Online visibility can count in your favour...

ONLINE social media can help you get ahead in the workplace and even help you to find a job – but you have to be smart about it.

“Though you may think that it is normally wrong or unprofessional, the fact is that employers admit using social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to check out job applicants,” comments Natalie Rabson of Boston City Campus and Business College.

“This is happening worldwide and across industries, so there really is no place to hide.”

There should, however, be no reason for a jobseeker to want to hide – being visible can actually count in your favour. There are many stories about people who found employment with the help of social networks,” Rabson points out.

“People share information about vacancies, give referrals, make recommendations and make offers of employment freely and quickly online.

It is a mistake to assume that employers and recruiters somehow not regular human beings. Just like us, employers and recruiters are driven by curiosity, like to be “in” and indulge in doing the same things we do. You can bet your bottom dollar that employers and recruiters have their fair share of tweeting.

According to Rabson, chances are that if you can find someone on social media, they can also find you.

There are ways and means of getting past a block or a private setting on the internet, the same way to break into the most secure and burglar-proofed home – that’s just how it is. “If you want total privacy, stay off the internet,” she says.

“But realize that doing so may not be the smartest career or job search move you can make.” Social media, Rabson elaborates, is being integrated into strategic decisions at corporate level. Companies make use of social media remain connected with their clients and employees, and are exploring other ways of benefiting from phenomenon work.

It thus counts in jobseekers favour to demonstrate an understanding of social media and to show off their proficiency in using the medium to their personal advantage.

Go ahead and be on Facebook, tweet, put a clip on YouTube,” says Rabson. “These social tools make it easier for you to be found. Just make sure you are found looking your best, and not doing something you may regret.” Learn how to look your best on social networks because this involves more than simply choosing the best photograph for your Facebook profile or blog. And it is not only job seekers who need to put their best foot forward in social media. An employer can take disciplinary action against an employee who, for example wastes too much work time on social networking or divulges confidential company information.

Making social media work for you.

• Comments – write witty, uplifting comments while steering away from complaining. Avoid in-your-face rude comments and bad language.
• Letting off steam – badmouthing colleagues, friends and employers is never acceptable.
• Opinions – Make your opinions known, this shows you care  and are up to date with the world. Avoid derogatory or discriminatory remarks. Use the like buttons.
• Confidential – leaking confidential information concerning your employer/organisation is a fireable offence, unethical and can cause embarrassment.
• Personal – if it something that you would tell only your most intimate, trustworthy friend – don’t post it online.
• Achievements – mention a workshop attended, a compliment received from client, a target met and other little victories that you would normally regard as too insignificant to put on a CV – these are good for your reputation.
• Appropriate – it’s difficult to define what is appropriate but when in doubt, leaves out. Revealing photos are inappropriate unless you’re professional model looking for work assignments.
• Profile information - should be 100 percent honest and match your CV.
• Unintentional revelations – a prospective employer can see how much time you spend on social networks during working hours; rather network after hours.
• Friends – you are known by the friends you keep, so ask them to keep a clean act or stay off your public profiles.
• Gather information – about the company (and its key people) you applying for. You can use this background info to your own advantage, for example, to create rapport during interviews.
• Accept – that your job application may be turned down not because your Facebook profile is ‘bad’, but because you don’t fit in with the company culture.

Boston City Campus and Business College offers more than 80 dynamic career qualifications throughout its 48 branches nationwide. Contact Boston at 01 551 2000, e-mail info@boston.co.za, visit www.boston.co.za or catch up with Boston students on Facebook.

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