Have you ever Googled your name? Be honest, I know we all have. You may find one or two things about yourself, usually a profile picture or something basic, but if a potential, or current, employer receives a glance at some of these “basic” things as well as a link to your personal FB page, you best be sure you are careful with what is on there.
Many college students have part time jobs or internships that require social media activity. You may be linked to your work’s Facebook page, or be in charge of posting on it, or use your personal page to support your business, but whatever the case, your personal page is branding yourself and the company you represent. Here are a few tips to ensure that your personal page is representing yourself in a positive way:
1. Use proper grammar.
I cannot stress this one
enough. It is extremely unprofessional to use improper grammar, or slang, or short
hand. If you can take the time to think of what you want to post, take the
extra minute to type it out completely and ensure it is in proper English.
2. Censor your photos.
We all love the little red
Solo cups and the memories that tend to follow them, but when representing a
company, or applying for a job, employers and customers don’t want to see you
dancing on a table, or sticking your tongue out, or surrounded by 100
intoxicated college kids at a bar. Save
those photos for shotbooks, or for your eyes only, and don’t share them with
social media.
3. Don’t oversell yourself.
We all like to brag
when we’re truly happy, but posting all the time about every little thing that
happens in your life is overwhelming and annoying to your Facebook friends. The
occasional post is all you need.
4. Avoid conflict over social media.
We all have
those friends who post statuses that we would love to comment on and basically
start World War 3, but when other people are watching you and how you represent
yourself, hold your tongue, even if it is insanely hard.
5. Put your employers values above your own.
If
you’re posting on behalf of a company/your employer, be sure your post is
tailored to that company and its values. You may not fully agree, or have them
as a priority, but it is your job to represent the company in the best way
possible.
6. Stray away from foul language.
This is
ESPECIALLY important when posting on behalf of your employer, or if your
employer looks at your social media. I know some words don’t get the point
across as well as a curse word sometimes, but to people watching you, you look
immature and uneducated and as if you have too much of a temper. Calm down, and
think of a word to replace the curse word, or just hold your tongue and don’t post
at all.
If one of your social media accounts is linked with your employer, or you’re posting on behalf of your employer, be sure to censor your post and brand yourself, and the company in the most professional way possible!
