How to stand out online – Bossing It

In a competitive job market, a stellar digital profile can catch employers’ attention. For our latest roundup of alumni advice, we asked digital experts Rachel, Sagnik, Maria, and Jessica for tips on boosting your online presence.

Rachel Quigley (PgDip 2009)

Rachel graduated from Cardiff University in 2009 with a PgDip in Newspaper Journalism. Since then, she has worked in newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online journalism as well as dipping her toes into podcasting. She has covered hard news, entertainment and lifestyle, and everything in between.

She currently works as Managing Editor for CNN’s commerce division Underscored in New York, where she has lived for the last 15 years. She took five years out of traditional journalism and editing to work in audience development at Conde Nast, where she was in charge of SEO, social media, and newsletters at brands like Vogue and GQ.

Leverage LinkedIn

When you’re starting out in your career, LinkedIn should be your best friend. Really learn how to use LinkedIn to find connections and contacts — there are a myriad of features that you probably don’t know exist.

If you want to work in a particular company or sector, seek them out and look for mutual connections. Ask that mutual connection for an introduction, but don’t be afraid to contact someone you don’t know. What’s the worst that can happen? And be tenacious — follow up when you don’t hear back the first time (and you probably won’t hear back the first time, people are busy!) but know there’s a fine line between persistence and pestering someone.

Finally, follow the people in your industry and join their conversations. Start small; someone with 1,000 followers is more likely to notice and respond to you than someone with 5-10,000.

Sagnik Basu (MA 2019)

Sagnik is Head of Social and Senior Editor at FOX Media, where he develops news shows and podcasts covering sport, pop culture, and politics. As well as co-founding Midnight Thrift Media, which manages content for clients including venture capitalists and marketing agencies, he shares interviews with creators on YouTube.

Sagnik also organises events in New York, helping talented immigrant founders and creatives to raise money, build communities, and find their feet in the USA. In 2024, he was named a winner at the Cardiff University 30(ish) Awards, which celebrates alumni who have made a positive contribution to their community.

Get over the cringe and out into the world

Tackle what’s keeping you from promoting yourself and telling your story: the fear of being cringe. The same part of the brain that stops you from going up to a girl at the bar (she could’ve been your wife) is stopping you from sharing your unique story with the world. “What will people from high school think?” Here’s the deal: “Embarrassment is the price of admission”. Everything awesome in life awaits you across the “Cringe Mountain”. All you have to do is climb it and let go of the fear of rejection, being judged, or not making it.

Everyone who’s made it to the other side of the “Cringe Mountain” has stood where you are now. Get out there and let the world know who you are, what you care about, and what you’re working on – whether that’s via a podcast, TikTok, or LinkedIn. If you’re honest, authentic, and interesting, people will find you. And most importantly, remember nobody’s thinking about you as much as you’re thinking about you. Everybody is busy climbing their own mountain.

Maria Mellor (BA 2017, MA 2019)

Maria is the Digital Content Manager for The Caterer – a digital media brand for the hospitality industry. She leads the charge across digital channels and was responsible for setting up and designing The Caterer’s new website, which launched in May 2024. She oversees social media channels, and ensures the news and features published meet today’s digital standards.

In her own time, she creates content for TikTok and Instagram under the username @menuformaria, reviewing restaurants and sharing lifestyle tips.

Share your wins

Even if you’re just starting out in your career, there are always things in your life to be proud of. On LinkedIn it feels like others are getting new jobs and promotions every week, but that’s not the be all and end all of showing the world how great you are.

People enjoy seeing others succeed in all areas of life. Nothing is too small to be worth shouting about – throw away your cringe and big yourself up, whether you ran a half-marathon, cooked a big meal, or simply explored a new town. Building a digital presence is about quantity – the algorithm on any platform favours those who post regularly, so sharing yourself in a positive light will help to get the ball rolling. And the more you post, the more you learn about how to conduct yourself online. Practice makes perfect!

Jessica Roberts (BA 2004)

Jessica is an internal communications consultant, helping businesses elevate employee engagement and create cultures they’re proud of. With nearly 20 years of experience across sectors including hospitality, retail, tech, and finance, she’s partnered with clients like JustEat, Vodafone, ODEON, Fuller’s, and HMRC.

From fashion shoots with Victoria Beckham at Elle magazine to employee campaigns with astronaut Tim Peake, her career has been as varied as it is impactful. A standout achievement is creating The Internal Comms Expert Programme, which empowers internal communications teams to boost confidence, skills, and influence.

Start audience-led conversations

The most successful digital profiles are built around conversation and nurturing a community. Be intentional about the conversations you start. Address your audience’s challenges, but also inspire them – tap into what excites or interests them. Think about what you want to be known for and how sharing your unique perspective helps you grow.

Your digital profile works best as a two-way street: give generously to your community while always connecting your content back to your goals. When you balance meeting their needs with your thoughtful point of view, you’ll create something people trust and come back to.

Ready to connect with fellow Cardiff alumni? Join our LinkedIn group and get networking.