This video will provide you with tips for
managing your digital identity and enhancing
your employability by ensuring that you have
a professional online profile.
When engaging with people online it is crucial
that you react appropriately to the media
and the audience. For example, some people
choose to have a personal Facebook account
that they use to engage with their friends
and a professional LinkedIn account for engaging
with their colleagues and other professionals
in their industry. Be careful what you say
online. Don’t ever say anything you wouldn’t
say in public or publish photos, for example,
that you wouldn’t be happy for everyone
in the world to see! Social media requires
an ongoing commitment, so ensure that you
are able to manage your social media presence
and have the time to update your profiles
and participate in discussions.
Remember that “social media is not a lesser
form of communication, it is as worthy of
a disciplinary hearing as anything said out
loud.” This is a quote from a Guardian journalist
in response to the issue of 17-year-old Paris
Brown, whose £15,000-a-year post as "adviser
on youth," ended in embarrassing resignation
when the media discovered her inappropriate
comments on social networking sites.
There are ways of tidying up your online profiles.
A survey found that more than half of adults
in the UK would remove everything they had
ever posted about themselves online if they
could. However, it doesn’t have to come
back to haunt you.
Hide or delete unwanted posts and pictures,
flood google with impressive results, not
many people look beyond the first 2 pages
of google search results so push down any
less flattering material by having more current
information and accounts that appeal to search
engines such as Twitter and Linked In. Have
a managed PR ready profile on these accounts
that google ranks highly, if you use Facebook,
manage your friends list to control who can
mention and tag you in their posts and pictures
and regularly check your privacy settings.
And finally ensure that you delete any accounts
that you no longer use.
In terms of employability, social media has
created opportunities both for employers as
a tool to aid recruitment and prospective
employees by providing an extra channel of
communication. Take advantage of this user-centred
platform to present the best possible version
of yourself to enhance your employability.
Consider how to promote yourself on social
media – when writing profiles and biographies
select keywords to describe yourself that
will develop your personal brand. Look at
person specifications for jobs in your chosen
industry, what skills and attributes do they
value? Include these words in your bios to
ensure that you are discoverable and, to show
that you are the right person for the job.
So, don’t forget to tidy up your online
profile, check your privacy settings, delete
any unwanted content, and ensure you have
a professional online profile to enhance your
employability
Create your own personal brand using different
social media platforms and, finally, take
advantage of social media – apply your research
skills to build your networks, showcase your
abilities and find jobs
