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How to Effectively Include Social Media on Your Resume (+Examples)

Social media has become an integral part of our lives. It’s changed the way we communicate, share information, and, for many of us, even search for job opportunities!

As a result, the question of whether job seekers should include their social media profiles on their resumes has become increasingly relevant. Will it enhance or hurt your chances of securing a job? It depends on a few factors, including the specific job you’re applying for, the industry you’re in, and the content of your social media profiles.

Let’s dig into when it’s appropriate to put social media links on your resume, when to leave it out, and how you can use it to your advantage.


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When to Include Social Media on Your Resume

  • To demonstrate your industry expertise and engagement—Professional social media accounts that are dedicated to enhancing your career provide an excellent platform to showcase your skills and connect with other professionals in your field. For example, Twitter has become a hub for journalists to share their articles, engage with peers, and keep their followers informed about the latest news developments. By including industry-specific social media profiles on your resume, you can highlight your active involvement, thought leadership, and commitment to staying up to date with trends, tips, and news within your professional bubble.
  • To showcase a creative or visual portfolio— If you’re in a creative field like graphic design, marketing, fashion, or photography, social media can be a valuable addition to your resume! Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even Twitter can serve as your professional portfolio, allowing you to showcase your work in a captivating way while searching for job opportunities.
  • You want hiring managers to notice your personal brand—Social media can be a powerful tool for building and promoting your personal brand. And if you’ve put in effort to build a strong personal brand across platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or a professional blog, including links to these accounts on your resume can be a great way to give hiring managers a deeper glimpse into your professional identity.

When NOT to Put Social Media on a Resume

Knowing when to omit social media from your resume is just as important as knowing when to include it. Your resume should include only relevant information that illustrates your skills and experience in a way that convinces employers you’re the right fit for the job. Will your social media contribute that that goal? If the answer is no, it’s best to leave it off. Here are a few examples:

  • Your social media profiles are purely personal, and you don’t use them for any professional purposes.
  • Your profiles contain content that could be deemed unprofessional by hiring managers.
  • Your social media presence is outdated or irrelevant to the job you’re applying for.

Tip: Building a strong presence on LinkedIn may significantly improve your chances of getting hired. According to Zippia’s research, 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to fill their open positions, and 87% of recruiters consider it the most effective platform for evaluating candidates. 


How to Put Social Media on a Resume

While many standard resume templates available online do not provide examples of where to include social media links, there are still ways to incorporate them. One option is to include your social media links in the contact information section of your resume, either in the header or footer.

If you have three or more links to share, it’s a good idea to create a separate section on your resume specifically for social media links. Here are some examples of how you can present them:

  • LinkedIn: [Link]
    • I use this platform to regularly showcase my skills and industry insights.
  • Twitter: [Link]
    • I actively engage with other industry experts by sharing news and insights.
  • Instagram: [Link]
    • I use this platform to highlight visual and other creative projects related to my profession.

Businessman reading resume of woman on his digital tablet during an interview


Additional Tips

  • Verify hyperlinks—Before submitting your resume, test all hyperlinks and make sure they’re functional.
  • Label hyperlinks—Clearly label each hyperlink with the correct platform name.
  • Regularly check and update links— Review and update the hyperlinks on your resume. Social media platforms may undergo changes or updates, and you want to ensure that the provided links are accurate and lead to your current profiles.
  • Prioritize professional profiles—Let professional platforms like LinkedIn take center stage in the social media section of your resume. These profiles are designed for professional networking.

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Should You Include Social Media on Your Resume?

If you’re unsure whether to include social media on your resume, here’s the bottom line: If your profiles are relevant to the job you’re applying for, don’t include any potentially unprofessional content, and will showcase your personal skills and expertise, then it’s perfectly acceptable to include them! Still, it’s important to follow best practices and tips to make your profiles attractive to potential employers and use your social media presence to your advantage.

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