PLYMOUTH – I
recently had the privilege of presenting to more than 60 City Year Detroit
corps members who’ve made a one-year commitment to mentor students in high-need
Detroit public schools. Our discussion focused on managing your own online PR –
as in personal reputation.
Flaunt your
volunteerism
According to
a 2014 social recruiting survey by Jobvite, 65 percent of survey respondents viewed a
candidate’s volunteering/donations to charity as a positive. While your “do-good” community activity likely won’t land you a job on its own, it could
potentially be a differentiator between you and other candidates.
Know who’s
watching you
The same
survey found 93 percent of recruiters will review a candidate’s social profile
before making a hiring decision, and 55 percent have reconsidered a candidate
based on their social profile with 61 percent of those reconsiderations being
negative. The highest-ranking responses were illegal drug references and sexual
posts. While it may seem obvious, check your Facebook privacy settings if you
don’t want recruiters, potential employers or even your current manager and
employees to know what you did over the weekend.
You are what
you write
Sixty-six
percent of the survey respondents reconsidered candidates because of poor
spelling and grammar within their social profile. This just goes to show that
basic writing and editing skills are a must regardless of your profession.
Double and triple check your LinkedIn profile every time you update it. It’s
always helpful to have a friend or mentor give it a second set of eyes, as even
the best writers make mistakes.
Leverage
Ninety-four
percent of recruiters using social media to find top talent rely on LinkedIn.
So, make the most of your professional online presence. Don’t just join groups;
participate in discussions. When you like something you’ve read, let the author
know. There’s no better way to build your network. Also, share what you enjoyed
reading with your existing connections. Staying active on LinkedIn will get you
noticed.
Build your
network – the right way
When I first
joined LinkedIn, I made the mistake of accepting virtually every connection
request. Now, I boast more than 500 connections, but many are meaningless
because there’s really no natural connection between us. When building your
network, don’t try to connect with everyone. Also, be genuine and willing to
help others you know.
Be mindful
of what you post
There are
dozens of sad and satirical examples of professionals who’ve purposely and
mistakenly shared the wrong thing online that has cost them their job.
Unfortunately, an online mistake will likely follow you around a lifetime.
Similarly,
be careful of badmouthing brands that have disappointed you. Many individuals
use this tactic as a way to bully a company and get what they want. There’s a
significant difference between reaching out to a brand for help resolving a
problem and picking a public fight. The latter may not earn you the reputation
you’re seeking.
I think the
following quote by Toronto, Canada-based Digital Marketer Erin Bury sums it
best: “Don’t say (or do) anything online that you wouldn’t want plastered on a
billboard with your face on it.”
What tips do
you have for managing your online PR?
Gilbert
is Vice President – Public Relations and Social Media,Heartland Region at Comcast
