Social Media Refresher

What should our online profiles look like?

Your online profile(s) should look like a positive and professional representation of who you are.

If you have multiple social media footprints (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), you want to be sure that they all tell the same story. Be consistent in your profiles to make it easy for your audience to quickly recognize your brand. 

According to Jobvite’s 2013 Social Recruiting Survey, 94 percent of recruiters use or plan to use social media in their recruitment efforts. Don’t put anything on social media that you wouldn’t want your boss, colleagues, clients and customers to see. LinkedIn is the No. 1 professional social networking site in the world. 

Think of your online profiles as a free self-marketing campaign. They are a representation of you and, in turn, a representation of how you would represent your company/employer.

What are some social media Do's and Don'ts?

Do keep it clean and professional.                   
Do showcase your good communication skills.       
Do clearly communicate your professional brand.       
Do regularly check your privacy settings.            
Do know the appropriate social media etiquette.  

Don’t neglect your account or let it misrepresent you.           

Don’t use social media as a platform for "venting." 
Don’t ignore the significance of your virtual identity.
Don’t give your employer a reason to fire you. 
                                                                                                                          

What are our professional networks saying about us online? 

This depends on how seriously we take our professional networks. It is important to know that employers and recruiters are using social media to research job candidates. Typically, people only include items on a resume that they want the employer to know about. By typing your name in a search engine, employers have an opportunity to learn even more about you…positive or negative. Be conscious to create a personal brand tailored toward your target industry.

What should we be mindful of when we use our social media accounts?

Be mindful of your potential audience. Google yourself and see what you find. “Recruiters are placing increasing importance on candidate social profiles and 42 percent have reconsidered a candidate based on content viewed in a social profile, leading to both positive and negative reassessments.” - Jobvite’s 2013 Social Recruiting Survey. 

Use social media to your advantage!