The internet has revolutionised the way that we live our lives, and this is particularly true of finding a new job. Gone are the days of seeing adverts in newspapers or word of mouth, most candidates in today's market tend to rely on online applications and job boards.
This makes it much easier for you to find a vacancy; but have you ever wondered how easy it is for an employer to find you online as well? There's only a Google search between you and your employer being able to see all of your social media accounts.
There are both opportunities and things to be aware of if you have an online presence, and it's important for you to know how to manage them. Take a look at the pros and cons below.
What are the opportunities?
Having an online presence brings many opportunities and increases your reputation to different professional networks and prospective employers.
LinkedIn This is at the top of the list for finding online opportunities. With over 500 million users and 10 million job postings, it's the place to be if you're looking to network or find a new position. LinkedIn is a great platform to polish your online presence with an all-star profile full of your skills, experience, education and accomplishments. Once you have set that up, you can build your professional network with people you know and liked to network with. When you do apply for jobs, your employer is most likely to search for your LinkedIn profile so dont miss out on an opportunity to impress them before you've even met them!
*Tip: Make sure that your LinkedIn profile matches your CV, as an employer might compare the two.
Extra-Curricular If you do any activities outside of work such as blogging, charity work or anything else, this could be one of the first things an employer sees when they search for your name on Google. Whether it's an article or website, this will make you an interesting candidate and will put you above the competition.
What are the things to be aware of?
Don't miss out on an opportunity by putting out a negative online reputation. Everything put online leaves behind traces which will be difficult to repair and tidy up later on.
Social media It's easy to get carried away on holiday or on a night out and splash photos all over your social media accounts, but it's vital to make sure these don't appear on a public profile. Make sure your social media is squeaky clean and adjust your privacy settings to make sure your personal life is not viewable to the public.
Talking about your previous employer Even if you did have a bad experience with your previous/current employer, do not talk about it online. All employees should understand that these matters should be dealt professionally and not online for the world to see. This can put off any employers searching for you online.
Final thought: Sure, having an online presence brings a wealth of job opportunities, but more importantly it's all about what your online presence and reputation will say about you to prospective employers. Keep it clean and keep it tidy is the motto you want to go for here.
Are you looking for a new opportunity? Check out the latest vacancies here and dont forget to follow Brook Street on LinkedIn.
