricewaterhouseCoopers
"Although using social media to recruit and search for jobs is very much in vogue at the moment, I do not see CVs being replaced just yet." Iestyn Morris, Capital Law
"All good professional recruiters use online and social media to head hunt and recruit talent." Sarah Hopkins, ResourceBank Recruitment
"Social recruiting has the ability to go viral and find talent using the six degrees of separation approach." Thomas Volkert, SuccessFactors
"There's no point jumping on the latest bandwagon if it's not reaching the people you need. We've found the majority of graduates aren't yet using LinkedIn as widely as we would have thought." Ashley Hever, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
"Pinterest is still very new but the increase in users has been phenomenal so it seems right to experiment." Kate Lavender, TBG Digital
Be careful what you post on the internet, because one day a recruiter might decide to look you up
If you think social media is overhyped and blogging and tweeting are a waste of time, then Google yourself, warn recruiters – after all, it's the first thing they will do. "Forget the debate over whether or not personal reputation and brand really exist and see what shows up – it's what employers will see," says Charlie Duff, community manager at BraveNewTalent.com.
