There are a few things you might want to do after you graduate from college. The first, obviously, is to celebrate! You’ve spent four or more years of your life working hard on that degree. To top off your success, consider updating your digital profiles to showcase a more mature, professional version of yourself. You’ll have to make a resume, showcase your best self online, and update your casual or humorous voicemail greetings so that colleagues or clients can get to know your professional alter ego.
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Polish Your Resume
Did you graduate with a 4.0? Were you on the college swim team for three years? Did you just complete a prestigious summer internship? Even if you don’t have a job prospect yet, it’s best to put your best foot forward with a resume (of one page or less) that highlights your qualifications, including your education and your professional skillset.
Transition to Professional Social Media Platforms
Imagine your future employer sifting through your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages after reading a copy of your resume. Are you the right candidate to represent their company? You’ll first want to delete pictures or accounts that don’t show you in a professional light – but you don’t need to erase your digital profile completely. It’s fine to keep a laid-back, more informal page for family and friends, but don’t forget to create an online resume or even a webpage that showcases your professional profile. Your qualifications, writing samples, and a list of professional accomplishments (like internships, jobs, and awards), not pictures from your latest trip to the beach, should be the star of the show here.
Update Your Voicemail Greetings
It sounds like a small change, but the right voicemail greetings go a long way to show callers what kind of professional you are. Don’t begin with a salutation such as “hey” or “what’s up”; instead opt for “hello” or “you’ve reached Sam Smith”. Depending on your future area of work, you might want to consider getting a ninja number for your business calls as well to separate your personal and professional phone lines.
You don’t have to go into this new phase of life blindly. Search through resumes and profiles online, check in with your college’s career center for help, and ask your friends or parents for assistance. It’s an exciting time and you’re ready to embrace whatever life throws at you after college. After you create a professional online profile, the world will see that too.
