Can looking at someone’s Pinterest boards be a window into their soul? What message do people “hear” when they look at your boards? Let’s take a look some boards and assess what their messages are! But first, why is this important to you as a job seeker?
Employers want to feel like they know you, not just your skills. How you perform at work is largely based on your personality and style and this is the soft stuff employers have difficulty uncovering during interviews.
Pinterest is an online collage or collection of images. They say it is: “A content sharing service that allows members to “pin” images, videos and other objects to their pinboard.” The average user spent 89 minutes on the site in January 2012, according to a whitepaper by Engauge.
Many of us respond to visual images and this site addresses that fix. It also serves as a format to convey who you are beyond a static, stagnant resume. Here are some ideas.
What You Do: Your Profile Starts the Message
Like almost all the social networking and social media tools, you have the ability to create a profile. Your profile provides you with the opportunity to show your value (and is a great for using key words).
(Normally you would have an avatar, but Dorlee’s wasn’t showing up correctly so I didn’t include it in this snip!)
Your Affiliations in Picture Form
Now, a picture is worth a thousand words, this is how these users “show” their affiliations.
Beyond What You Do…Your Interests
Here is the more insightful part. What are their interests? And what does this tell you about their personalities?
Be Purposeful
If you choose to use Pinterest, or any other social media platform, be sure to do so with a clear vision of what you want to communicate and be aware of what you are actually communicating!
Remember, anything about you online is fair game for employers to see. Forewarned is forearmed!
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.
