If you’re considering a career change, chances are you’ve been refreshing your professional profile not only among your peers at the golf club and day spa but online too.
That’s because social media is the front-of-house face not only for businesses, large and small, but their senior managers and executives.
There are, however, pitfalls, traps and hidden dangers to look out for.
Yes, posting online can be more daunting than camping with Boris Johnson’s dad in I’m A Celebrity.
No matter what social media platform you choose – and we recommend choosing all of the top sites – these top tips will help you gain the correct kind of exposure, while keeping you safe from nasty surprises.
Be disciplined
Everything you share online can be immediately screen grabbed so relying on being able to revise or edit your thoughts at a later date is not a wise option.
The best way to avoid calamity is to write your content in the morning then revisit it later in the day before actually posting.
Giving yourself time to consider what you’re putting out there means you can check rash thoughts and focus instead on presenting yourself and your skills in the best possible way.
Allow yourself to be you
There’s no point in sharing industry news and predicting trends, if the words don’t actually say anything about your own personality.
Being passionate about your subject and not afraid to be a pioneer demonstrates leadership talents that can help businesses thrive – and that includes companies looking at your profile and posts who are seeking new executives.
Don’t get drawn in
It’s one thing being passionate about issues such as new HR legislation or the impact on business of Brexit; it’s another thing entirely to get caught up in heated debates about rights and wrongs.
If you feel the overwhelming urge to give someone a public piece of your mind, switch off your computer, tablet or phone.
Any hiccup or indiscretion could jeopardise your career prospects.
Be sure of your facts
2017 was the year where misinformation was branded fake news and everyone from Vladimir Putin to Granny Ina was accused of promoting it.
The fact is it’s almost impossible to scroll through your feed without seeing a post that claims to reveal an extraordinary fact.
Don’t be tempted to share such click bait. Posts worth sharing are those where you can easily check their veracity and relevance to you.
As you fine tune your online persona, why not take a look at the top Executive and Management roles currently posted on s1jobs?