Impressions count, and in a world where you put all of yourself out there online, employers can find out a lot about you with one quick search.
Social presentation
Even if you think you have a private account, it’s worth acting like you have a public one as you just don’t know whose eyes will come across the content you share. That means taking caution in sharing compromising photos, comments that could be misconstrued, and even the hashtags you use (which can in fact make a post public).
Historical posts
There have been increasing examples of people being fired or cancelled over historical posts on social media – just because you delete something, doesn’t mean it can’t be regurgitated. You don’t know where your career may take you and if a post, photo or comment comes out of the woodwork that would pull your character into question, a company will not hesitate in letting you go. Remember first and foremost that how you act, behave and present yourself in the office and outside is reflective on the company you work for. If you do not align with their ethos and goals, they could try to shoehorn you out of the company.
Building your professional network
LinkedIn is an invaluable tool for business networking, legitimising your experience and building your career, so it is one to use to the utmost. Here are some tips to ensure your profile is reflective of your brand and what you’re striving to achieve:
- Personalise your URL: You can do this by heading to your profile, hitting edit profile and URL (to the left). This is particularly helpful if you have a common name and will help with searchability.
- Consider a professional headshot: Just do not use a graduation photo or one of you at a party- both do not convey professional and experienced.
- Build your connections: Connect with your colleagues, business associates and anyone you network with and see potential partnerships with.
- Keep it up to date: Make sure your ‘about us’, experience and skills are up to date.
- Create and engage in content: Show your experience on subject matters and join conversations with your network and the content they share. Never use it as a platform to talk about personal grievances.
- Ask for recommendations and endorsements from previous employers and your colleagues.
Affiliations
The groups you align yourself with on and offline can have repercussions on your employability. You may be sharing something you think is pretty harmless, but do you know about the person behind the post? Before sharing anything, it is worth doing a little bit of research – who are they, what other posts are they sharing, who likes and engages with their content etc. We’re not talking about well known and reputable brands but opinion pieces, tips and advice from blog sites, communities and individuals.
Also, it is worth bearing in mind that on LinkedIn, posts you like are shown in your profile. It is the only networking site that does display this, so even a like could cost you a job if it sends the wrong message to your company or prospective employers.
Working on your resume
When working on your skills, resume and even on your hobbies, ensure that they align with your overall objectives. If, for example, you want to get into leadership roles, consider dedicating your time to running community groups, such as Scouts or Brownies. The additional benefit of volunteering ticks the box for social responsibility, something organisations are doing more and more of. Perhaps you’ve been working on an environmental initiative and have additional benefits you can offer. All of this would be attractive qualities sought by an organisation and if they’re genuine interests of yours too, it’s a win- win.
