Don’t Make a Grave Mistake with Your Social Media Presence
A strong social media presence can enhance your success in connecting with an employer, whether you are looking for internship opportunities, a permanent position, or simply want to grow your professional network. However, a misstep can haunt your efforts and even spook potential employers or contacts.
SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, in his “Ask HR” column for USA Today, advised making smart social media choices.
“Cleaning up or ‘scrubbing’ your online image does not mean you need to change everything about who you are,” he wrote.
“It just means you may need to be more intentional about how you post or what you share (and with whom). … Before you post something, consider whether it matches the online presence you wish to uphold. If a hiring manager brought it up in an interview, would you be able to comfortably explain why you posted it? Be intentional about your social media presence, and it will be an asset in your career and life.”
Among his recommendations:
- Google yourself. Search for your name, online aliases, and email addresses you have used over the years. If a stranger searched for your name, who would the results say you are?
- Make your accounts private. But if you want to remain public, you may wish to hide or delete any inappropriate posts.
- Add the right photos. Make sure your profile and cover photos are respectable and easily visible.
- Post industry-related news, quotes, or articles. Post, share, or retweet anything related to the industry you are in or want to be a part of.
- Follow inspiring people and companies. Blogs, news sources, and any other website you love count. Who you follow tells managers what you are passionate about, which leaders you admire, and what trends you are current on.
Curating a strong social media presence can be an effective way to brand and market yourself to employers and develop a network of people who can assist you in your career, San Jose State University’s School of Information notes on its student career page. Those benefits include connecting you to opportunities not found on job boards, showcasing your personal brand, and demonstrating to employers that you are adept in internet and social media capabilities.
Here are some additional resources that SHRM collected for turning your online presence into a happy medium.
Your Social Media Presence Can Help You Land (or Lose) a Job Opportunity
To protect yourself from bias and discrimination, review your public accounts and remove any sensitive information, such as your relationship or disability status. Be deliberate about everything you post.
Social Media: Do’s and Don’ts for College Students
Experts say that good social media use is about setting boundaries around what and who to follow. A negative social media presence can be a turn-off when it comes to deciding who to hire. Graduate and professional schools may also look at an applicant’s social media pages during the admissions cycle.
Unlocking Job Opportunities: Master the Art of Social Media in Your Job Search
Showcase your expertise by creating content. Consider starting a blog or writing articles on platforms such as LinkedIn. Share insights, tips, and industry trends to showcase your skills and attract the attention of potential employers. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and fostering meaningful discussions. Sharing original content is an effective way to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise.
7 Mistakes Job Seekers Make When Using Social Media
Having an outdated profile is a big mistake because it means you are passing up the opportunity to present yourself professionally. At the very least, make sure you can be seen on platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook to demonstrate that you have a foundational understanding of technology while making yourself much less mysterious.
(LinkedIn)
4 Social Media Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Job Search
Look for the following red flags in your past posts and clear them out before you embark on a job search: inappropriate comments and photos; negative comments about a job, employer, co-worker, or customer; plagiarism, slang, and incorrect spelling and grammar; and oversharing.
You don’t want a potential employer to be concerned that you might share private company business for others to see.
(AARP)
Keep It Clean: Social Media Screenings Gain in Popularity
Showcase your positive personality traits on your social media profiles to be an effective applicant. Just one negative impression from your social media posts could disqualify you from a position.
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