In today’s world, it is easy to access information from a variety of sources, and it’s easy for employers to find out information about you during the job search process. The question is, how do you protect yourself and put your best foot forward? With social media linking us together globally, it is important now more than ever that you keep a watch on your social media and your online activity. During the job search process, employers will often scout out their candidates online to determine the type of person they are hiring before they go forward with any offers. This practice is becoming more and more common. When employers search for you, they are doing more than simply checking your LinkedIn profile; they are also checking Facebook, Twitter, online forums, Google, and more.
Clean Up Your Online Presence
Cleaning up your online activity is the first step to take when you begin a new job search. Begin with your LinkedIn profile. Ensure that it matches your resume and tells details of what you are looking for in your next opportunity. If you are currently employed and are worried that your employer might find you online, try discussing in your summary the skills, talents, and achievements you have that will highlight what you are able to offer in your industry in general. Also keep active on LinkedIn by posting industry specific items; the more active you are on this website, the more likely you are to get noticed by a potential employer. The next thing you want to do is clean up your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other accounts you frequent. Ensure that pictures of you in bars or any inappropriate situation are removed. Even though these activities occurred during your off time, this doesn’t mean that an employer will not read into it.
Political Views Displayed Online
As we all know, it seems that everyone has an opinion about politics these days, but did you ever think that your opinions expressed online could have an effect on your credibility? While it is okay to share your views online, you must be careful about what you are posting, re-tweeting, and sharing. Ensure that your posts are kept professional and general.
Googling Yourself
Want to know what others see about you online? Determine how findable you are by doing a Google search about yourself. Go through the first few pages and see if any old websites and online blogs that you may have created earlier still pop up. This kind of search can bring up old, long forgotten posts that you may want to delete. This type of search can also help you build your brand. By seeing what is out there, you will be able to determine if you are projecting the online image you want others to know about you. If you like what you see, then continue to build your brand around your career by generating blog posts and social media activity to show that you are an expert in your field of work. One great tool you can use to monitor your online reputation is Google Alerts, which lets you know when your name is posted online. If you want to know how well your brand is doing online, try using the OnlineID Calculator, which takes you through a series of questions to determine how your brand is progressing. This way you can see what is happening and remove anything you don’t want to be noticed, or you can make improvements where you feel it is necessary.
Think Before You Act
Perhaps you see something online that you really like, or you see something on which you would like to comment. Before you go about liking something that might be less than appropriate, stop to think about who might be seeing it. Checking your settings as to who can see your Tweets and Facebook activity is another step you can take to ensure more privacy with your online activity. Always remember that once you post it, it is always out there for people to view. It is also important to think about what you are doing if someone is filming. Will the post go online? What if it goes viral with you doing something that you normally would not want others to see?
Create the Brand You Want to Project
Creating your personal brand online is one of the most important parts of your online perception, and for the most part, it is something over which you have control. The first thing you want to do is determine how you want others to view you: it could be as an expert in a specific topic, or it could be a go-to person for connections. Whatever profile you want to fill, you will need to begin with creating a plan to get yourself recognized. Start by determining what resources you have that you want to use to project your brand, whether it is utilizing Twitter, Facebook, blogs, or online forums and networking websites. These resources will help you to determine where your audience is and how you are going to reach them. For example, perhaps you want to be known as a healthcare expert in nursing and patient care. One great way to start building your brand is to start a LinkedIn blog and begin taking part in conversations on groups related to your area of expertise. Part of the online world is to connect with others through building your network. Utilize tools like LinkedIn and email to stay in touch with others. Connect with people about updates in your industry and events that might be of interest. Two important things to remember when going about building your online brand are to be authentic and avoid over projecting your talents. The last thing you would want to do is overstate your qualifications, land a job, and not be able to perform.
Taking care online is one of the most important things you can do in today’s digital world. Anyone at any time can search for information about you, so you want to make sure that the image you project is a positive and professional one. Designing a plan and putting it into action is the first step in projecting a positive and productive online image. You want to come across as an expert and highlight your skills and expertise to the world. Having a plan and putting it into practice while you work to build your career is one of the most invaluable steps you can take when it comes to protecting your online image.
