“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear”. SOCRATES
“My space, I can post anything….My life, I can do whatever I want…My time, I can do it whenever I feel like it…” and as it is commonly blurted in this times. This is how social media profiles are regarded. A private space that is beyond anybody’s concern or reach. Not so fast.
In today’s digital world, one’s social media presence plays a crucial role in shaping career prospects. Whether you’re actively job hunting or looking to build your professional network, how you present & project oneself online can significantly influence the opportunities that come one’s way.
With the advent of social media, Facebook, X – formerly Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn, is a way to introduce one’s self to the cyber world, organizations, companies & and to the netizens.
As to the question if one’s social media profile matters in one’s profession & career, is a million dollar ask that has obviously been answered in so many and differing ways based on outcome & first hand experience. Not maintaining a social media profile is more of a disadvantage that an advantage.
Employers often search for potential candidates online, and a professional presence can make you more attractive. Good or bad, it does definitely matter on one’s employability, career opportunities & progression.
A good social media profile positively impacts one because it can put forward a professional image which catches the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. A well-maintained LinkedIn profile or in other professional social media accounts can showcase your skills, achievements & experience which can always be your niche.
Additionally, the social media platform/s that we use helps in relevant networking by being connected to the like-minded people, relevant organizations, the right industry and appropriate professional groups. It does not only establish your presence but also enables one to stay updated on opportunities for collaborations and/or job openings be it for one that is an active or passive job seeker. By showcasing one’s skills, accomplishments & professional journey, the consequence is that it creates a strong personal brand that sets one apart from the many work hopefuls.
These social media platforms also provide you with the necessary knowledge enhancement and learning tools to keep you abreast with the latest technological breakthroughs & industry trend.
When seen to be active in platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube where the access to a wealth of educational content and learning resources is available, to sends a signal that you desire continuous growth and professional growth. Learning industry leaders and experts to gain insights and stay ahead in your field is another way of enhancing your professional stock because this collective learning tools enables one to put content, share one’s opinions & insights which makes one become a part of a global conversations where one can also learn & learn fast.
An active social media profile gives one the visibility that employers often use to scout potential candidates. A well-maintained profile can make you more visible to recruiters. Hiring managers often browse through social media just to understand what is available in the market.
Recruiters & employers often use social media to verify information on resumes and assess cultural fit. They would often review candidates’ social media profiles to verify information provided on resumes, such as employment history and educational background and had an uncanny way of seeing red flags, such as inappropriate content, discriminatory remarks, or even evidence of not so appropriate activities if any.
More often than not, recruiters would raise red flags when we HR begin shortlisting potential candidates to key positions. This helped the hiring manager & HR ensure that candidates are a good fit for the company’s culture and values.
Social media language and behavior can provide insights into a candidate’s personality traits. Researchers have developed models to predict personality traits based on social media activity. Th Big Five personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This method can offer a cost-effective and efficient way to assess personality, complementing traditional assessment methods. Simply put, for psychometricians, what you post on social media are glaring take aways.
That is why, my former Recruitment Head Ian, who to my mind was one of the best there is, always had a strong online presence though am not certain if it was for him to be able to scout potential candidates for positions that are either difficult to fill in or urgently needed or for him looking for potential employers (lol). Whatever the purpose though, Ian has proven that consistent social media visibility matters and helped him well.
But there are pitfalls in social media presence that an employee and a potential future job seeker should be very wary about. Balancing your social media activity and maintaining a professional image can help you leverage these platforms effectively without falling into common pitfalls.
Common pitfalls of having an active social media profile on employment opportunities gravely & negatively affect one’s stock.
Most common is inappropriate content that one posts, be it intentional or unintentional, is very difficult to mitigate. Posting offensive, controversial, or inappropriate content can negatively impact your personal or professional image. Employers may view such content as a reflection of your character, shows poor judgment or even lack of professionalism.
Anything done out of anger or dismay clouds good judgement which unnecessarily puts one in bad light then only to regret it when damage was already done and becomes irreparable.
Engaging in negative discussions or leaving negative comments can create a bad impression. Employers may see it as a sign of potential trouble-making or a negative attitude. It is always content that is negative & offensive that turns scandalous and most damaging. Being mindful of the discussions you participate in and the comments left. Sharing & engaging content that reflects your professional interests and values is a good way to be seen.
There was a time that making negative or worst threatening comments was an industry. Trolling became an effective weapon to intimidate or destroy intent. Don’t let your profile appear to be part of such unethical practice.
Any inconsistency between one’s social media profile and resume can raise red flags. Questions on integrity surely pop up. A good interviewer spots such immediately & may question the accuracy of your information. It can also be an early sign of lack of attention to detail or carelessness.
Sharing too much personal information can compromise your privacy and security. Posting excessively about your personal life can be seen as unprofessional as well. It could be seen as an inability to separate personal and professional boundaries.
Because of this, potential employers may form opinions based on your personal life and habits. This can create an unconscious bias on the part of those that see your social media profile as an extension of your personality.
Over sharing, where every detail of one’s life, activities or even the most insignificant thoughts don’t need to be on social media. Always choose a moment, an event, a thought or a time that really needs to be shared & be appreciated by all.
On the other hand, in today’s job market, having a minimal digital footprint can be seen as unusual and might lead to skepticism from on the true circumstances of a person that refuses to be tracked or be traced. To say the least, it is highly unusual.
When two equally qualified candidates are applying for a job. Choosing between one that has a well-maintained LinkedIn profile showcasing their achievements, endorsements, and professional connections, as against one that has no online presence. The employer is likely to favor the candidate with the online profile because it provides additional assurance of their qualifications and industry engagement and become verifiable.
In conclusion, if businesses can use social media to promote products and services, reach new customers, and engage with existing ones, leveraging it to entice potential employers to notice you and appreciate your personal brand is good. Social media can be a powerful tool for personal, professional, and business growth. Using it wisely and one’s advantage is not difficult at all.
Be that as it may, I suggest that one should regularly review one’s social media content and remove anything that could be deemed inappropriate or unprofessional. Nothing wrong when cleaning up your social media accounts to remove any content that could be viewed negatively by potential employers because aligning your social media image with your resume helps build your professional brand. Make it be noticed and strike a curious glance.
Making sure that the information that you share for public consumption is consistent perfectly aligned to your intentions, goals & aspirations is a good practice. By always maintaining a professional tone and image across all your social media profiles, you have an identity that is consistent with who you truly are. You cannot be so professional and proper in one instance but then be so repulsive in another, no matter who the audience may be.
While having a social media profile is not mandatory, it can significantly enhance your employability by increasing your visibility, networking opportunities, and personal branding. If you decide to create a social media presence, focus on maintaining a professional and consistent image that aligns with your career goals.
To say the least, yes, your social media profile matters. In the bigger scheme of things, aside from one’s employability, protecting one’s reputation extends beyond one’s social media profile. Establishing a positive reputation at all fronts makes you trusted & reliable person in general.
GOOD MORNING HARDWORKING PEOPLE! For comments & suggestions, you may email author [email protected] & follow in Facebook Herrie Raymond Rivera.