Capitalise on your LinkedIn connections and Facebook followers, but don’t get complacent. The legal and business social media landscape is expanding. Excitingly, law and business students alike are using a whole range of sites to hunt for job opportunities, from LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to Instagram and even Tinder.
By Editorial Team. Published 23 July 2018. Last updated 31 May 2023.
There’s a wealth of people to engage with on social media, and great content to explore too (check out our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for starters). Here’s how to market yourself in the legal or business world using some social media savvy.
Do . . .
Demonstrate commercial awareness
Retweet and engage with stories on relevant news sites. It shows firms and companies that you keep up-to-date with the industry, displaying that all-important commercial awareness that employers love.
Keep up with graduate opportunities
Whether it’s summer work experience programmes, training contracts, or pupillages, you’ll find a huge amount of first job opportunities advertised by businesses, firms, and chambers on their channels. Thought leaders in their respective industries will also often mention these opportunities. Follow employers and leading figures on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to be among the first to find out about vacancies.
Show off your writing skills
Being able to write succinctly is a great skill to have in any profession – a skill that’s also required on social media. Tweet about topics that interest you, or publish articles on LinkedIn and Facebook, and demonstrate that all-important writing ability.
Create a professional presence
Not just on LinkedIn, but on other social media sites too. You’ll find magic circle firms and big corporations on Facebook and the Supreme Court on Instagram. Join them, and make sure you always come across as professional.
Don’t . . .
Be careless
Think carefully before posting any piece of content. You don’t want to put anything out there that may jeopardise your career. Take control of your digital footprint by establishing a strong and positive online presence that will impress, not deter, employers.
Use social media speak
Text-speak, emojis and social media slang might be fun but using them won’t help you to come across as professional. The legal profession is conservative, and while some modern big businesses might be a little more relaxed, the majority are still quite reserved, so write in an appropriate manner.
Rely on social media alone
It’s great to build up a strong follower base; it’s even better to take things forward into real life. Ask connections for work experience, apply to attend events, and invite professionals you connect with for a coffee.
Join the University of Law on social media via Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
