What Does Your Social Media Profile Say About You?
July 2 2015
Your social media profile can tell the world a lot about you. Once you post, your content is out there for everyone to see, including family members, employers, and people you may not even know.
What does your social media profile say about you? Does your profile accurately represent the kind of person you want to portray? How do you appear to family and friends? What would you do if something on your page ruined your public image? Asking these questions can help you present your best self to the world of social media and beyond.
Your Personal Image
The way we see others is based solely on their actions. So, what could be some of the factors on your social media pages that allow others to characterize who you are?
Typos and incomplete profiles – Excessive typos and incomplete profiles can show visitors that you’re inattentive to detail. Many people don’t realize that typos say a lot about their background, particularly their level of education.
Social attitude – When employers screen applicants on social media, they usually want to hire someone who can get along with all kinds of people. A negative social attitude may indicate that you’re unfriendly and unwilling to be a team player.
Lack of networking – Employers may even look at your social connections and the groups you’ve joined. If you are willing to interact and connect with people, your potential employer may think you’d make a better candidate for their team. It can also help them to understand your interests and hobbies.
Inappropriate pictures and videos – This is the quickest way for an employer to exit out of your profile and never think about you again. Exposing crazy nights at the bar may indicate that you are immature or have a questionable respect for public opinion. No employer wants their employees posting media that could potentially come back to affect their company reputation.
Keeping It Clean
It’s simple: don’t post something you wouldn’t feel comfortable showing your mother or employer. Even if your profile is set to private, employers may find ways to access your media, such as through cached versions of profiles that anyone can find using a simple Google search. Once you decide to clean up your social media personality, don’t hesitate to delete pictures, videos, and comments that might misrepresent you in the future. Being proactive now will save you time down the road trying to clean up a mess cause by a simple post on Facebook or Twitter.
Keeping It Professional
The hardest part about cleaning up your social media profiles isn’t actually doing it; it’s making sure you don’t revert back to any bad habits. Continue to keep your posts professional and occasionally audit your profiles for risqué material. Don’t let social media define who you are to others; actively maintain your own reputation!
About Tammy Cohen
Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record. To learn more about Tammy, visit www.tammycohen.com.
About InfoMart
InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.