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Clean up your image

Clean up your image Digital dirt is a killer, and with the tools available to recruiters and employers today, if a potential job candidate acts inappropriately, it’s not a matter of if they’ll find out; it’s when. Make that first impression a great one. Make yourself easy to find The same popular social media sites […]

Written By: Chris Talbot

Jan 26, 2012

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Clean up your image

Digital dirt is a killer, and with the tools available to recruiters and employers today, if a potential job candidate acts inappropriately, it’s not a matter of if they’ll find out; it’s when. Make that first impression a great one.

Make yourself easy to find

The same popular social media sites of two years ago are still around. Recruiters check them all, so have profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook and ZoomInfo. Even Twitter and YouTube accounts have their uses.

Know the up-and-comers

Several new social media platforms have sprung up recently, and some of them are gaining a following. Two of the most important new social media platforms are BranchOut and About.me.

BranchOut

BranchOut, built as a Facebook application, appeals to a younger generation of workers. It automatically connects Facebook friends who also happen to be BranchOut users. BranchOut has potential access to 800 million Facebook users, compared to LinkedIn’s 135 million users, which is why you need a BranchOut profile.

About.me

Everyone now manages several social media presences on various platforms, but what if you can tie them all in to one static page to make yourself easy to find? About.me provides a virtual business card that makes it easy to provide a quick bio, a photo and outbound links to blogs, websites and social media profiles. About.me is growing rapidly as new users become sold on its benefits.

Be honest

When building social media profiles, be true to yourself while still coming off as professional. Recruiters understand everyone is human, but the more forethought you put into your outward online appearance, the better. Honesty, however, is still the best policy.

Know your audience

Most hiring managers are of an older generation (50, give or take several years). Consider how you want to appear to someone of that age (and how you don’t want to appear).

It’s not a toy, kiddo

“Social media is a tool like any other, and it’s a marketing tool. It’s not just a toy. It’s a tool to be used,” Perry said. Treat it like a marketing tool, and it will reward you.

Clean up your image

Chris Talbot

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