Tips and help for becoming more professional both in the office and in social media for college admissions or high school counseling. Presented at the Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling Summer Institute. Tips for using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and About.me.

1. Professional
Standards and
Social Media
Will Patch
Manchester University
IACAC Summer Institute 2014

2. Welcome to Your Profession!
 This is a professional career
 Not just a job, you’re the expert!
 Professional standards apply online as
well
 Social media can blur the lines of personal
and professional

3. Professional Appearance

4. Professional Communication
 “The way you use language reveals who
you are, how you think, and how you
work.” – Nick Corcodilos
 If spelling and grammar are a known
weakness, ask for help

5. Professional Communication

6. Professional Communication
 Body language is as important as how you
use spoken or written language
 See Amy Cuddy’s research
 TED Talk as well

7. Good or Bad Body Language?

8. Online Professional
 Your online profiles are how you portray
yourself when you aren’t there
 Make sure it’s a good first impression

9. Online Professional

10. Your Profiles
 Recommended not to use 1 account for
your personal and professional
relationships
 Some offices prefer you not to use social
media to communicate, check first
 Take advantage of security and privacy
settings!
 2 accounts, or just professional
 Consider using 1 network just for professional,
and another just for personal

11. Your Profiles
Personal
 Friends and family
 Post fun content
 Maybe some
embarrassing photos
 Use privacy settings

12. Your Profiles
Professional
 Students and coworkers
 Follow interesting people and
organizations
 Fun is relative
 Focus on message

13. Privacy Online
 Facebook
 Post level or profile level
 Posts and photos can be set individually

14. Privacy Online
 Facebook
 Profile level can hide portions or your entire
profile

15. Privacy Online
 Twitter
 More simple, either on or off

16. Things to Avoid
 Uncomfortable messages from students or
parents
 Refer to your Director immediately, don’t
respond
 Blurring the lines
 Keep relationships professional
 Casual is ok, but can lead to problems

17. Professional Profiles
 Have a professional photo ready
 ID photo or headshot from website
 Consistency looks good
 Have bio or professional description ready
 A few sentences describing you, your role,
and/or your goals
 Elevator pitch

18. Professional Facebook
 Link profile to work email or professional
email address
 Use cover photo that represents your
institution or isn’t unprofessional

19. Professional Twitter
 Retweet and interact with university or
high school
 Interact and answer questions from
students

20. LinkedIn
 Professional network, not social
 Online resume
 Network with others in profession, learn
more through groups

21. LinkedIn
 “Be brave enough to start a conversation
that matters.” – Margaret Wheatley
 Ask questions in groups, start new topics

22. About.me
 A hub for your profiles
 Great way to meet new people and ask
questions

23. Professional Development
 IACAC
 Spring Congress
 Mentorship
 NACAC
 Groups
 National Conference
 Journal of College Admission

24. Professional Development
 LinkedIn groups/Pulse
 Chronicle of Higher Ed
 Vitae
 About.me
 Search by interests

25. Professional Development
 On your campus
 Connect with faculty and staff
 If you’re not an alumnus, even more critical to
get to know students
 Mentorship programs
 Committees

26. Discuss
 What have been your experiences with
social media and professional standards at
work?
 What questions do you have?