Library guides: Employability and information skills: Social media

Using social media

Create an online profile to highlight your skills or your research interests.

You should distinguish between your personal profile (eg. on Facebook) and your professional image (eg. on X, LinkedIn, a blog). Social media can also be used as a job searching tool. See our Digital and social media guide for further information.

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network. It allows you to:

create a network of colleagues and professionals in your field from whom you can seek advice
stay in contact with past and present colleagues
discover inside connections when you're looking for a job
recommend and endorse others
receive recommendations from colleagues
list your skills and experience
join groups and participate in discussions.

Blogs

Writing a blog can be a useful way to express your own opinions, promote your skills or research and practise writing for particular audience.

Blogs are also a valuable way to stay up to date with developments in your field of study or research. You can subscribe to blogs by academics or other students or research blogs and see their new postings. Some blogs are interactive and allow comments and discussion.

The City Blogs platform is a service for staff and students to create content about learning, teaching and research. There are many free platforms available such as WordPress and Blogger.