#SpringBreak2015

By Marian Li, Toppel Peer Advisor

Spring Break is HERE and you can’t wait to hop onto the plane or cruise and let loose and have fun with your friends, but more importantly, you can update your Facebook/Instragram/Twitter/Snapchat with all the photographic proof that you’re living it up #[insertlocation] #SB15. One of the farthest things from your mind is probably the long-term effect of your postings.

As social media becomes the latest branding strategy, networking technique, job seeking tool and recruitment vehicle, it’s also becoming the latest way for employers to check out the media profiles of applicants to weed out undesirable candidates. So while you may be proud of your 500+ Facebook friends or your 1000+ followers on Twitter and almost all your friends liked the hilarious photo of you wasted at the club from the break, make sure your awesome virtual social life is not killing your promising career paths. Here are some don’ts and mistakes people tend to do when it comes to social media.

Your privacy settings aren’t appropriate – Most social networking sites do offer options to keep your profile private. Use these as much as possible. Avoid posting any controversial content; however, if you absolutely want to share what you did last weekend – or over spring break – limit the view only to your friends. But be aware that anything you post online can become public or viral in no time. If a friend “likes”, tags, or retweets you, a larger audience now has access to you post.

You haven’t Googled yourself – You need to able to see what your potential employer is seeing. Google yourself and check out the results. Is there anything out there that could be costing you your job? While it is important to have an online presence so that employers can learn about you, it is also important to be aware of what they’re looking at.

You have grammatical or spelling errors in posts – You may shrug it off since it’s just one misplaced comma or a common acronym, according to a survey conducted in 2012, 54% of recruiters have a negative reaction to grammar and spelling mistakes, while only 47% of recruiters have negative reactions to alcohol references.

Don’t badmouth your current or previous employer – Just like in an interview, keep your rants about your boss or company to yourself. If hiring managers see that you’re willing to trash a colleague online, they assume you’ll do it to them too.  Past actions speak louder as an indication of future actions. Plus, there’s always the possibility of getting fired if someone sees your negative comment.

Don’t announce interviews, raises or new jobs – How you talk about any of these sensitive topics on your social networking site is key. If you’re just starting off your job search, writing “Interview today, wish me luck!” or “So excited about my new job!” is totally acceptable. If you’re currently employed, you’d be surprised who’s checking and if you write something like “Trying to con my boss into giving me a $5K raise, noob!” I don’t think your future at the company bodes well. As a general rule, don’t post something that has a conflict of interest (i.e. don’t mention your job search if you’re still employed, unless your boss knows you’re on the lookout, that’s fair game) and keep everything positive!

Your professional information is inconsistent – Be consistent with job titles, companies you’ve worked for, and duration. It’s fine if you rework your job descriptions, for example, because targeting your resume is a good practice when applying for jobs, Inconsistency in the top headers of your resume will not sit well with potential employers. Make sure the information you’ve provided in various forums/sites adds up.

On the positive side, companies are also looking for reasons to hire you! So use social media wisely to highlight your skills, expertise, and professional savvy, and get the job you deserve. Have a wonderful, fun spring break and stay safe!

Your Social Media Footprint

By Marian Li, Toppel Peer Advisor
 
Whether you like it or not, hirers are using social networks to screen job applicants. This means it’s important to carefully manage your image on these types of sites. Facebook and Twitter are being used a lot to screen job applicants. On Facebook and Twitter, we believe hirers are trying to get a more personal view of a candidate, rather than the resume-like view they will see on LinkedIn. Hirers are looking at social networking profiles of candidates very early in the process. This means that job seekers need to have their online act in order before they begin looking for a job.

Keep it Positive – Whether you’re looking for a job or just looking to keep the one you have, it’s important to remember that what you write matters. Your Facebook Status box is not your best friend, don’t use it to vent complaints about your personal life, the horrible traffic you sat through, or – worst of all- your current employer or co-workers. Someone who doesn’t know you or your personality can interpret something that may seem funny to you in a very different way.

Think Before You Selfie – While your friends or followers may be interested in seeing your duck face – emphasis on MAY BE, your potential employers do not. They want to know that in hiring you they’re not going to be inviting an egomaniac into the workplace, or someone who thinks of themselves first. Studies have shown that the selfie phenomenon may be damaging to real work relationships, including that excessive photo sharing and sharing photos of a certain type makes people less likeable. Putting such an emphasis on your own looks can make others feel self-conscious and judged about theirs in your presence, which is one of the last things you want to do.

Use Social Media for Good, Not Evil – Although most people won’t want to admit it, people use social media to paint an identity, that they have a life outside of just work or just school. So why not take it a step more professional and use your online presence as an opportunity to present the very best, most marketable, sides of yourself? Post about relevant issues within your industry or topics that relate to your interests, keeping up with those add depth to your character, a consistency potential employers look for.

The bottom line is that it is important for users, whether they are looking for a job or building up their professional reputation, to manage their online image across the different social networks they use.

Stand Out Online! (In A Good Way)

By Adela Ghadimi, Assistant Director of Employer Development Washington D.C.

 

Photo Credit: college-social.com

Spiderman’s Uncle Ben hit the nail on the head when speaking to Peter Parker, stating that “with great power comes great responsibility.” Social media and technology are incredible tools at our disposal, but how thoughtful are you really being with your online profiles and the way in which you present yourself? Have you stopped to think about how these mediums that are entertaining and informative have the potential to interfere with your professional image and job search?

I’m not suggesting to stop using social media or posting online, but I do think everyone would benefit from some self-reflection when it comes to their online presence, and to perhaps reassess how transparent you actually want your life to appear online.

Are you considering graduate school? About to embark on your job or internship search? Chances are hiring managers and recruiters are going to be searching your name online, looking for the content of what you post online, and the types of pictures and people you associate with. In fact, more than 2 in 5 (43%) of hiring managers currently researching candidates via social media have said that their research has led them to their decision to not hire a candidate, due to evidence of drinking/drug use, inappropriate photos, discriminatory comments, and poor communication skills displayed on profiles, among other reasons.

Here are a few simple ideas to help you upgrade your online presence today:

Check the Privacy Settings on your Social Media Profiles Often!

 

We all get lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to our social media accounts, because most of us believe we have already set our privacy settings so “no one but our friends” can see our information. Unfortunately, that is all too often not the case. Particularly on Facebook, privacy regulations are changing faster than we can keep up with, and while you may have set your profile to be on lockdown 6 months ago, recent changes may have made access to your information easier than you think. You definitely want to stay on top of when social media outlets have a change in their privacy settings, so you can see how this impacts your profile.

Rather than having to read through long, legal-worded paragraphs, one thing that has worked for me in the past has been to have a sit-down with a colleague or friend, and de-friend or unfollow one another on our various social media accounts. This makes it much easier to see how your profiles are viewed by someone you are not connected to, and you might be shocked by how much information you can actually see.

Many employers are looking at your profiles, and hiring outside companies to research your presence online for many job industries, so it is really not something you want to take lightly.

*Tip: You can require permission before being tagged in photos on Facebook*

Eliminate the “Tween Years” Email Account!

While this is not related to your social media, it is directly linked to your professional persona online, and is a big part of how potential employers, recruiters, and advisors are going to see you.

This is a real one, and I can tell you from being on the receiving end of some shining examples of “creative” email addresses, they are noticed and are not doing you any favors. Do NOT send emails from sweetbaby72@embarassing.com or ilovensync12@foreveryoung.com. You are trying to present yourself as an aspiring professional who wants to be taken seriously in the real world. An email from mikesmith@normal.com comes across much better than rockthemike@pleasestop.com.

It is so easy to create a free email account that uses your actual name, with a middle initial or number at the end if yours is already taken, or just use your student email when pursuing professional endeavors.

*Tip: While we live in a digital era, you would be surprised to discover the value of sending a hand-written thank you note after an interview or informational meeting. Leave them with something positive to remember you by!*

Don’t Rely on Spellcheck, Proofread Everything!

Particularly in more professional online settings, be aware of the spelling and grammar you use on your profiles and social media accounts. Personally, I cringe every time I see someone have their title or place of work misspelled on LinkedIn, or when they tweet something out using the wrong “their,” “there,” or “they’re.”

The devil is in the details, so make sure you read through any articles or posts that you make online, and ensure that you are satisfied that your spelling and grammar is up to code.

This also applies to emails, because we’ve all had that frustrated feeling as we catch our typo right as we click send. Try to take the time to really re-read your words, and make sure you avoid these little mistakes when possible.

Always use proper salutations when sending emails as well. It really makes a difference when a hiring manager or faculty member receives an email addressed “Hello Professor X” or “Good Morning Ms. Jones,” rather than, “hey Sandi, how ya doing?”

*Tip: When replying to a professional email on your phone, remember to erase the “Sent from my iPhone” signature line when addressing a faculty member or potential employer/networking connection*

Use Social Media and Your Online Presence to Your Advantage!

Social media gives you a platform to allow employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside of your resume, cover letter or interview – you should take positive ownership of your personal brand through social media. If you choose to share content publicly, leverage it to your advantage.

Since you are going to be searched by employers, having something cool and different, like a blog or Pinterest showcasing your interests and hobbies, is good for your online presence – just keep it clean: no excessive profanity, racist remarks, etc.

Developing a social media strategy can be a great tool to assist you in your job search and throughout your career. For example, if you know you are interested in fashion, start a fashion blog and gain some credibility for your work and opinions that way. If you are into graphic design, you definitely want to set up a website featuring your abilities. For every background and track, there is a way you can brand yourself online and use your presence as a marketing piece about who you are, what you do, and where you want to be.

*Tip: Remember, LinkedIn is where you are trying to portray your professional image: don’t sync your LinkedIn to your other social media accounts unless it will enhance your professional image*

Go forward, be informed, be creative, and make sure you are doing all you can to stand out online, in a good way!