Social media is almost a given for the majority of our students. Statistics shows that nearly 70% off all Americans interact on social media daily. We enroll students of all ages but the majority of our graduates fall between 18-34 years old. On average, 80% of that population uses social media on a daily basis. Social media can be an excellent tool for maintaining long distance friendships and interacting with others that share your interests. However, it can also keep you from being hired at a job you really wanted.
Security settings that limit who can view your posts are helpful, but the best way to protect your professional image is to portray yourself as a professional. So, you ask, what does that mean?
That means:
· Do NOT use profanity in your posts.
· Do NOT post pictures showing you in a bad light (drinking, drugs, fighting, profanity, inappropriate situations) - this includes pictures taken in past years.
· Do NOT comment on or post things that would seem overly political- either way.
· Do NOT bad mouth your employer on social media. You can be fired for this.
· Do NOT like or follow pages that may portray you in a bad way- this type of information can be viewed by anyone that sees your profile. If you like the page, employers may think that you stand for whatever is being conveyed- even if you find it humorous, it isn’t worth your career. Examples of offensive/inappropriate pages.
· If you join a group, make sure it is private or secret. Anyone who views your profile can see which public groups you are a part of.
Social Media can be a great tool for the job seeker. Facebook has a Jobs section. Employers post the position and you can easily apply through your profile. However, as recently as last week, a local office had an applicant whose profile picture showed her using illegal drugs- that was the image she gave herself. It is safe to say she will NOT get a call for an interview.
If you have any questions or want a review of your profile, we are always happy to help. Connect with us www.Facebook.com/DentalCareer or email Vikki at chcicareer@gmail.com.
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