Are you using social channels to enhance your career or damage it??

You are a brand ambassador to your company and your career! It is as simple as that. You are not just working behind the scenes you are the living face of it. Every time you tell someone where you work, post an update on LinkedIn or post a story of your day at work on Instagram, you are advertising about your company for the world to see.

Have you ever heard of the saying, ‘information on the internet lives forever?’ It is easy to get swept up in our daily emotions to forget what we are portraying to other people, especially in the professional’s environment. For example, you have had an argument with your manager and instead of keeping the frustration in, you vent to LinkedIn and as much as you try to keep it discreet, I can guarantee someone in your company will clock on.

So here is a few tips, do’s and don’ts plus things to consider when you are making your presence online: 

• Forget Facebook, LinkedIn is now crucial to projecting your Ecommerce career! LinkedIn really is the Facebook of the professional world and it will be one of the stop points a potential employer will make when seeing what you are all about. It is worth taking the time to fill it out as much as you can! But remember, input the crucial roles within your career only. We have all had waitressing, paper rounds and Saturday jobs! If you want to be a digital marketing professional then include the past roles that portray that best!

• Let’s play it down slightly on Instagram and Twitter shall we? Now I am not saying you should not post about your life! BUT, do not make the mistake of thinking your personal accounts are off limits. Employers will go to great lengths to find out more about you and if you are going to be working in marketing / social media, they will definitely want you to have a good reputation online! Ecommerce is all about branding and if your personal Instagram shows drunken antics, rude behaviour and bag language … would you hire someone like that to represent your brand?

• Don’t lose your personality! If you are working in a creative, design environment then let it out, make sure your creative streak is shown in the way you take pictures, layout your social pages and what blogs/articles you write about. LinkedIn is a brilliant place to post your artistic side and to gain amazing feedback. HINT: If you have just started in a company and your end goal is to be a Creative Content Director or Head of Design, make sure your future bosses notice you now!

• SHARE AND LIKE! It is the same on any social page, if you see something on LinkedIn or Twitter that is relevant to your career or opinions then make sure you like and share. Being more engaged will help in so many aspects to benefiting your career. Somebody hiding in the shadows will never have the spotlight!

• ADD THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR YOUR GOALS!  It is all about thinking ahead on social media, as much as a lot of the time we are reflecting on the past. Research who are the ‘go-to’ people in your current and desired industry and add them on your social accounts. It is a great way to get tips from the way they do things and will keep you up to date on the industry news.