Many of us spend hours on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook each day. Many of just use these sites to post aesthetic pictures and tag friends in memes, but, as a networking college student preparing for the “real world,” you should use social media more efficiently.
####Update your Facebook
This might seem like a lame thing to do, but it’ll save you from having to call your family every few days to fill them in on what you’re doing. Simply posting pictures of you and your friends at a campus event or new restaurant lets them know you’re still alive and having fun.
####Follow campus accounts
It’s unbelievably important to stay up-to-date on campus news and activities, and the best way to do that is by following Mizzou-related accounts. Besides the university’s main account, @Mizzou on both Twitter and Instagram, most academic colleges and departments have individual accounts that post information on classes and scholarships. On top of professional accounts, there are fun ones like @FreeFoodMizzou on Twitter and @Mizsquirrels on Instagram. Following accounts allows you to be in the know on current events and campus-wide jokes.
####Don’t be private
This might seem like a bad idea, but it’s not. Many employers _hate_ seeing a private account when they search for you. You might think you’re doing a good thing by not letting anyone and everyone see your account and the (potentially questionable) pictures you post, but you’re not. Even if your account is clean, an employer is going to assume you have something to hide. With that being said…
####Be professional
Your accounts should be public and what you post should be a clean, accurate representation of who you are. Feel free to retweet funny things and post selfies, but try to balance it with news, current events or some more thought-provoking material. Stay true to who you are and your beliefs and opinions, but don’t put it all out there. All of this can be a tricky balance, but if you start doing these things now, you’ll thank yourself later.
_Edited by Cassie Allen | callen@themaneater.com_