![\"Social](\"https:\/\/oliviahandyside.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/03\/social-media-employment-inforgraphic.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re yet to embrace Social Media in a professional capacity, you\u2019re already late to the party (BBC, 2013). With an online profile you can begin to tell a story about yourself to potential employers. Effectively it\u2019s an interactive CV. BUT it needs to be done properly. It\u2019s not just LinkedIn and the carefully constructed profile that you\u2019ve created on here which will be scrutinised. Every other aspect of your Online Presence will be scoured by savvy recruiters, and even the nosy public.<\/p>\n
The case of Justine Sacco shows just how important it is to maintain a professional Online Identity across all Social Media. An inappropriate tweet en route to South Africa resulted in her being fired from her job (Ronson, 2015). The general public leapt on her and she had to leave South Africa after hotels refused to accommodate her and her personal safety couldn\u2019t be guaranteed. Even a Buzzfeed<\/a> article featuring all her questionable tweets was published.<\/p>\n Obviously Justine Sacco is a pretty good example of how wrong things can go on Social Media, but her case is by no means a one off. Your Online Identity has been central to you gaining the job in the first place for some time, but it is now also a key factor in determining whether you remain employed. Activities such as Blogging can really help to boost your profile; they demonstrate traits such as creativity, dedication and motivation (The Employable, 2014). But before you jump straight in, Blogging is something that needs to be done \u2018properly\u2019. Potential employers are not interested in the incoherent ramblings of your inner mind. Make it personal, but make it interesting, intellectual and truthful.<\/p>\n I think the \u2018authentic\u2019 aspect of building an online professional identity is important, but has its limitations. Obviously things such as educational attainment and employment record should be honest, and are things which employers can and will check. We\u2019ve all claimed on CV\u2019s in the past that we love nothing more than country walks and a classic novel, when really at 18 we\u2019re more likely to be in the local club downing shots. I don\u2019t personally think this affects the \u2018authenticity\u2019 of our professional identity providing it doesn\u2019t interfere in our ability to do the job at hand.<\/p>\n Building a successful online identity takes hard work, perseverance and dedication, but beware, it only takes one ill-advised tweet to destroy it all.<\/p>\n 507 Words.<\/p>\n References:<\/p>\n BBC, 18 October 2013, \u2018Job Hunting: How to Promote Yourself Online\u201d, http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/business-25217962<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2015<\/p>\n The Employable, 28 October 2014. \u2018How Blogging can help you get a Job\u2019. http:\/\/www.theemployable.com\/index.php\/2014\/10\/28\/blogging-can-help-get-job\/<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2015<\/p>\n Nyman, N. 13\/3\/2014. \u2018Using Social Media in your Job Search\u2019. http:\/\/moocs.southampton.ac.uk\/websci\/2014\/03\/13\/ill-tweet-job-spec-snap-cv\/<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2014<\/p>\n Ronson, J. 12\/2\/2015. \u2018How one stupid tweet blew up Justine Sacco\u2019s Life\u2019, New York Times. http:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2015\/02\/15\/magazine\/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html?_r=2<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2015<\/p>\n Source of Info-graphic Statistics:<\/p>\n http:\/\/expandedramblings.com\/index.php\/by-the-numbers-a-few-important-linkedin-stats\/<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2015<\/p>\n http:\/\/blog.capterra.com\/top-15-recruiting-statistics-2014\/<\/a> Accessed: 5\/3\/2015<\/p>\n