Allow me to backtrack a little and reflect on the first lesson’s reading, Adrian Miles’ Blogs in Media Education.
There are so many advantages to owning a blog, especially when it comes to applying for jobs. We’ve been warned about managing our online and social media, because employers can easily view our activity and web presence and decide whether we’re a good fit or not. So why not use it to our advantage?
Adrian said a blog is akin to a public journal. Like Elliot suggested, think about our online identities. This identity gives our readers and employers a sense of who we are, what we stand for. It is an extended part of our CV, so we really ought to pay great care to it. And no, no one’s curious about your bowel habits.
Here are some stunning statistics, courtesy of Lexology:
A 2012 social recruiting survey provides that 92% of U.S. companies now use social media and other social networks when looking for employees, up from 78% five years ago. While most companies use the more professional site LinkedIn, two thirds now also recruit through Facebook and more than 50% use Twitter to locate new talent.
Beejeezus?! How about some social media spring cleaning? Check out these helpful articles on the do’s and don’ts of social media:
Don’t Let Social Media Derail Your Career — Use It To Attract Potential Employers, Forbes
Six Social Media Career Killers, The Age
Cleaning Up Your Social Media Presence, Bloomberg Businessweek
Happy dusting!