Should You Be Using Facebook For your Career
What is the first thing you do when you want more
information about ANY topic? You Google it. Simply put, Facebook can influence your online brand/your digital reputation, your corporate identity, and ultimately your employability.
The most important thing you must embrace is that EMPLOYERS WILL ABSOLUTELY GOOGLE YOU. If you have a name, you are Googleble! If you have any social networking account, even if just one—you are definitely Googleble, which means your reputation is searchable. So, now that we established this, what do you do with that
information?
A Few Takeaways:
Facebook counts. Perhaps Facebook itself won’t lead you to a job opportunity (perhaps); so, how does all this pertain to your (FB) Facebook account and your job search/career? Don’t discard Facebook as a useless tool.
Facebook results in Google searches; therefore, it plays a role in building/influencing your online image. Consequently, you must decide if you are going to protect it (set it to private) or put some thought in what you share via FB.
Executives and hiring managers are on Facebook too. Imagine this: you decided to network via LinkedIn and Twitter (because you are just that cool). You connect with a few folks. Now these contacts found you on Facebook and request you as a ‘friend.’ Ack! You were not counting on this. C’mon, you had no idea there were apps to find your Twitter friends on Facebook or that the HR lady you connected with on LinkedIn
would send you a friend request via FB. Now what are you going to do about the not-so-polished brand you have been unintentionally building via FB?
What
goes online, stays online forever. Even if your intention is not to use FB to project a professional personal brand, realize
nothing is 100% protected online. If someone has access to it, it can be copied
and it can be shared. Hence, it can go viral!
Where
is all the fun going? I hear you now, I can, “can’t anyone have fun anymore?” Sure. But, remember that old saying,
“don’t mix business with pleasure.” Well, at times, that is still good advice. And, of course, it depends on what you call fun.
For social networking to be successful you must be friendly, and yes, some associates may become your friends. What you have to be cognizant about is which friends, what topics, and what’s off limits. If you are ranging on-brand from professional to personal life, you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise, may need two separate Facebook accounts.
as always if any questions send to writer@careersteering.com
www.careersteering.com
Rosa Vargas
Master Resume Writer
Rosa,
VERY good points about Facebook. In fact, I relate; I originally joined Facebook solely for communicating with my sisters.
That aspiration was short-lived as, just as you indicated, other friends, colleagues, business partners and careers-related individuals quickly ‘found’ me there, and my Facebook sphere widened. As such, my Facebook style changed and shifted to adapt to this broader ‘audience.’
Sage advice, with your gentle, fun doses of humor and splashes of lightness.
Thank you, as always, for your clever and content-rich post!
Jacqui
Nice article. Seems like FB is going to help keep companies accountable too! Here’s a recent tweet.
Free speech on the internet is self policing like Ebay! Time for business accountability has arrived!