Most of us know what not to post on our social media accounts. More than 69% of employers have rejected some applicants on the basis of what they found. Even when not in job search mode, we can manage our professional reputation (aka Brand) by what we share.
Match your postings to your online goals for networking. (You do have those, right?) For some it is to get a new job. But for many it is to find collaborators, allies, new ideas or resources. Others can share insights and projects.
Here are a few things to share – provided it is not proprietary information (check your organization’s social media 
policy!)
- ASK for
- Connections to people who work at your target organizations. Most new hires come from internal referrals. Once connected, ask for insights about working there and advice for a new hire.
- Opinions and experiences around a topic or task that you care about. Share your own to provide a baseline for the conversation.
- RESPOND to
- Questions in your groups and forums. Its a great platform to share your knowledge. Willingness to share speaks volumes to employers more than claiming the credential.
- Connection requests with a cordial and sincere desire to collaborate.
- Share resources you’ve found helpful and ask for others’ experiences with them.
- Ask for a resource to help you on your project. Remember to follow-up with appreciation and, more importantly, what happened when you used the resource. We all want to know the story ends.
- Tell a short story about an experience where you learned something or had an unexpected good result. Tell us about why you were involved, what problem/obstacle you faced, what steps you took and how it resolved. We like to hear your experiences with volunteer projects as well as work.
- Follow experts and add your insights to their posts. We love to hear when you are inspired by something.
Take your Career Conversations online by engaging with others to get both a broader and deeper understanding of what can lead to your success!