Managing Personal vs. Professional Identity on Social Media
Separating Professional from your Personal life is tough for some people. Here are some tips of balancing them over social media.
Professional: Social media is your multi-media resume complete with endorsements. It provides you with a platform for building your thought leadership.
Personal: Social media is a way to engage with family and friends, regardless of their current location. It keeps you connected with people you may have lost contact with otherwise.
Employers from any organization have the resources to access your social media. They often do this during the hiring process to get a better feel for who you are, and if you’re the right candidate for the position. This is why we pass on the advice to be cautious. Know when to mix professional and personal content on social media, and be sure to maintain your image online.
Do:
Connect with professors and past employers on Linked In
Include your certificates, specific skills and club involvement on all your professional profiles
Select a professional photograph taken in a formal to business casual setting
Stay up to date on messages, connection requests and profile updates
Follow insightful pages (Marketing Society) that will help you to learn more about specific career opportunities and upcoming trends/advice
Don’t:
Create a profile and leave it unmanaged for months.
Half-ass it. A bad profile is arguably worse than not having a profile at all.
Post anything that wouldn't be office appropriate. EVEN ON FACEBOOK.
