Last week, in this two-part series in social branding of u, I discussed how to enhance your profile and online presence.
Another critical factor in brand management is reputation. It is important to police the information that is available on the web – whether Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc. Social media has become a key influencer in the hiring process or even promotions, as employers use social media to learn more about potential workers. With the line between personal and professional networking blurring, if you are not cautious, you can be vulnerable to social media pitfalls. So, it’s important to be digitally smart:
- Activate your privacy settings. Whether on Facebook or Google+, you can choose visibility settings based on what you want others to be able to see on your profile. Private information can damage your work reputation.
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Be discreet. Know what to share, when to share, and with whom to share it. According to a Microsoft survey on online privacy issues, 70% of employers have rejected a job candidate because of information they found about that person online. Compromising photos or negative, unflattering status updates can derail a potential candidacy or
career with no recourse and no notification. - You are who you associate with. Pay attention to how you interact with others and they with you. Their profane comment or dirty picture is a reflection on you.
- Avoid inactivity. An empty or disengaged social media profile suggests inability to finish projects and unable to take advantage of the tools available to you. As an example, people frequently set up Twitter accounts only to abandon them. However, Twitter can be a powerful job search tool with direct access to companies or people with whom you may otherwise not be able to communicate. Tweeting about news related to your industry, following influential people in your field, or companies with whom you have an interest, will put you on their radar.
- Your online image correlates to employment. 85% of employers say that positive online reputation influences their hiring decisions, while another recent study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology found personality assessments based on social media to be an effective performance indicator.
Today, change is the only constant. The old paradigm of moving up the corporate ladder no longer exists. With so many companies tracking social media, it’s not something that you can afford to ignore. When used to its fullest potential, actively engaging a network online can transcend your career. For this reason, savvy professionals are using tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to connect directly with companies and recruiters, while engaging with peers for increased credibility, visibility, and thought
