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Is Your Use of Social Network Sites Helping or Hurting Your Career?

May 22nd, 2010 | Author: admin

Social Media and Your Career: Pros and Cons

Social media and social networking website use has accelerated dramatically in the past decade. Networks like Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn have millions of users submitting new content and details every day.

What does this mean in an employment context? What should job seekers and employees do to manage their online presence so that it helps, rather than hurts, their career prospects?

The major concern that social media and social networking sites present for applicants and employees is not the mere presence of their profiles or frequency of networking activity. In fact, a highly visible profile and frequent, wise use of social network sites can be a big plus for one’s career.

The problem arises when a person exposes themselves on these sites in a negative manner. Both job seekers and current employees should be very careful with the types of content placed on social media sites.

Why the Job Seeker Should be Careful About Use of Social Network Sites

Job seekers are highly vulnerable to potential harm from negative impressions created by their activity on social networking sites. This situation is becoming more and more common: a candidate for a job sends in a cover letter and resume with seemingly stellar experience, great presentation, and potentially excellent value to the company. The candidate may even interview with the company and be an inch away from getting a job.

But when the company runs a search for the person on Facebook or Myspace, they do not look so perfect. Offensive pictures are posted, tasteless and poorly written messages are present, and the person’s friends post all kinds of inappropriate content as well. The job seeker is no longer in the running for the position, passed over only because of their careless use of social media sites.

More and more, employers are looking at social media sites in the manner described above. Some companies may look at a potential employee’s networking site before the job interview; others may do so only afterwards. Either way, the message for a job seeker is clear: have a clean and positive social media presence online, or it can be damaging to your job search.

Why the Current Employee Should Also Be Careful About Use of Social Network Sites

Some employers are also beginning to include searches of social media websites in the employee performance evaluations process. They may also conduct routine searches for references to their company or key management personnel. Companies also often monitor employee computer activity while at work, definitely including use of social network sites, which are widely viewed as productivity-killers. In addition to this time-wasting aspect, companies are increasingly wary of employee involvement in social media and social networking for two main reasons.

First, an employee may be perceived as a spokesperson for the company and its values, especially if they interact with the public a great deal in their work, such as if they are in sales. If an employees online postings are viewed as adverse to the company’s goals and mission, such as if they criticize the company or its management, the company fears damage to its brand and public image.

Second, in some instances the company may learn information about an employee from the employees online postings that it views as creating an unacceptable risk in the workplace, such as if the employee discloses drug use, racism, or a preoccupation with violence.

In most situations, a performance evaluation will not be ruined by one questionable photo or statement on Facebook, but there is always that possibility or even the possibility of the employee getting fired. It certainly happens with some regularity.

For this reason, employees should be thinking about their performance reviews and employment security with every post made on a social network site. Also, even though something was posted in the past does not mean it cannot come back and haunt the employee much later, having been indexed and cached by search engines.

While judicious use of privacy controls can go far to achieve protection against such negative impact of online social networking on employment, this is not a perfect solution.

There is still a potential for other employees and supervisors to come across the information. It is certainly not uncommon for bosses and supervisors to add employees to their networks, and for employees to add their bosses and supervisors. Even if such a connection is not currently made, think about the future. If an employee posts something negative about a boss or co-worker and then six months later the boss or co-worker seeks an online connection or friendship, things may not end well. The boss or co-worker will either be offended by a rejection or may end up connecting and finding the adverse postings.

How to Maximize Good Information, But Not Overexpose Bad Information

Just because using a social media site or social networking site has the possibility of being a bad thing does not mean that a person should completely stay away from these types of websites. To the contrary, they have many favorable aspects for job hunting and career growth that may outweigh the bad aspects, provided they are used properly.

Twenty-first century job seekers today are at a huge advantage over job seekers in previous decades in the sense that it is far easier to broadly convey information about ones qualifications, so that recruiters and HR teams can locate job candidates, rather than vice versa.

A job seeker should most definitely post as much positive information as possible online using social media sites, as this will reflect well on them in their job hunt. Some information that could be posted that would reflect well could be, for example, any published papers one may have, any hobbies that may relate to particular jobs, and any useful general skills such as second languages. These things typically do not find their way onto a resume, but they can certainly be found easily via social networking sites when a recruiter takes a look. Joining groups related to job skills and interests is a great idea as well, as is making sure one’s profile reflects the key words a recruiter might use to find a candidate in your field.

Employees can follow the same tips above that job seekers have available, but for a different purpose. Social media sites offer a way to present knowledge and interests that could help qualify for a promotion or transfer. For example, if an employee is looking to make a lateral transfer from information technology to information management, and their boss is connected to their social media site, the employee can begin making posts about information management news to show interest. While this will never win a promotion in and of itself, it is definitely a good way to show interest and spark conversation.

Conclusion

In closing, social media and networking is a very exciting development in today’s world generally, and it has many important impacts on employment, both positive and negative.

Because this information is so readily accessible by anyone with a computer, job seekers and employees need to be careful with the type of information and posts being made on these sites. If the wrong type of information is posted, the potential for harm is great.

On the other hand, if properly used, social media sites can and should serve as beneficial tools for obtaining jobs, solidifying employment and networking with bosses and supervisors. Social media can help create great opportunities for job seekers and employees that were never available before.