According to a recent Pew Research Center finding, approximately 68 percent of all Facebook users graduated from college. This fact holds relevance when you consider the growing number of individuals using Facebook and other social media platforms in terms of job searching.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn continue to gain significance as research hubs and networking tools for employers and potential employees, thus allowing career opportunities via social media to grow quickly. The following are a few key observations of business relationships online and how they affect one’s professional world.
Networking
Social media is a fantastic method for businesses and people to connect. Involvement in groups and discussions allow individuals to display their skills and knowledge. Similarly, frequent commenting and participation can lead to a network of possibilities. The key is to remember that whatever is posted on the internet has a life far outliving anything on paper.
Prospective employees and employers are looking at social media as a critique for resumes and character. A nonexistent or bare-bones social media presence may portray a company as “not forward thinking” or a bad profile can say, “We’re not serious or true to our goals.”
The same can be said for future employees. A profile displays one’s character and lifestyle without being able to defend it. Therefore, a personal profile lacking in correct grammar, spelling or moral compass can reduce job opportunities. This also rings true with photography and videos that one either posts or is tagged within.
Sealing the Deal
Displaying appropriate content is key to surviving the social media microscope. Companies must utilize messages, which are cohesive to their mission and goals. Future employees need to ensure that every message and photo posted (personally or by others) displays the person as he or she would want to be seen in the professional world.
Recent world events have demonstrated the hold social media has over our society in terms of sharing and learning information. As this hold continues to tighten, the significance that our personal and corporate social media policies have in our careers and professional lives will also continue to increase. Paying attention to current business relationships via social media content and messaging now, will have a direct effect on our future relationships.
