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A subject that keeps coming up in trending web sites that monitor business and social networking, is social media and its impact on a user’s employment potential.
I think this is especially relevant for anyone under 30 years old. Digital footprints – things written by you or that are written about you that can be found online – will only grow and loom larger as technology inevitably forges ahead.
While this is something not get overly paranoid about, it is definitely something for anyone of any age or occupation to at least think about. Enterprising musicians have even found ways to capitalize upon this trend and use it to their advantage.
Pew research findings
According to recent findings at the Pew Internet and American Life Project reputation management has become a defining feature of online life – especially for the young.
This management typically takes one of two paths: the user who is careful to project themselves in a controlled way for a specific audience; or the user who does not take any precautions in what they say or share online.
According to Pew:
The increased prevalence of self-monitoring and observation of others creates a dynamic environment where people promote themselves or shroud themselves depending on their intended audience and circumstances. There are good reasons to be more vigilant.
Online reputation matters; 44{2db8d9c9766c2c2a2bd7f7d2bb0fecf7978bb3ad0305fd3817dd032910c4b322} of online adults have searched for information about someone whose services or advice they seek in a professional capacity. People are now more likely to work for an employer that has policies about how they present themselves online, and co-workers and business competitors now keep closer tabs on one another.
I am musician. What, me worry?
Students applying to graduate or doctoral school, and most certainly recent graduates looking for teaching positions, should take their online profiles and comments seriously.
Virtually anything can be Googled, and digital footprints have a very long shelf-life. The trail might include any number of platforms and arenas, such as personal blogs or web sites, comments left on other sites, or within big social networking sites like Facebook.
This also includes things that other people may have written about you. In Facebook for example, friends can tag you in photos that you may not even be aware of … like pictures of you from your wild and crazy college years with foreign objects jammed up your nose.
What on earth is your future boss going to think about that?
Google is your friend
Evaluating digital footprints is a great idea for a number of reasons. One big reason for the enterprising musician to take under serious consideration is reputation.
Reputation matters and with one little thing carelessly posted on a web site, a blog or on Facebook, it can be stained and even perhaps ruined.
A good first step is to Google yourself and see what is out there. Taking myself as an example, a lot of information has gathered together over time.
* Gulp.
More reading:
- How Will Your Online Profile Affect Potential Job Offers?
- How Blogging and Social Networking Can Impact Your Job Search
- How Your Facebook or MySpace Page Can Impact Your Job Search
