By Baiba, Youth Ambassador
Big brands disown celebrities because of their behaviour; ask yourself what a future employer would see if they looked at your online profile!
Since the World Wide Web began, more and more of our daily lives have turned digital. When I started my first job I wasn’t aware of LinkedIn, or Twitter. Hardly any of my friends were hanging out on Google Hangouts and there were definitely no companies or universities on there.
Let’s be honest, the majority of us now live on the internet. Everything about our day and our lives is in some way involved – from our IDs to our National Insurance numbers. Everything we share online is leaves a trail of clues, who we are and what our interests.
Social networks provide a great space for sharing of thoughts; ideas, pictures, videos, communicating and staying in touch across the globe. The web also creates a space for creativity and brilliance, but at the same time the dangers are there, it can be a great threat to your future career and current employment!
Who’s looking at your social media posts? Employers are…
The problem starts when what you post works against you. It is no secret that employers are as snoopy as Sherlock Holmes when it comes to possible candidates and many of them will research you on Google, Facebook and LinkedIn. I guess your Friday-night-out pictures are not what you want them to see.
A Jobvite survey carried out in 2012 claims that 90% of employers use social networks for recruitment. Other research carried out between 300 employers a total of 61% had rejected applicants on basis of their social media screening. Impressive?
Do a little experiment; Google your own name, and see what you can find out through a couple of clicks. Is there anything on there that possibly could affect your chances of getting a job you could be great at?
You have to think about what you are saying before you hit the send, tweet or post button. You need to think like an employer who is just about to invest their brilliant name of their company in you!
You could change your privacy settings, but the introduction of history from Facebook now means that it is out there as soon as you hit post and it cannot be removed.
So from here on think of the content you’re about to share and filter it, think twice before you post or re-posting anything share or re tweet, think like an employer.
- Make the internet work for you; you are your own unique you. Post news articles and interesting facts that show where your interests. If you are aiming for a professional role brand yourself professionally, the key to this is to look at how brands perform. Big brands disown celebrities because of their behaviour; ask yourself what a future employer would see if they looked at your profile!
- Although social media platforms allow us to distinguish professional networks from personal ones the line is blurred and a lot of people would not think twice to check both. Erase anything you would not like others to see! It might take time, but it is worth it.
- Enhance your LinkedIn profile with relevant information about yourself, clear vision of who are you, what job you are looking for and what industry. Do not be afraid to make it too detailed. Remember, it is important to put keywords in. Once you’ve done this, be sure to update your information regularly.
- Email addresses xx_iMightGoForThisReallylonGandPointless_xx@… Keep it short, professional and simple. Either it is Name.Surname@… Or namesurname@… it does not matter, just keep it tidy. Your e-mail address at this point serves as a tool of professional impression.
- Lastly, from personal experience, make a personal website/blog/space where you show your talents, interests, good qualities. The things you love to do might seem obvious to you or your friends, but let your future employers know about them too!
