New Article: DON'T Be Social

19
Apr 2011

I was perusing the MSN website this morning, when I came across this little gem of an article.  The title is Social Media Can Kill Your Career, But Not the Way You Think. Hmm, I think, probably another article about why you shouldn’t post pictures of the last time you got hammered with your buddies from college and the only recollection you have are these photos.  I read for a sentence or two and realize that’s not what it’s about.  Intrigued, I continue.  Then they get to the point.  According to some “experts”, if you are on social media too much, that can detract from your chances of getting hired because they might think you waste too much time on there.   I couldn’t disagree more.

To an extent, I can see where they are coming from, but here’s my point:  If you are someone who is using social media to get a job and you also use social media because you like it, there are going to be plenty of opportunities out there to work where that is rewarded.  If you are being disqualified for a position because they think you are too active on social media, that’s fine, it probably isn’t a good fit for you.  Do you know why that is also fine?  Because that company won’t be here in 5 years.  If companies are so blind that they think that being on social media is a bad thing, their priorities are not straight and the future is going to hit them like a ton of bricks when their business is failing because they aren’t leveraging the power of social media.

My next favorite point that this article makes is that you should have 2 social media accounts.  One should be your public, professional image, and the other one you can do whatever you want with.  Doesn’t that go completely against everything that social media stands for?  Is your personal life really SO bad that you need to hide it from employers?  What if they find your personal social media anyways?  I’m just saying.

So, here are my tips for being hired by using social media:

1. Share your Linked In page with everyone.  It’s basically a resume on crack.  Get people to recommend you, connect with everyone you have worked with, post your job history, your education, and get a current, professional picture of you on there.  Then, put a link to it on your email signature and business card and show it to everyone you know.

2. Be a resource.  If you are trying to get a job as a restaurant manager, then be a resource about the restaurant world!  Find relevant articles and post them on your Facebook page.  Follow famous restauranteurs on Twitter and interact with them.  Start a blog and start writing about the difficulties of running a restaurant.  Social Media tracks everything, yes, especially the good things.  If you show that you are fully devoted to your industry on social media, that passion will show through to potential employers.

3. Don’t be an idiot.  Period.  If you think that what you are posting might be inappropriate, don’t post it.

Bottom line, use social media, use social media to your advantage, and make sure you keep it classy.  Hope this helps, and I hope you can find a job.

 

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