Social networking sites are increasingly used by businesses, head hunters and are engaging more frequently in online marketing, information gathering and client building. Do you know how to take care of your e-image so that you don’t lose your current job and still be able to change it for better?
Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn - those media can help you find a new job or harm your e-image. The internet is not only a place to look up a candidate, but it has become a place where you can recruit one. Head hunters work in the virtual sphere to find the best candidates for their clients. Taking the time to build a reputation on the internet will therefore be more beneficial for your career development.
Some people forget that once you put something up, anyone with access to a computer could see it. It is therefore wise to know do’s and don’ts of social networking.
Try to avoid behavior such as:
- publishing a large number of entries during working hours (both the current and potential employer sees that the candidate wastes time during working hours)
- publishing negative information about your workplace, boss, colleagues or contractors (a bird that befouls its own nest is not welcome)
- publishing comments that show a lack of professionalism (cursing or racist comments from persons applying for a job in a multinational corporation)
- putting pictures in which you are drunk or intoxicated (it can persuade your employer to think that you are not the right person for the position)
Behavior that will benefit you:
- professionalism of expression (links and comments showing interest in the field of work)
- observing the profiles of companies in which you would like to work (shows the commitment to the company)
YouTube – what you see is what you get
Social networking is not just the written word. To build your image you can also use a medium such as YouTube. If you apply for a job, you can use this service in two ways: to publish the film presenting your person and your achievements (the film would then resemble the video ad) and to prepare a presentation dedicated to a particular company protected by a password access. This method is very time consuming but shows a great commitment.
The so-called video CV is now one of the newer trends in the recruitment market. Keep in mind that for a film to be effective, a candidate must have the ability to work with the camera. If you stress out, stammer or you lack of confidence - your clip will come across in a negative manner. Your video CV will also be more effective in the creative industries that are aimed at new media and innovation. Just remember, the clip MUSN’T substitute applications - some companies block access to sites such as YouTube or Facebook.
The internet is a mass medium; it reaches more people and a variety of them, affects more aspects of our lives and has become a fundamental part of the 21st century living. Building your e-image is not a necessity, but if you take a good care of your reputation it might help you in career development and provide new opportunities that normally would not appear. A good reputation can take you much further in life than you can go with a bad one.