Instead, proactively use social media to make you stand out from the crowd and to catch the eyes of potential employers.
It is no longer enough to make sure that there is nothing damaging on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn feeds. You also need to use these platforms in a proactive way to position you favorably.
Erika Theron, Academic Dean at The Private Hotel School, ADvTECH’s hospitality institution, agrees.
“Entry-level positions are highly contested and scarce, yet almost all of them call for experience. Social media provides an opportunity to gain experience, showcase creativity and initiative, and serve as a platform for demonstrating your personality and capabilities,” she says.
Theron says someone who completed a Diploma in Event Management, for example, can do the following to firstly gain experience, and secondly, leverage that experience on social media:
Show what you’ve learnt
What you want to do is demonstrate that you can apply what you have learned. Few students have the budget to throw a massive event simply to demonstrate that they can. So therefore you need to find existing opportunities, for instance a community fair, a charity ball or auction, or a local market.
Approach sponsors
Approach the organisers and volunteer your services to help make the event a success. Refer back to what you learned at your college and apply these principles, carefully documenting what you are doing and why. On the day of the event, use your phone to take and edit great pics, and post them to your social media accounts with clear captions and industry-related hashtags. Include any testimonials from the organisers or guests as well.
Use every opportunity you have
So next time you have, for instance, a family event where food will be prepared, step in and help develop the menu so that it can showcase your skills in these methods. Have a family member or friend take awesome pics and video, and apply filters to make the images look exciting and professional.
Caption your posts accordingly
Add detailed captions and hashtags, and create your cooking album on Facebook or Instagram. Prospective employers will then be able to see your passion and ability if they dig through your online presence.
Practice makes perfect and using social media to your benefit shows that you have a self-starter attitude, while also giving a confidence boost when you next find yourself in the interview room.
