What are the most common mistakes when using social media for career development?

Common mistakes in social media for career development: neglecting professionalism, oversharing personal information, inconsistent posting, lacking engagement, ignoring networking opportunities, and disregarding privacy settings.

A goal or vision is where everything starts, not where it ends. - Why are we on social media? Is it to push our business, career or for personal fun? - If for business, what is our goal, who are the people we want as clients? - Even if it's just for fun, we must keep in mind that we're building a personal brand, whether intentionally or not. The same goes for career development.

In the age that we currently are living in, with content coming back later to haunt a person, being careful about what is posted, commented or messaged is vital. Having said that, it's not very difficult - knowing your core values and sticking to it will help stay on course and build your reputation online and offline. When people want to see who you are, the image you're leaving behind is the footprints of the path you've chosen. So avoid blindly following trends, leaders or gurus. Keep an open mind and if you've inadvertently hurt someone's feelings, acknowledge and apologize, you'll be respected for owning up to your mistakes. What do you think ??

Many people struggle with goal development. They might know what they want, in terms of an achievement, success or an outcome but an aim needs specificity. Clarity around "what" to do or "how" to do it remains undefined. Using social media without this kind of clarity will be directionless and often times fruitless. This takes on the form of doom scrolling or copying what others are doing (recycling the same quotes and screen grab images).

My coaching practice focuses on career transitions. Many of my clients are fairly new to networking using social media. Here are 3 things I recommend to my clients who are just starting their networking journey online: 1/ Your goal is to use LinkedIn to explore and learn about new career options. 2/ Remember to act professional at all times - you never know who is watching - it could be your next colleague or CEO. 3/ Nobody owes you their time or advice - give before asking for something. Onward!

This is where many career changers and job seekers fail most often. You don't have to post or comment every day, but you do have to establish a consistent schedule for your LinkedIn activities. If you do post, do it at the same time for the first 90-days to establish your audience. If you use LI to find, follow, and engage with your prospective future employers and recruiters, show up when they post/share/comment as frequently as possible. Try to be the first to comment regularly. The poster will get familiar with your face, name, and profile so if/when you have the chance to connect for a chat or interview, that familiarity will benefit you. Beyond that, keep your professional brand consistent with your values. Be real. Be you.

Consistency Clangers: Hit and miss posting? Schizophrenic styles? Topic hopping? That's a recipe for audience alienation. Like a TV series that keeps the plot tight and the tone consistent, your social media presence should reflect your professional persona without plot twists. Stray from your narrative or betray your brand, and you're scripting your own credibility crisis. Remember, a mentor's mantra is positivity, not pettiness.

While I certainly feel that consistency in social media activity is very important for career development, I caution that frequency and consistency are not necessarily the same things. All social activity is not of equal value and sometimes it makes sense to sacrifice frequency for a stronger and more insightful message. "Conscious consistency".

Un error muy comunes al utilizar las redes sociales para el desarrollo profesional es la falta de coherencia. La coherencia es esencial a la hora de posicionar nuestra marca personal e implica, por un lado, conocerse y, por otro, lograr ser congruencia en términos de identidad digital. Para lograrlo, pon en práctica estas recomendaciones: 1. Identifica qué te moviliza y cuáles son tu valores. 2. Elige de qué temas vas a hablar (ej.: crecimiento personal) y de cuáles no (ej.: política). 3. Mantén una identidad alineada. Para lograrlo, usa una misma fotografía y titular en tus distintos perfiles. En caso de que no sea así, te recomiendo mantener, al menos, una línea editorial y un tono similar en tus distintos canales.

Find a topic or field that appeals to you. Establish yourself in that field by completely flushing out your profile to start. Share consistent stories about your trials, tribulations, and successes. You do not have to post every day, but you need to post frequently enough to keep your followers engaged. Be yourself! I do not care who you are or where you are from. People will gravitate if you provide good commentary, advice, or stories. They will pick up on it if you are not genuine. Network with others in your field. Tag them on your engagements. Seek coffee chats with fellow industry professionals. Be patient! Building a network takes time.

People create their own stories over what they are reading from you. So post in a way that represents you, your style, your own personality - be as authentic as possible so when they meet you in real life to be pleasantly surprised that you are as they imagine you while reading what you posted.

People sense authenticity even over the internet. For a solid long term social media presence it is crucial to maintain a high level of authenticity. Keeping things private that are dear to us is an important aspect of playing the authenticity game. Authenticity doesn’t mean to share anything and everything with the world but it means to share content within a well defined (personal) brand. Authenticity equals credibility.

You should always remain your own self when posting something on social media. People who know you professionally and personally should be able to feel the connection of your post with your personality. It is very easy for people to figure out the difference between a post that is authentic and genuine from one which is not. So, let your post tell your own story!

Avoid commenting too often with emoji's or generic replies like "100%" or "Well said, name!" These types of replies to posts/comments are shallow and do not serve your purpose for using LI, which is to network and build new relationships. If you're comfortable doing so, share your experiences and thoughts in your commentary and posts. This is where your audience can start to see themselves in you and start to relate to you and your experience. Be careful to set boundaries and try not to overshare. And don't be put off by the rare negative reaction to your comments and posts - those types of replies say more about the sender than they do about the recipient. Onward!

Authenticity Faux Pas: Faking it on social media is like wearing a mask to a masquerade ball—expected, yet ultimately unsatisfying. Authenticity doesn't mean airing all your laundry, but it does mean letting your true colours shine through. Connect with your crowd through real stories and genuine insights. Pretend to be the know-it-all guru, and you'll soon find your audience tuning out. Keep it real, and they'll stick around for the journey.

The saying that “all publicity is good publicity” is not true for social media. You don’t want to be known as the Jackwagon. Feel free to offer different views and opinions but do so respectfully and if particularly controversial or sensitive, consider sharing them with the author in a private message to avoid public shaming or embarrassment. Diplomacy is invaluable. Remember that everyone is human and offer some compassion.

The fastest way to get the LI algo to boost a post is to take a contrarian view to common thinking. While this can drive big vanity numbers - likes and follows - it is a double-edged sword in that you may also attract unwanted negative attention and find yourself feeling as though you need to defend your position. Remember this: No matter what you post, if you find yourself explaining or complaining, you're losing. You're well advised to post and share your authentic thoughts and experiences on topics that are of interest to you and your audience without worrying about vanity metrics and algo boosts to be seen. Keep true to your thoughts and values. Keep your professional self front and center. Keep it respectful. Onward!

I follow a simple rule. Don’t do anything online you wouldn’t do in real life. When being with someone face to face most of would never dare to behave like some people do online.

Your social media presence speaks volumes to potential employers. Being respectful is paramount. Ensure your content reflects kindness, professionalism, and respect for others. Remember, your online behavior can either boost or hinder your career prospects. Choose wisely.

Respect Rumbles: Social media isn't the Wild West, but manners still matter. Politeness, courtesy, and a dash of diplomacy can turn even the most heated debate into a constructive conversation. Forget this, and you're just another keyboard warrior, tarnishing your professional shine. As a coach or mentor, your words should uplift, not undercut. Disagree with dignity, and your reputation will thank you.

Ah. Strategy. Oft cited and seldom explained well. What does it mean to "be strategic" with social media? Here's my take after using LI for the past 15 years to grow my career across 6 different industries globally: 1/ Trends come and go. Just share what you know and you're bound to grow. 2/ Time is finite. Schedule your social media time on your calendar and stick to that schedule. 3/ Know your goal - define why you are using social media and what you plan to get from it. 4/ It's not personal - when it comes to agreeing with your thoughts and opinions remember this: Some will. Some won't. So what? Who's next? Onward!

Sometimes when using social media, you overestimate the reach you have. Most people have a modest number of followers and, therefore, the number of people you are reaching is fairly limited. You might think you are reaching the world, but the reality is far from it. Be strategic by thinking through who your intended audience is and if posting on social media will get you there.

One of the mistakes I see individuals make with social media is that they rely on automated job selections as their only method of contact for a position. I try to tell everyone when using social media for jobs, look to see if a posting has a recruiter and reach out to them directly. Look at the company you are applying for and do a search of their employees. Find a recruiter who may work in the area you are looking for or a manager, and reach out to them. Don't expect the linkedin easy submit button to be your only route to success. Relationships matter more than just throwing your resume at a wall and hoping it sticks.

Strategic Slip-ups: Winging it on social media is like setting sail without a map—you might catch a breeze, but you're likely to end up lost at sea. A strategic approach means setting your course, tracking your progress, and adjusting your sails as needed. Don't be lured by every passing trend or mimic the fleet; chart your own course to career success. Without a plan, you're just drifting in the digital wind.

Lack of clear strategy. Striking at everything and hitting nothing. It is critical to think out what to say, where or to whom.

My favorite variation on "Strong opinions, loosely held" is "Informed opinions, loosely held". The importance of openness as defined in #6 cannot be overstated. There is no substitute for curiosity and the willingness to change your viewpoints in life or career development. The ability to learn from and interact with people who offer unique insights and perspectives is among the greatest potential values of social media. Simply put, if you are not open and curious, you are missing this value.

Not being "as open" or second guessing your reply / comment on a post can hold you back on social media. Be professional but don't pause in fear of what someone might reply - welcome the feedback, advice, & motivation. It's rare that a complete negative reaction to your post is received and as someone said earlier, "those types of replies say more about the sender than they do about the recipient". #alwayslearning #studentforlife

?Was wir wissen, ist ein Tropfen – was wir nicht wissen, ist ein Ozean. “ Ich teile auch die Ansicht, dass Offenheit für das Lernen in sozialen Medien ein entscheidender Faktor für pers?nliche & berufliche Entwicklung ist. Die Welt wandelt sich st?ndig, in der neue Trends und Technologien rapide aufkommen; da ist die F?higkeit sich anzupassen & auch von anderen zu lernen, von unsch?tzbarem Wert! Dabei geht es mir um die HALTUNG. Damit meine ich eine Lernkultur zu pflegen, in der das Teilen von Wissen & Erfahrungen sowie die gegenseitige Unterstützung im Vordergrund stehen!! Denn dies tr?gt zu einer bereichernden UND dynamischen Gemeinschaft bei, von der alle profitieren k?nnen & auch für den individuellen Erfolg entscheidend ist.

Absolutely! Not being open to learning and growth is a crucial mistake. Being open on social media means being willing to listen, learn, and adapt. It's about engaging with others, seeking feedback, and being open to new ideas and perspectives. This openness can lead to personal and professional development, as well as new opportunities. Being closed off can limit your growth and potential, so staying open is key for career development on social media.

When using social media for career advancement, several pitfalls should be avoided. These include blurring the lines between personal and professional content, oversharing irrelevant information, and neglecting to manage privacy settings effectively. It's crucial to actively engage with your network, update your profile, and utilize platforms like LinkedIn for networking. Consistency and engagement are essential, as is avoiding overly promotional content. Tailoring your content to suit different platforms and seizing networking opportunities such as groups and events are also vital for maximizing career growth through social media. Avoiding such mistakes allows individuals to enhance their professional reputation and expand their network.

One of the mistakes would be “Following the Trends” blindly. When you expect the same results for yourself trying to follow someone else’s checklist of career progression. You need to be wise about what works for you and whether you are being authentic about it. Following the masses might take you ahead for a little while but would never sustain. Don’t lose yourself. Be Professional, Be Wise, Be Original.

One of the biggest mistakes I see is not maximizing LinkedIn properly, which means using your profile to its maximum potential and developing a thought leadership platform. I also see people using LinkedIn to post and discuss topics that absolutely don't work in the professional environment of LinkedIn. Focus on work-related topics and avoid bringing your personal topics to the platform. There are so many ways to use LinkedIn to build your professional presence! Additionally, I'd recommend that you either post on other platforms carefully or zip up your profiles so a recruiter or potential employer can't decide against interviewing you because you posted something they didn't like.

You must separate your personal social media from the professional. For example, do not use Facebook as a medium to further your career as no-one takes that platform seriously. Focus instead on LinkedIn and X, making sure that any political views expressed by you are completely objective and that you criticise the situation, do not target any individuals. Finally, do not push too hard trying to oversell yourself. Referring to yourself as an 'expert' means nothing and comes across as presumptuous. Demonstrate your skills by your thoughtful content instead of using hyperbole.

It's essential to stay informed about platform updates, trends, and best practices to adapt and optimize your social media strategy continuously. Additionally, balancing personal and professional content can help maintain a well-rounded online presence. Regularly evaluating and adjusting your approach based on insights and feedback can lead to more effective career development outcomes.