How much of this is familiar to you?
<! · Linkedin: You’ve got a profile and a couple of credible recommendations.
<! · Facebook: You’re on it more than you’d like to admit, but still try not to be obsessive.
<! · Twitter: It’s about tweeting what you’re having for lunch.
The world of social media can be intimidating. It’s always changing and keeping up with the newest, latest and greatest isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for a job, utilizing social media to help can be a huge advantage…if you do it right. The hard reality is that managing your presence on-line takes time and effort, but not doing it could mean getting passed over for that critical in-person interview. Think of yourself as a brand that needs management to reach its full potential. Here are a five “musts” to help you with the process:
- Your profile photo: keep it professional, yet warm and engaging. If you’re in a conservative industry, match that feel. However, if you’re in a more creative field, you’ve got a bit more freedom. Do I need to mention that pictures which are controversial or unprofessional should be avoided? Good, I didn’t think so.
- Don’t be a virtual motor mouth. Make sure that comments and shared content are meaningful to a wide audience and that you’re not overloading them with too many posts.
- Google Alerts is a great way to monitor your on-line reputation. Register your name and you’ll be immediately notified if someone mentions you on-line.
- Pay it forward, without expecting people to reciprocate. Helping other people succeed by sharing good news about them feels great – and helps build relationships. When you’re impressed by someone, send a LinkedIn recommendation extolling their virtues. You’ll make their day – and build your own credibility as an expert.
- Get out and about! Don’t expect instant job search success by just having a great on-line presence. You need to have face-to-face interactions with a wide variety of people within various networking situations.
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