Emails & Social Media Use II
MAKING SEPTEMBER COUNT
DAY 6: September 6th, 2017
“Everything you post on Social Media impacts your personal brand. How do you want to be known?” – Lisa Horn
Welcome to Day 006!
I believe you’ve taken a look at your old emails and had a long good laugh at yourself. J Not to worry, everyone makes mistakes while ignorant. The most crucial thing is you’ve taken note, and made the necessary amends. Today, we delve into the thick of Social Media, one of the most interesting, exciting and positive inventions of this Century.
Just about 20 years ago, there were very few avenues to achieve ‘thought leader’ status in some fields of endeavor. Writing books and articles, speaking at conferences/seminars/symposiums, attaining professorship and heading companies were some of them.
Today, just about everyone who has a story to tell, a stunt to share, inspiration, concepts, philosophies and ideas to air can do so, and become an household name through a few mouse clicks. This is the overriding power of social media! With the advent of technology-enabled socialization tools, anyone can become an overnight sensation. Showbusiness moguls, sports stars, politicians and entrepreneurs leverage these tools, milking a willing fan base through their creations and lots of controversies. Brands are built, followers are amassed and consistently engaged with posts; pictures, audio, videos and articles. We spend hours binge-reading, watching and viewing posts, and the Fear of Missing Out has become a significant phobia in our time.
While Freedom of Expression is at unprecedented levels, Freshers need to understand certain home truths about how inappropriate use of social media tools could harm their consideration for opportunities.
The Internet Never Forgets! The world is now so much of a global village that every piece of information posted on the internet remains there, archived in servers. Gone are the days when recruiters/selectors based their selection decisions on the skills, qualifications and experience possessed by applicants. They want to be assured that the eventual recruits (sometimes, less qualified than others) fit into company culture (referred to as organizational fit in business speak), and that their personalities would not eventually harm the company brand in any manner. They would be wary of hiring individuals whose posts on social media contradict organizational ethos, core values and ideals. Because the internet never forgets, a useful HR strategy is usually to check out the social media pages of their prospective employees. You certainly don’t want to be on the negative end of that!
Social Media: Potent Visibility Tool. As much as celebrities and businesses use social media to increase their brand awareness and appeal, Freshers can also leverage its potency to project their personal brand, and enhance their access to opportunities. You can create and cultivate a powerful network of individuals (including High Net-Worth Individuals, who you would not ordinarily have access to), consistently nourishing that network with valuable insights within and outside your field of endeavor. It is not unusual to find recruiters ditching the conventional recruitment process, opting for headhunting instead. Strategically positioning yourself as a person of value on social media would increase the likelihood of your being ‘headhunted’. I am connected to 7’500+ individuals (as at the time of writing this article) on LinkedIn. Some of them are CEOs, CFOs, HR Directors and thought leaders within my industry. By posting regular updates, replying to comments on my posts, liking updates and congratulating them on achievements such as promotions, work anniversaries and birthdays, I am creating a thriving community and building solid contacts that should come in handy eventually.
Powerful Environmental Awareness Device. Aside posting and networking, social media is an exceptionally effective means of learning. Millions of informative posts; News on Politics, Entertainment, Events and Sports, Articles on Career, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Technology amongst others make it to various media on a daily basis. Information on job opportunities, international study, grants and fellowships also show up. You could utilize social media as a strategy to become substantially more knowledgeable and aware of multiple industries, global trends in business, consumer demographics and psychographics and develop relevant business skills. Needless to say, environmental awareness is a skill craved by virtually all employers of labor in this dispensation. One more reason I favour LinkedIn over other social media channels is for its SlideShare component (where you can read articles on just about any topic). It also features LinkedIn Learning, which offers you an opportunity to learn new skills online.
Final Words…
In the third edition of Emails & Social Media Use, we would be considering a little guidebook for posting on social media. The Pros and Cons of your posts would be highlighted, with the aim of assisting you to make better decisions as it relates to social media. In the meanwhile, my limited-time offer is still on. I’m offering free resume and cover/motivation letter reviews for 5 readers who send me drafts of their documents within 12 hours of updating this post. Send me an email via [email protected] to enter for the contest.
Author’s Note
The views expressed and points raised here, though not exhaustive, are an outcome of my careful study, research and observation. Do you need to prepare a winning CV/resumé, Cover Letter or Motivation Letter and are pressed for time? You can send me a mail via [email protected] or call +2348138800012. You can also reach out via LinkedIn through Olumide Ibikunle for discounted assistance.
Project Your Brand!
Olumide Ibikunle
06 | 09 | 2017