How does Social Networks affect your chances of getting a job.

Social networks are sites on the internet which facilitates the interaction between one or more people in different regions of the world. Photos, videos and other interesting data can be shared between family and friends on social networks. The interaction that is done on social networks has served to connect a lot of people with long lost friends and relatives who have been out of touch for years. The internet has provided a means for which people can utilize SN sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Hi5 and other less popular social networking sites. The advantages and disadvantages of using a social network are many, they can be used for positive interaction such as chat, emailing, sharing photos and videos and just for general communication between family and friends. One of the most cost-effective way in which you can advertise and promote your business is on a social network. It can also be a good way to motivate people to stay indoors. On the flip side of that, there are instances where people are lured away by persons they interact with on social networks who pose as their peers and divulge misleading information. Your information can be accessed if the site is hacked into and photos that are posted can be used by people with ulterior motives to get what they want. Many people use the social networks as an opportunity to meet and greet friends and family who they have not seen in a long time. This is the best possible use of a social network, but for others it is just a way in which they can try to show people what they have , where they have been and where they plan to be. They also post updates every few minutes to let people know exactly what is happening in their lives. No gory detail is spared, they just let it all hang out, problems and all, to have people comment and make snide remarks about their situation. This is not good, especially since those are the same people who post their resumes both online and off with the hopes of finding a job. Employers do search their prospective employees’ profiles to get an idea of just what type of people they bring into their businesses. There is such a thing as your past coming back to haunt you, because if you posted an item that can negatively impact your chances of getting a job several years ago, it can be retrieved. This is the internet we are talking about. There is a way to retrieve everything. When you hear people say “there is an app for that” you had best believe that it is true. Employers take your interaction into consideration, if it is negative, it will mess up your chances of being chosen over someone who has minimal interaction or has no social network profile. Just think, would you, if you were an employer looking for an employee, choose one that has the time to post on a social network every half hour or so? I think not, you can only assume that your work would not get done on or properly, as the person has to make time to post every few minutes. The quality of the posts can also affect your hunt for a job. Negative posts will no doubt turn off potential employers, as they will assume that if you have a problem with them it will be broadcasted over the social networks and not dealt with in a professional manner. Your posts should be monitored and you should also ensure that the quality is of an acceptable manner, spelling and grammar will also be taken into consideration if you are seeking a job which requires those skills. It is all good and well if you are talking to your friends, but this is not a note that is being passed around in private, posts are available for all the world to see. They do make an impression on you, the person who made the posts. To better your chances of getting the ideal job, there are a few steps that you can take to ensure that your profile will not be a determining factor in the selection process. • You can ensure that your posts are more positive than negative. • Minimize the frequency of your posts. • Make no negative comments about people you have a grouse with on your page. • If you are not advertising your profile for business purposes, then allow only friends to access it. • Leave off nudity and lewd remarks for a private forum. • Hide or delete posts that can affect you negatively. • Ensure that your profile is not only friend, but also employer-friendly. • It is ok to make new friends, but monitor the posts of those you are not familiar with to ensure that nothing is posted that will be to your detriment. • Ensure that the people that you add are in fact friends and not just inquisitive people who want to get information on your life to use it against you. • Make a prospective employer want to hire you because of your profile. Each time you visit your page, you can do a check to see if there is anything that is out of place on your profile, as people can tag you in their photos and videos and have iot shown on your profile. Social networking can be a fun and exciting way to spend your time on the internet, it does not have to be a bad thing. If you know that you have resumes out there, then it is up to you to also ensure that your application will not be declined because of the contents of your SN profile. You owe it to yourself and your job hunting efforts to stay alert and ensure that you are on top of the competition, at least in that aspect of your job search.