Maintaining Professionalism in Social Media - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

Maintaining Professionalism in Social Media - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. We continuously examine the pros, cons, how-tos and best practices in utilizing social media networking platforms from a number of perspectives, particularly that of the job seeker.  Maintaining a professional image online may seem like common sense to most, but there are easy ways to slip up and sometimes, it can be costly. Job costly. Many applicants and candidates often ask us what they can do to improve their LinkedIn Profiles, if they should promote their creative work via online portfolios, if theyre better off deactivating their Facebook accounts while on the market. Our advice aims toward the notion that private information may not always be as private as one would think on the world wide web, so be careful with what you choose to publish.  Assume its all public information, and edit profiles with care.  But dont be afraid of using social media as a means to navigate the job market; use social media to your advantage. Read on for some quick tips on how, with links to more in-depth posts weve written recently: Its  OK  to blog. Really, it is. And if youre blogging your latest projects, elaborating on the latest news in your field or industry, or sharing some great, positive writing, even better. Dont make the mistake of blogging specifically about your current position or employer, however; this can land you in the HR Directors office! If youre concerned about privacy when authoring a personal blog, adjust your site privacy settings as needed. If your blog is public and youre about to publish a piece that youre already questioning (i.e., Will this offend anyone?) the safest bet is to keep it in draft mode or publish privately. Read more on bridging the personal and professional blogging gap. Link in responsibly or miss out. Handle LinkedIn with care. Your LI profile should be reserved for professional networking only! (Cat memes and wedding photos should be saved for Facebook and/or Twitter. Your LI profile is a resume in itself watch your grammar and provide accurate, truthful information. LI users have the option of including blog feeds and other modes of contact within the profile section do this only if the outside links direct profile visitors to professionally geared information! Share the love by endorsing and writing great recommendations for colleagues they may return the favor. Learn more tips on standing out (for the right reasons) on LinkedIn. Avoid Facebook faux-pas. If you choose to maintain an active Facebook account while on the job market, avoid sharing anything you would feel embarrassed about explaining in an HR directors office. Choose likes wisely Though hiring companies arent supposed to be scoping out applicants on social media platforms, it does happen. Keep this in mind as you maintain an active, public profile. Read additional social media profile management tips.