When the Internet is your reference
Imagine this scenario. You’re the company’s human resources manager, and you’ve called the job applicant’s references, and have received good reviews, but a light bulb goes off in your head. With all this talk about new media and social networking sites, why not visit Facebook.com – the most popular social networking site these days that dominates the Internet time of people worldwide, including Caribbean people. You type in the person’s name, and as luck would have it, their privacy settings are not restricted, so you have a window to their world, one that isn’t censored.
Sounds far-fetched? It isn’t really.
The fact is, if you have a blog, Myspace page, LinkedIn profile, a Facebook account that you haven’t created restricted settings for, or some other social media tool, people can easily find you on the Internet. One click on a Google search engine, and everything comes up, even comments on a blog. I’m always reminded of this when my blog statistics show that someone found me because they typed my name into Google’s search engine, or when an associate tells me they Googled me.
So does this mean that job seekers should stay far away from social networking sites? No. These sites have many benefits, apart from their entertainment offerings. You can network with people who have similar interests, join groups that relate to your industry, join job seekers’ groups, get access to websites with pertinent information, and make links with possible mentors, as well as peers.
The Internet provides you with a wide-reaching marketing tool that can be optimised for free. Here are some ways in which you can promote yourself and build a network.
2. Use social networking sites to meet people in your industry. Several social network sites have groups, which you can easily join to meet people with common interests or in similar industries, discuss ideas, and learn techniques that will enhance your professional life.
3. Use search engines to find current literature on industry issues and trends.
Note, however, if you have a blog that is unrelated to your field or that can adversely affect employers’ view of you, don’t list it on your résumé.
Protecting your personal brand online
3. When writing comments on a blog, think before you write. Comments show up regularly in search engine results.
4. Don’t post unflattering pictures of you on social networks or websites. By all means you can post photographs of you having fun, but be sure that – by their very nature – they can’t be used against you.
5. Enable privacy settings on your Facebook or similar accounts. This won’t only protect the online image you project; it can also protect you from online stalkers or identity theft.
6. Keep personal, private issues out of the limelight.
Protecting your current position
If you’re currently employed, and have a blog which you publish using your true identity, it’s important to be careful about your content. For example, don’t post information that you came across by virtue of your position – information that would have been unavailable to you otherwise. You also don’t want to write information that your employer may perceive as you breaching confidentiality agreements, written or unwritten. It’s also advisable to avoid “dissing” the competition, since you never know, they might construe this as a war between your company and themselves.
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Comments
I’m okay with being out there on the net, and make sure that whatever I put is something I’m comfortable with. Besides, I’m also convinced that if people want to find you, they’ll find a way, so…
Trinidad and the Caribbean just too small. Sigh. A few people have indeed made the link between Chennette and the real me. Fortunately, I try to stay away from anything that would cause trouble with that. Even if I wasn’t anonymous on the blog, I would have maintained the same principle, but because of my job I didn’t want anyone ever holding anything I said as being representative of my organisation. Or automatically making associations.
I originally had 2 FB profiles, but then decided I really only wanted to be on FB to connect with old friends. Plus, this dual identity thing hard to maintain sometimes.
Heh. The internet has been my reference for quite some time; I suppose most people in the Caribbean see themselves in a small pond as opposed to the big ocean.
I’ve been telecommuting for years now in the big ocean. When people in the small pond look at me, they don’t see much and are rather unimpressed - which is just fine. I’m not out to impress them. Perhaps that is the largest problem with culture in the region - it is too much about physical impression.
That would explain the loudspeakers on cars around the house. O.O
Karel,
As usual I have learnt so much from reading this blog post. It is so true that social media moves us beyond the realm of just entertainment! FB is a serious thing - an employer can easily learn everything he/she needs to know about you. For my path, I have remained a neutral follower in terms of the evolution of social communication - making sure that the image projected about this Eastern girl is not larger than life. A mirror gives a reflection, that is meant to be the same as the real - don’t let yours be different. What you give is what people walk away with and so much more.
I try not to have anything personal about myself on the net. And I have separate profiles on FB and all.