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If you’ve ever Googled yourself, you would know that you have an online presence. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn — these are just some of the networks that come together to form an online profile that provides anyone who cares to look a public perception of who you are. How do you manage your online reputation? Can you reign in the amount of public information out there?
As an employee or potential hire, it is worth thinking about the implications of your social profile settings. Some employees may choose to stop using social networking sites completely. For the rest, keeping in mind a few tips can help you manage your online profile.
It’s the most straightforward rule of thumb but still often forgotten. As new features and changes are made on Facebook every day, it’s important to make sure that your sharing settings are up to date. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check the settings on other networks you’re using, such as Twitter and LinkedIn — or even your long-forgotten personal blog.
It’s not just about cleaning up your photostream of potentially incriminating images. It’s thinking about your entire online presence. More and more potential employers are Google-searching for potential hires. This isn’t just to dig up dirt but gauge what sort of person you are — not just who you say you are in your interviews. A Twitter stream with an onslaught of complaints can make you come off as particularly negative, or a bunch of lewd comments your friends have left on your Wall could raise questions about who you choose to associate with.
You can also take strides to build and develop your online profile professionally actively. “Like” and join professional groups that are related to your industry or start a personal/professional blog to establish your expertise in your field. Use your networks and offer to contribute or guest blog for another relevant channel – you’ll be putting your name out there and building up personal brand awareness.
It seems inevitable — whether you change jobs frequently or stay in one company for several years, eventually, you may be faced with the question: should you become Facebook friends with your boss?
There are, of course, some immediate advantages to being friends with your boss, certainly from a networking perspective. Depending on the type of boss you have, Facebook connections may be a part of the workplace culture, along the lines of after-work drinks or team coffee catch-ups. However, for more conservative workplace cultures, the implications of being Facebook friends with your boss could be different, especially when it comes to upper management. For new hires, it’s worth waiting a while to gauge what’s appropriate before you start sending out those requests.
Remember that even if you aren’t actual Facebook friends with your boss doesn’t mean that they won’t be privy to what you share online – co-workers and mutual friends can be a potential source of shared information, purposeful or otherwise. The best mantra to keep in mind is to think before you post – if you wouldn’t want your boss seeing it, maybe it’s best to keep it out of the public eye.
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