Social Media in professional life

The Art of using social media to get recruited! or fired ?

“Social Media”: A generic term to our life today. I do not recall a single day for the last 5 years at least that passed without hearing “Facebook”, Instagram, Google or twitter… it has become an integral part of our daily life.

Social media now is in everything. In the past we used to say “Politics” is in everything. Today Social media is taking that title . It is in politics, in economics, in marketing, in media and most of all in our professional life.

Many times people ask me: should we create a personal profile to post updates related to our personal life and a professional account (mainly on twitter) to tweet about work and professional updates?

Well the answer is no! You cannot be schizophrenic in general, and moreover when it comes to the use of social media platforms. 

You have to maintain a solid, clear and sustainable presence online. Whether you are having fun with your friends at the beach or trying to promote your participation at an event related to your field of expertise keep this in mind: Never post something online unless you are 100% that it is okay if everyone sees it.

According to statistics 1 in 3 employers rejected a candidates for work because of their misbehavior online, in other terms because they found something “twisted” about them on their social media platforms.

Moreover, a study in 2015 showed that 45 % of companies screen their employers and judge them according to what they find about them online.

So before telling you how to find a job using social media, I should warn you about keeping your current one and not messing around with social media in a way that might influence your current job.

Even if you were not an employee yet, and still a university students, you might risk all your career because of a post or status update that isn’t “politically correct” according to the standards of the university.

In order to get straight to the point, there are many steps to do online to get the chance to be promoted at your work or simply to find yourself a job.

1- Are you satisfied with what’s written about you?

Rule number one in personal online branding is to “google” your name, if you are satisfied with what’s written about you, then keep doing what you’re doing. If you found nothing written about you, start focusing on ONE platform and create an online strategy that enables you to promote yourself and your work mostly.

Example: if you love Instagram, keep posting good content and focus on the hashtags to get more chances to be visible. But don’t use whatever hashtags you have. Remember it’s about the quality not the quantity.

2- Find your passion. Tweet / Post about it.

What drives you most? Football? Food? Cars? Politics?

Focus on one target, tweet about it as a pro. You will start realizing with time that you will become a reference in this field.

3- Always be / think professional:

There’s nothing called “whatever” post. Any post you want to write has to be professional and look professional. Avoid using the internet/chatting slang language in your posts.

4- Earn credibility more than followers:

Do not search for being popular rather than being credible. Always take care of the sources you mention and be sure everything you say/write is verified. Otherwise you can’t afford one mistake. All your credibility will be questioned if you fail one time.

5- Mind the content and the quality:

Never use low resolution photos / videos in what you post. Remember it’s always about content.

There are many more things to tell you about the topic. It can’t be summarized in one article or blogpost, but if you have a particular question follow @philabouzeid and I will be happy to help you be more professional on social media.  

Philippe Abou Zeid – Social Media Expert.