If you were to be networking for a new challenge in the real world you would have your elevator pitch polished and your resume bulletproof. You would be dressed accordingly and a hint of mint or fruity gum to attract a glance or a head turn at one of the many networking events that the social media space seem so drawn to. Alas, that is not the case anymore. It seems the reach of your resume and the power of your words have much bigger reach when you are not even remotely close to another human. I see this as a bad thing tainted with a little goodness. I shall explain.

When called in for an interview by a potential employer the 2 minute rule applies and for good reason. You can learn more about a person in two minutes then you can cyber stalking him/her for a good thirty minutes. Body language, choice of vocabulary, the choice of his/her clothing and most importantly the vibe! The vibe will never be able to be captured online. You can do a video, you can post, you can tweet you can upload pictures but nothing will replace the initial gut reaction that an interviewer has about the prospect in front of him or her.

IKEA job Interview

IKEA job Interview

Many potential social media enthusiasts also have labeled themselves as guru’s or have given themselves GOD like status and I am curious as to what would give someone such a title as it is a new medium that everybody is navigating through as it unfolds. Be wary of these type because from what I can tell the thought leaders in this space very rarely declare themselves as such.

I myself say I am a social media specialist as I have been in the social media space for some time and I am an enthusiasts outside of what my work dictates. That is all I say because my field of expertise has been tailored to it.

I will never declare that I know it all or that I have all the answers to the next BIG IDEA.

But I will inform any potential employer that I have been around enough to have seen some trends that have worked and methods that enable me to make a better judgment call then the fakes and would-be’s that are infiltrating the space.

A true thought leader are not telling others of how much they know or how great they are they are DOING IT not just hypothesizing. They are provoking thought and leading by example instead of retweeting or passing around the same tired news post on the most popular news aggregators.

I am in the process of making as much as I feel comfortable available for potential employers to learn about me. I want them to have a full understanding or as well rounded as I can present to them about who Lucas Clements is.

The tools that I am using to portray myself and my skills to the world are:

Why is your social media profiles important:

  1. It saves the employer time.
  2. Interviewing cost money and resources.
  3. Your personality and interests are apparent if you are nervous during interviews.
  4. A larger audience learns about you without geographic limitations.
  5. It is you who dictates your online persona.

Now this piece of advice does not come without a cautionary warning. Be prepared for people to know you before you know them and be aware that 90% of what you post online can be mined by future employers.

Keep this in mind
If you would back up a statement in person then it is alright to post. If you feel it may damage your reputation then I suggest you keep it to yourself or better yet…
Network in person and state that questionable opinion after you have assessed the vibe.

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