BEING aware of your online presence has never been more important when it comes to your job search. More and more employers look at a candidate’s digital footprint before even meeting with them, and depending on what they find online — whether it is fair or not — you can be sure that they will make preconceptions about you based on the language you use, what you are wearing and how you conduct yourself generally in online conversations.
Neal Lucas gives his advice on managing your digital footprint:
“As someone who works in Executive Search, the internet and social media platforms are important tools when searching for potential candidates. It is crucial that you are social media savvy if you want to be taken seriously, or indeed headhunted for roles. Equally important to remember is that even if you are not actively seeking a new job, your current employer may be also be checking out your online presence from time to time.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s only Linkedln, Facebook and Twitter that recruitment consultants, head-hunters and employers are looking at. Yes, these are some of the most popular social media platforms that are the first port of call, but potentially one of the most powerful online tools people forget to check is Google. Have you ever Googled yourself? You might be surprised by what you find if you start to do a bit of research. Ask yourself ‘Is this the image you want to portray to a potential employer?’. If not, be mindful of your behaviour online, put security measures in place so you’re not caught out by tags on friends’ photos and take a look at your privacy settings on all your social media platforms. It’s not unusual for these to change regularly without being notified.
“However, it is not in any way all bad; in fact, for me the digital market is mostly positive. Like most things in life it is simply a lack of understanding that creates the fear or engenders a negative attitude.
“In times gone by it would only have been people within your local or indus-try network that would have known of you and you were reliant on their per-ception that you would be recommended. Thanks to the internet anyone can find you if they are looking and can verify your experience directly.
“Even though you may not be looking for a job at a given time, if you can ensure that people can still contact you then you are always ‘on the market’ and will be available to receive and respond to opportunities. Sites like Linkedln provide a fantastic online platform for you to promote your professional skills and experience, which you can control and use to present yourself appropriately.
“Used wisely and with consideration, your digital presence could very much work in your favour.”