Note: This is a post from guest author Heather Johnson. If you are interested in doing a guest post, please contact me. I am also happy to do guest posts as well.
Recently, many businesses are putting a lot of emphasis on online social networking. This is a great way for employees to stay connected and move up within their industry. Likewise, employers can improve customer retention and worker morale by adopting Web 2.0 as a company norm. More CEOs are starting blogs than ever before and sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter can make a person’s career. Or break it.
Online Reputation
Have you considered that your employer or future employer may be Googling your name? If they were to do so, what would they find? This is exactly why you should keep on your online social networking strictly professional or strictly anonymous. If you have a personal blog, consider a pseudonym. If you have a MySpace page, even a private profile should be free of incriminating information and pictures.
Web 2.0 vs. Job Performance
Those of us with forward-thinking colleagues and bosses may be encouraged to take part in sites like Twitter. However, too much Web 2.0 usage can come back to haunt us. Do you “tweet” something every five minutes on your Twitter account? Your employer can see the timestamp and may wonder why you aren’t working more. Likewise, a lot of constant activity on Facebook during company hours can bust you as a slacker. Enjoying a LinkedIn account? If you are gainfully employed, don’t add your boss as a contact and then proceed to openly canvas for new jobs. Having an employer who encourages online professional networking can be a Catch-22 situation. If you aren’t engaged with these sites, you might fall out of the inner circle. However, becoming too involved can reflect poorly on your professionalism. It is important to find a sensible balance and to do the brunt of your networking off the clock. Oh, and take those drunken pictures off your MySpace page. Especially if you are a teacher.
This article is contributed by Heather Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of career exploration. She invites your questions and writing job opportunities at her personal email address: heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.
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Well said, Lance. Especially true for those folks who have spent most of their lives online … the longer a person has been making dumb online faux pas, the harder it is to go back and cover the tracks.
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