The Risk is Real

We live in a much different world than when our parents grew up. For that matter, the speed of change is faster now than it has ever been. By the time you read this story today 3.5 billion pieces of content will be shared on Facebook, there will be 175 million tweets  and a decade’s worth of video will be added to YouTube (that is one hour of video every second). Whatever you put online leaves an indelible mark on your personal brand. The power of this tool is greater now than it has ever been. The key is to harness and use it to your advantage.

Here are a five Do’s and Don’t’s of Social Networking:

1. Don’t Connect With Everyone - If you don’t know them personally, it’s probably a good idea to deny their friend request on things like Facebook or LinkedIn. There may be ulterior motives for connecting with you or a bad reason for accessing your account information.
2. Don’t Spend Time Online on your Boss’s Dime – Yes, most everyone is on social networks. Unless your job description includes “social media” in the description, limit the amount of time you spend on them. Employers are now watching to the tune of 44 percent (Fortune 500 Companies).
3. Don’t Forget Privacy Settings – While you should remember not to post negative comments or pictures, privacy settings can help avoid a headache. If you are putting ‘I hate my job’ or a picture of you at a bar on a business trip, your boss may give you a permanent vacation.
4. Do Google Your Name from time-to-time – This helps you find disparaging comments, pictures or other information before someone else finds it. It may be somewhat difficult to get everything off, but it at least gives you an idea of problems before a boss or potential employer stumbles upon it.
5. Do Be Consistent - Everything from comments to personal information needs to be uniform. Check your Facebook and LinkedIn profiles to be sure everything on them lines up. A minor mistake on one of those when comparing it to a resume or conversation you had with a potential employer could cost you.

Back in 2003, no one could have anticipated the impact the Facebook market would have on the world - not even Mark Zuckerberg. And there’s no doubt other, even more powerful platforms are waiting in the wings to make their debut.

No matter what technology comes along, at the end of the day, the only thing that will matter is that you are polite, personable, and professional in all of your interactions in the social media world.

If you would like to learn more about social networking to start or advance your career, be on the lookout for the Spring 2012 edition of THE TEKE magazine (see the latest digital edition now). 

Be sure to follow the latest TKE News with the RSS Feed, on Twitter or the official TKE Facebook Fan Page (Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity). Submit your news today.   

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