With more than 1 billion Facebook users, more than 500,000 Twitter accounts and more than 175 million LinkedIn members, it’s almost guaranteed that the average Gen Yer is connected to the Web in some form or fashion.
Whether you’re addicted to social media or not, your online presence, or lack thereof, can speak volumes about your professional and personal character.
No Filter:
Gone are days of posting scandalous party photos, offensive comments and profane status updates. If you are a young adult who’s looking to begin a career or advance in your career, being constantly aware of your online presence is a must. An online presence is a gathering of information, photos and posts that connect you to the Internet. It’s become the norm for employers to search for employee candidates on the Internet to find out more about them and can possibly cost you the job if they find something negative and unprofessional.
Privacy Settings: It is imperative to monitor other activities that you might do for fun, like blogging or making YouTube videos. Search engines such as Google are like open books, and when searched, you are the main character. While it may
seem like harmless hobbies, young bosses should understand the potential consequences of the way they present themselves online. If there are things that you would like to keep private, now is the time to tighten up on those privacy settings. However, keep in mind that tightening privacy settings doesn’t guarantee total privacy on a social network.Having No Online Presence at All: If you’re one of the few who don’t believe in social media, then you’re missing out big time. Social media Websites allow people to network and communicate with one another in ways that were never before possible. Think of these social sites as virtual business cards and resumes. As a job-seeking college grad, marketing yourself and your professional skills via social media is a great way to begin your professional brand.