Twitter Important For Students

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UW-Milwaukee’s public relations club hosted its monthly meeting on strategic social media usage, stating that Twitter is the most effective and important site in the professional world.

Members of UW-Milwaukee’s PRSSA Chapter, Public Relations Student Society of America brought their laptops to the university union to network, create accounts and receive insight from professional social media user and Twitter advocate, Liz Gross.

Gross has been using Twitter for almost two and a half years. She uses the site to advance professionally by networking, connecting with others in her industry, and learning about the community. She advised students that Milwaukee has a tight knit Twitter group, and that building a credible and active Twitter account, in addition to attending local network events, will help students join this established and professional community

Twitter

Gross is currently the Director of Marketing and Communication at UW-Waukesha, and the former Program Outreach Coordinator for UWM University Housing. Gross mentioned that there are numerous social media sites available, includingFacebook and LinkedIn, but clearly had a favorite.

“Twitter, because you can keep so many connections, and you can just jump in for a snap shot of what’s happening and then leave and then come back later.”

In addition, Facebook and LinkedIn are not based on quick updates like Twitter is. Facebook and LinkedIn sites, she stated, are likely to become uninteresting and stale after a while.

To have a professional Twitter account, in addition to making regular and professional updates, Gross suggested all students include the following components:

  • Photo
  • Bio
  • Links
  • Connections

A Twitter bio, found at the top of an account page, should include the user’s name, location, link to networking site LinkedIn, job title, and something that shares that user’s personality.

Immediately at the meeting, Jodi Osmond, a UWM senior majoring in Strategic Communication, decided to create a Twitter account.

“You hear time and time again people say it’s like part of the business, it’s pretty much essential, employers are looking for people who know social media.”

Gross advised attendees that a Twitter account could help with job searches. She reminded students that they want employers to come to them with perspective job positions, and social media can help create these opportunities.

IamUWM

Brooke Sorenson, a UWM senior and the Director of Event Planning for PRSSA, is an active social media user. She was recognized this past fall for her Twitter presence and use of the IamUWM hashtag, a Twitter phrase, which promotes university pride and community involvement.

“I started tweeting IamUWM, and they contacted me later that day and saw my efforts and I was interviewed later that night on WTMJ4, and that was pretty cool, and from there I got more followers and connected to more people on the UWM community.”

Gross had been Tweeting the IamUWM hashtag as well, and realized at the meeting that she recognized Sorenson through this Twitter connection. Gross had never met Sorenson in person before. She stated that Twitter is not only for connecting with people you already know in real life, but recommended following and interacting people that you want to know.

Facebook Privacy

Many of the event attendees agreed they were familiar with the social media site, Facebook. When Gross suggested that often time’s personal pages are filled with over revealing information, a short laugh traveled across the room, as if the students knew exactly what she was talking about. Gross discussed the importance of maintaining strict Facebook privacy.

“I will admit I have two Facebook accounts, one that I use for work and one that I’ve had that I’ve had since right as I got out of college. The difference, though, with my personal Facebook page is locked down like crazy, so if you Google me you find a Facebook profile but it’s the one I want you to find”.

She reminded students that 70 percent of hiring managers Google the names of job candidates.

In addition to the social media seminar, PRSSA announced the upcoming candidates for the PRSSA executive board positions of fall 2011. The club closed the meeting by reminding attendees to use their newly learned social media skills and accounts to keep up with PRSSA spring semester updates.