Social Media – What Does It Say About You?

Over the past 5 years or so social media has become a part of most of our lives. We check, post and upload a great amount of information every day. The important question is: ‘What does your online presence say about you?’

Employers are increasingly using social media as part of their recruitment process and this rise is likely to continue. A recent survey by Reppler of 300 hiring professionals showed that 90% of employers have used or are using social media as part of their hiring process.

With so much information being shared it is an easy and cost effective way for employers to screen potential employees. With this in mind here are a few tips to help you manage your ‘brand’ on the World Wide Web:

Google Yourself

Have a look and see what information is out there about you. Go on to your timeline and Twitter feed and see what sort of information is hanging around. Rants about your employer, hating work, drug or drink references and pictures of you in compromising situations can all give an employer a bad impression about you and your ability to be an effective employee.

Check Your Settings

Check to see who your information is shared with. I suggest only allowing people who are friends with you to see your content.

Exercise Caution

Before posting or tweeting, ask yourself whether you would be happy for an employer, your mum or a journalist to get hold of this information. If the answer is no, step away from the keyboard!

Use Social Media to Your Advantage

See your social media presence as an extension of your CV. Think about how you can use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to show you are passionate about the industry you are in or want to be in. Blogging can be a great way to show your expertise. Just remember to keep it clean and ensure that you only write content that you would happy for an employer to see.

Do you suspect that your online presence has messed up your chances of a dream position?

Have you recently noticed that your online presence doesn’t show you in the best possible light?

Get involved and share your stories.