Your Online Presence Is Important
Whether you know it or not, what you say and post online can make a large impact on your chances of getting the job you want. Among a number of things, social media gives us the ability to share memories, connect with new and old friends, collaborate and share ideas and generate discussion. Your online presence can include everything from your social media posts on Facebook to what someone might find just by googling your name.
The internet is forever; what you do online will follow you throughout your entire career. 79% of recruiters say that they look at a candidates online presence before making a decision to hire. 70% say they’ve rejected a candidate due to something they saw online. With that said, let’s look at three effective ways to clean up your online presence and land that dream job.
With the ability to post your thoughts in literally an instant, it can be easy to publish before you think about the consequences.
Topics to chat with a friend about over a cup of coffee instead of posting to the internet include the following: unconfirmed news or suspicions, off-color jokes/comments related to race, religion, gender and more, private information, negative things about your job/employer (past or present), misrepresentations of yourself, or anything provocative or showing illegal activity. Before you post a picture, think ‘if I was working would I want my boss to see this?’
Having a LinkedIn profile is almost a professional requirement in most fields in this day and age.
You don’t want to give the impression that you are unfamiliar with current technology by not having a profile. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 35% of employers as less likely to interview applicants that they can’t find online. It’s a great way to build a personal brand and showcase your accomplishments in one streamlined platform. Choose a headshot with a collared or clean pressed shirt and keep your experiences up-to-date. Think of it like an online digital resume.
Don’t overshare.
Talking about your workout, posting a picture of your meal or ranting about your friends is not necessary and can be seen as gossip. Before you post ask yourself, ‘Will anyone care?’ Body language makes up majority of human communication, so that joke you posted might not be funny to someone else who isn’t hearing it from you in person.
