Instagram & Your Job Search: Answering Your Top Questions

Does the thought of using Instagram for your job search seem ridiculous? Instagram is yet another way to leverage social media to enhance your professional brand and accelerate your job search.  If you are still puzzled, continue reading and perhaps we can answer your top Instagram questions.

Should I have one Instagram account or two?

You should only have one LinkedIn account. However, it’s a smart move to establish a second Instagram account for your professional persona.  Use your name, but you could add a descriptor to identify a major element of your career brand. Examples include:  “Terri_Price_SEO Expert,”  “Teresa_Montez_CPA,” or “Harold_Quan_MBA.”

How do I write a strong bio on Instagram?

Craft a concise bio, rich with words that describe your career value.  Look to your LinkedIn headline and summary for inspiration.  In fact, you can borrow language from your LinkedIn profile when writing your Instagram bio.

Should I add links to other pages on my Instagram page?

Yes, linking to your personal website, blog, Twitter page, and LinkedIn page is a great idea.  Before adding any links, verify that the pages are up to date, complete, and career appropriate.

What type of photos should I share on this professional Instagram page?

The obvious photos are photos of you at work, photos of you at professional events, or photos of your work product.  Work product will vary by occupation, but it could be a product you launched, artwork you created, or an award that you earned.

Should I post videos?

If you have videos that are career appropriate, the answer is yes.  Videos of you “in action” at work, delivering a presentation, a video of you demonstrating a function, or a video that you created are all appropriate.

How do I find companies to follow?

You can search for companies by name or a product brand. Also, you can check Nitrogram.  This is an online resource that tracks the most popular brands on Instagram.  Follow companies aligned with your career goals. Take it one step further and find people at target companies and follow those people. Following companies and employees of target companies will provide you with insight into the company culture, as well as company news.

How can I expedite my search?

Use hashtags related to your industry to dig deeper to find companies and people.  Also, create hashtags related to your career to be found.

How do I ensure my page is appropriate for employers to see?

Obviously, you will not share anything inappropriate.  Take it one step further and scrub your page to be sure it is professional.  As an aspiring business analyst, photos of your Yankees bobblehead collection, and memes of grouchy cats are not professional.  Make sure all photos support your professional brand.

Don’t waste an opportunity to promote your brand! Research companies and get your networking plan underway.  Get started on your professional Instagram presence today!