Social Networking Sites - What's On Your Profile?
By Kevin Buckley, CPC

Many people are discovering the benefits of joining social networking sites ranging from Facebook and Myspace to Linkedin, Plaxo and others.

Employers are increasingly aware of these sites and are checking the on-line profiles of people who may have these social networking accounts to get a sense of what potential candidates write about themselves, their interests, philosophies and their interactions with family and peers. When an important hiring decision is to be made, employers will use all tools at their disposal to ensure that they are making the best informed hiring decision possible.

It is useful to keep this in mind when adding content to your online profile. There are privacy options that some of these sites have which restrict viewers of your full profile to those whom you grant the privilege of free access.

Some people like to be very open in their comments about their work, their social activities and other interests, submitting pictures and entering information that could, if accessible to the casual viewer cause some employers to hesitate to continue discussions of a serious nature about a job opportunity with them.

Items To Include In Your Profile:

- Educational achievements, awards, recognitions, prizes, scholarships,
  promotions, affiliations, associations, charity works

Items To Exclude From Your Profile:

- Any form of online ranting or negative commentary about past or present
  employers, a work history that does not match the resume you submitted,
  photos showing immature tendencies or acts, questionable comments
  about race, religion and the ethnic origins of others, and any other offensive
  online material

If you are actively seeking a job, expect that an employer may choose to view your profile as part of the pre-selection process and ensure that there is nothing there that could be i detrimental to your chances or create a negative impression of you, your personality, ethics and character.

If you are using a site like Linkedin, Zoominfo or Plaxo as networking tools, remember that your profile is how you appear to the business community at large, colleagues and superiors.
Enter relevant information that provides a thumbnail sketch about you and provides enough detail for others to understand who you are and what you do .

Use the features that allow you to connect with or invite others to connect with you with discretion and care. Remember that connecting with others is not an open-ended avenue for self-promotion. 

Be responsive and clear in your communications with others. In an online networking community, there is an unspoken agreement that there is a certain etiquette and protocol to follow in interacting with others. Don't ignore requests and express your appreciation for any guidance or help that you receive.

Site links:

http://facebook.com  http://myspace.com  http://linkedin.com  http://zoominfo.com                     http://plaxo.com                        Site Reviews