Social Media for Recent Graduates

by Sabrina M. Johnson
LCS Graduate Fellow

The job market is tough out there. It’s not just about getting the interview, but also leaving a lasting impression so employers want to work with you. Good, old fashioned in-person networking is still a great way to communicate your value to a prospective employer, but you can also use social media very effectively to enhance your presence outside of the interview room.

Throughout law school you received advice to make sure your online presence was professional, and to Google yourself to make sure you were presenting to future employers and clients the person you wanted them to see. Don’t stop there! You can use social media to enhance your professional persona by showing that you are aware of what is going on your chosen area of law.



Leverage your LinkedIn presence by joining groups that discuss your areas of interest. This can be defined by practice areas (such as estate planning or intellectual property), affinity group (such as women lawyers), or other defining characteristics. You can start by joining Golden Gate University Law’s group. Law Career Services has a couple of handouts, LinkedIn – Make it Work for You, and LinkedIn: Facebook for Lawyers that can assist you further in making your LinkedIn presence strong.

LinkedIn is not the only way to create a presence online. Recently the ABA hosted “Putting Social Media to Work For You,” a presentation through their Career Advice section. Presenters Nicole Black and Kevin O’Keefe discussed using blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other forms of social media to get your name out there, and to educate yourself on what is going on in your field of interest. Ms. Black shared an article, Tips on Standing Out in a Competitive Market, in which she discusses how to be active in searching for more than just job posts. Mr. O’Keefe uses his own blog, Real Lawyers Have Blogs, to share strategies on blogging and using social media to increase your online presence and be part of discussions.

This presentation was part of the Free Career Advice Series put on by the ABA Career Center. Every second Friday, there is an hour-long free webinar. The topic on November 14 is, “Choosing and Pursuing Alternative Careers.” One thing I enjoy about the presentations is that you can do them anywhere that you have internet access, and get access to information without the stress of “working the room.” The ABA’s Career Center has job postings, advice, and other materials, and it’s all free.

Social media is part of how you can enhance your networking skills and get to know attorneys. It can also be your gateway into what to discuss when you go to those live networking events and you are meeting new people.