A recent US study discovered the latest graduate trend in both Australia and the US is hidden online identity. Many graduates are going under alias names online as well as creating separate social media sites specifically for work purposes, and for good reason.
The study commissioned by Microsoft, found 78 per cent of hiring managers and recruiters have rejected applicants based on their online reputation, with 63 per cent finding this information on social networking sites.
That begs the question- What do your Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other online sites say about you?
Jay Whitler, a recent Australian law student, has changed his online information and gone under an alias facebook name to protect him from rejection while he is on the job hunt.
“It hardly seems fair. I don’t think pictures I post or that I’m tagged in on facebook should dictate how potential employers judge my work ethic, but I’ve seen it happen and I don’t want one photograph to ruin my future career,” he says.
Although this tactic may benefit graduates in the short term, it can come back and haunt them in the long term potentially crippling their career, according to Kirsten Dixon, personal branding strategist and online reputation manager.
Dixon, describing an unwanted online presence as “digital dirt,” is paid close to $US10,000 to remove undesirable digital footprints.“Your online reputation has a lot to do with your personal brand,” she says.
Davinia Noble, General Manager at ProGrad, does not search candidates online due to lack of time, but says it is quite common amongst employers, “Many employers that we work with will often search potential employees – it can be an interesting way of assessing people prior to interviews.”
Davinia Noble stresses the importance of keeping a professional approach to information posted online, “A picture can be very incriminating…as can the quotes beneath it. Be very aware of public photos which perhaps don’t portray the most “professional” side of you,” she said.
In today’s online community, the best move a graduate can make regarding their cyber profile is to keep Facebook private. It is wise to block all content to anyone who is not a friend.
By all means use Facebook as it is intended- for social networking, but this social medium may be your professional downfall if you are not careful. Don’t use it in a professional context by adding or “friending” potential employers.
Instead, keep a Linked In profile as something for this purpose, by ensuring that this is the portal you use to portray your desired corporate image.
For more advice on how to approach the graduate job market or potential employers, contact ProGrad’s Graduate Management Team on 02 8235 8300 or email info@prograd.com.au