APU Careers Careers & Learning

Making Your Job Search “Pinteresting”

By Ann Eastham
Contributor, Career Services

pinterest-retail-brandsIf you’re anything like me, you’ve spent hours on Pinterest searching for recipes that you never make, crafts you never start, and workouts that you never, ever intended to complete in the first place. While Pinterest allows us to ignite creativity in our personal lives, it can also help us in our professional lives! Below are just a few ideas on using Pinterest to benefit your career:

  1. Follow Career Experts and Career-Related Boards

Take advantage of the many boards and groups dedicated to career resources. Simply search for “career” and find dozens and dozens of different boards to follow. You can then narrow down your search – try “careers in STEM” or “careers for working women,” for example – and have a plethora of resources, articles, and advice at your fingertips.

  1. Create a Resume and Interview Board

Can’t decide what to add to your resume? Never had to write a cover letter before? Maybe you’re going on your first interview and have no idea what to wear. Search for “resume samples” – I found traditional and more creative templates – “cover letter,” or “interview attire,” and pin it to your board to review later. Once you’re ready to write your resume or cover letter, refer to your board instead of gathering all of the information at once.

  1. Research Potential Employers

Many companies now have Pinterest accounts where they pin the latest trends, news, and initiatives of the company. Fantastic companies like Target and NBC Universal have boards dedicated to careers, which can provide you with precious information. Suppose the company you are interviewing with recently posted a video about a community project they support; consider asking about the project in your interview. That will show the employer that you did your research and allow you to shine in the interview.

  1. Market Yourself on Pinterest

Create a board to promote your own talents and interests, telling a visual story. Pin your resume, previous presentations you’ve created, and personal infographics. If you do decide to market yourself in this way, just remember :

  • Make sure to link your Pinterest to your LinkedIn account so it’s visible to your network.
  • Continuously post the information you want most visible (like your resume), since the older posts get pushed towards the bottom of the page.
  • Keep all of your pins professional in nature; don’t overdo it on the funny cat memes or pictures of adorable baby giraffes.

There are so many other ways to use Pinterest to benefit your job search, so get out there and start pinning!

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