It’s Time for Your Social Media Image to Grow Up
If you are making the transition from college life to professional life, it is time for your social media profile to grow up. It only takes one ill-considered post to curtail a job opportunity. The time to develop and nurture your digital brand should take place before you graduate. In the Student Career Development Study conducted by Millennial Branding and StudentAdvisor.com, it was reported that 34% of college students have a LinkedIn presence while 95% have Facebook accounts. One in nine students has a WordPress blog account. Depending on the content and social presence, students and recent grads may be missing job opportunities. Take these five steps to develop a mature and professional social media image.
Self-Audit
Your digital footprint is your responsibility. Take time to search online resources, such as Google Alerts and SocialMention to see what others have posted about you. You may find another individual with your name that may be confused with you. If so, distinguish yourself so people can identify the real you. For example, you may want to include your geographic region or occupation with your profile name. (Steve M. Smith, Business Analyst, Phoenix, AZ Area) If you find unflattering content online, remove it or ask the owner of the content to remove it. There is an app available called FaceWash that provides a simple way to clean up embarrassing or undesirable Facebook content. For more information on removing bad content, check out this recent blog entry.
Privacy
Don’t fall into a false sense of privacy. Even with the highest privacy settings, you must carefully protect
your social media identity. Assume that anything you post may be shared or seen by potential employers. Keep abreast of changes on social media sites and how those changes may impact your online content. Recently a reader wrote with this concern about privacy.
Company Policy
Be aware of your employer’s acceptable use rules concerning social media. For example, there may be rules about cyber-bullying of co-workers or posting comments about clients. In addition to your company’s rules, create your own high standards for social media engagement. You may choose not to friend professional contacts on Facebook, but instead connect with them on LinkedIn or Twitter. Keep boundaries between your personal and professional social media.
LinkedIn is a major opportunity for company research, networking, and learning about your industry. Don’t just establish a LinkedIn profile, participate actively. Join groups focused on your field of study, occupation, or industry. Get involved by asking questions, answering questions, endorsing others’ skills, recommending others, and posting interesting information. LinkedIn is a huge step forward in building your professional brand.
Blog
Another way to build your professional image is to create a blog. This demonstrates your special knowledge and unique insights into current affairs or industry changes. Share links to your blog on social sites. Set a calendar to update your blog on a weekly basis. Take advantage of the numerous online resources to obtain training in the art of creating a compelling blog.
When someone researches your online presence you want to ensure that you present a professional and polished image. If your social media footprint is stuck in college-mode, act now to create an image that is worthy of what you offer. Conduct an audit and eliminate your digital dirt. Get on LinkedIn, create a blog, and launch a website to bolster your positive online reputation. In addition to a gleaming new image, you will benefit from the networking and informational aspects of the experience.