In this time of social media like Facebook, twitter etc we are connecting, communicating and exposing personal and professional information about ourselves more openly than ever before. However, sharing information has two effects. One is bringing good reputation. By publishing or sharing important information will bring good reputation. On the other hand, by posting inappropriate content, image or comment can damage our reputation both online and offline.
A recent study found 70 per cent of surveyed HR professionals in the US and 41 percent in the UK have rejected a candidate based on bad online reputation. Bad online reputations means these candidates post unacceptable videos, photos, or make inappropriate comments .
However, good online reputation has positive results. Good online reputations means not publishing or posting anything online that people will consider it unacceptable or hurt peoples emotion. 86 percent of HR professionals in the USA and at least two-thirds of those in the UK and Germany stating that a good online influences the candidates application to great extent. In other words, candidates of with positive online reputation has more chance of getting a job than with candidates who has negative reputation.
Although, this survey result is about western world but I believe that this thing will happen here in our country too.
So how can we create a positive online presence on social networking sites while minimizing the risk of online reputation damage, now and in the future? Here are a few recommendations that will help everyone.
- Choose your online identity wisely: If using sites for personal purposes, make sure you go through every privacy setting and make information available to invited friends only if you don’t want the information you post to be seen by anyone connected to the web.
- if using the site for professional purpose avoid using nicknames. Use your personal or business name or one close to it.
- Choose your online friends and associates wisely: Quality rather than quantity should be the driving force for making and accepting online connections and links. There are people online that you don’t like what they do or say. For example, people who post bad thing should be avoided. Reputation by association is a very important factor. Because people will make judgment calls about you based on who you are associated with.
- Choose your content wisely: Any content you post or upload.. photos, videos, comment if not in accordance with your character or professional line could case significant damage to your online fame. So think twice before posting.
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