Friday, February 26, 2016

Social Networks – How They Can Impact Your Scholarship, Internship, or Job Opportunities.

The Good News.

Technology has had a huge effect on recruitment - for candidates, recruitment professionals and employers alike. What this means for organizations is that sourcing talent through the internet is becoming progressively more important. Not only are employers and their agencies increasingly adopting online-only recruitment policies, but more and more are using social networking platforms such as Facebook and Linkedin to hunt for candidates. According to a study by CareerBuilder.com, one of the largest online job sites in the US, one in every five employers uses social networks to research information about job candidates.

Social media has entered the mainstream as a recruitment strategy; and many highly-recognized firms are connecting with applicants through their own profiles or pages on these sites. As an example, one highly recognizable organization has a team dedicated to recruiting on Facebook, where applicants can ask questions, find information regarding contests, jobs, internships, links to related information, and discussion boards.

Online networks can become a lifeline for job or internship seekers.  An economic crisis hitting firms across the globe has created a spike in usage of professional networks such as LinkedIn, the top professional Web network. Professional networking should be a top priority during unstable economic times.

While making it well worth jobseekers’ time and effort to have a presence online, it’s really only effective for those that take the time to develop their profile. Virtually anything in a profile shows up on a search, so students and employees should list educational background, awards, current and previous employment, current responsibilities, user groups, professional associations they belong to, expertise, and other information companies might seek. Tap into social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook to create or expand positive online content about you.

The Bad News.

What you put on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social networks (or what your friends put there) could have a negative impact on your scholarship. According to Social Media and College Admissions, many college admissions offices are searching social networking sites and using search engines (Google and Bing) to conduct background checks on potential students before awarding scholarships. Facebook and Instagram are the most commonly searched sites. The report, put out by the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, expect presence of admissions offices on social networking sites to increase.

Recent surveys find that a growing number of job searches are being derailed by "digital dirt." The Internet is rife with inaccuracies, posturing, gossip and material presented out of context. All of which can wreak havoc on someone's digital footprint. Social networking Web sites can be mined with unintended or embarrassing anecdotes, and general Web searches sometimes reveal inconsistencies or resume inflation. This can, and has, eliminated candidates for internships and jobs.

There are a number of methods being used to collect information and create a virtual profile of you, such as searching and utilizing government records, free people searches, search engines, social network search engines, and paid searches. A number of companies (and college admissions offices) are also using facial recognition software. Think you’re safe by setting your profile to private? Or using an alias? Your personal information is still accessible to parents, professors, police, or employers. Even if your profile is private, there's little to stop your online contacts from copying and sharing your information or pictures with others, and tagging them. Removing possible incriminating pictures or information when it’s time to look for that scholarship or job may be more difficult than you think. So it's a good rule of thumb to avoid posting pictures or confessions that would humiliate you or a friend if they reached the wider world, because they very well could.

My suggestion – Google yourself; do an image search; log in to your social network and do a search. Do this regularly.  Create a profile on a professional network, and link to professors, colleagues, and friends. Create or expand positive, professional online content on other social network sites. Search for companies with an online presence in Facebook or Instagram, and join. Make yourself highly visible, with a positive and professional image.

Scholarships for The University of Nebraska at Omaha

Program Description: The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers a number of competitive scholarships for international students entering at either the undergraduate or graduate level.

Amount of scholarship:

UNO Advantage Scholarships
These scholarships allow recipients to pay resident tuition rates. The scholarships typically reduce tuition charges by about 65% and are worth $7,600 to $9.60 per year. They are renewable each year with good academic progress.


New International Student Scholarships
These scholarships are worth $6,000 per academic year. Partial grants of $3,000 are sometimes awarded for a single semester, and are not renewable.
Please note that we will accept online applications only. Paper applications will not be considered.

Deadline: None

Requirements / eligibility:
1: Must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2: Must meet admissions requirements.
3: Must be a J-1 or F-1 visa holder or applicant.

Additional Information:
Website: http://world.unomaha.edu/
Instructions: Apply online at world.unomaha.edu. Click on "Admissions," then "Scholarships and Funding."

Contact:
  • International Studies & Programs:
  • 6001 Dodge Street, ASH 241
  • Omaha, NE 68182

Phone #: +1 (402) 554-2293
Fax #: +1 (402) 554-2949
E-Mail:  

Australian Government Scholarships for International Students

Australian Government Scholarships for International Students

​Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the Australian Government.  Opportunities include:
·         Endeavour Awards, providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe and the Americas to undertake study, research or professional development in Australia
·         Australian Awards Fellowships, providing scholarship support for postgraduate studies in Australia and short-term fellowship opportunities in specialised research, study or professional attachments
·         Australian Awards Scholarships, to promote good governance, economic growth and human development in Australia's partner countries.

For more information about Australian Government scholarships, visit the Australia Awards website