As you may have read from the coach before, social and business networks are a great way to meet and network with direct and indirect contacts. These can be very useful when looking for a job, obtaining general information or finding the right personnel for your business. However these same networks can be very dangerous to your career.
Linkedin is one of the best business networking tools available to you. You need to ensure your profile is kept current. Many recruiters as surfing Linkedin while searching for their next hire. If you do not keep your profile and skills updated with your latest information, you could be looked-over. Worse yet, you could be a final candidate for a position and during the final background checks your resume does not match your Linkedin profile setting off red flags to the hiring manager.
The social networks such as Facebook and MySpace are the most dangerous. You must be careful of the content that is posted by you and about you. Showing too much of your personal and private life could be detrimental to your career. Imagine a recruiter doing a final background check sees pictures of you from a bachelor party? A night out with the boys? Other compromising situations? A recruiter could have second thoughts. Just as bad as pictures, are your words. Controversial postings and foul language would also set off red flags to a recruiter or your current employer.
Always be careful about what gets posted about you on the internet by googling yourself regularly to see what is out there. Be sure to check all social sites to ensure your profiles are current. Always make sure you use the proper security settings to ensure only the people you want to see your information is allowed. In the event you find something you would not like anyone to see, you have the right to ask them to remove the information.