Work, success and meaning at every stage of your career
Increasing your network is a common New Year’s resolution, so it’s not surprising that I’ve seen more requests to connect on LinkedIn and Facebook lately. But I’ve also noticed that while the quantity of the connections is picking up, the quality is taking a downward turn.
Are your social media profiles impeding your career progress – or even preventing you from getting the job that you want? When a potential employer clicks over to your Facebook page and sees an embarrassing photo — perhaps from that one crazy night in college — it can kill your interview prospects. It’s a clear and present danger; the Web is rife with articles about What Not to Post on Facebook; in fact, some career experts advise simply removing your social media accounts during your job search process.
75 percent of recruiters are required by their companies to do online research of candidates. And 70 percent of recruiters in the United States report that they have rejected candidates because of information online.
Facebook is constantly changing its privacy settings and controls, so your Facebook page may be more visible than you think. Here are some of the bad ideas I’ve seen lately – bad, that is, if you’re in a job search and hoping someone is ready to hire you.
You put a lot of thought into your resume. What serious job applicant wouldn’t? All the information you want potential employers to see about you is in there – your job qualifications, your experience, your education, your skills, your interests, your references. It’s all there – tied up in one neat package. But your resume is more than just a collection of dates, places, and facts. It is the self-portrait that you put on display for the world to see. It is the face you show to people who have never met you before. It is you.
To Facebook or not to Facebook? That is the question. How does social networking fit into your regular networking – and how is it different?
We asked these questions of John Burton, manager of customized training for ICATT and presenter at WorkSource’s workshops on social networking.
To Facebook or not to Facebook? That is the question. How does social networking fit into your regular networking – and how is it different?
If you’re not on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, you’re missing a lot.
Your Work, Your Way 