When is a time-waster like Facebook anything but? When it’s your job. For social media managers and people in similar occupations, spending time on Facebook and Twitter isn’t a distraction from their job – it is the job. The trouble starts when your job description includes social media, but lots of other duties as well; when a co-worker sees you scrolling through feeds, they’re apt to think you’re squandering company time. In this week’s roundup, we look at some expert advice on not looking lazy when you’re working hard; plus, how to get followers for your blog and how to impress prospective employers online.
(Photo Credit: melenita2012/Flickr)
Alison Green at Ask a Manager: Using Facebook for Work, Without Looking Like I’m Goofing Off
A reader writes in to ask:
I work in a large nonprofit, on a team of two that manages one program. I recently created a Facebook page and LinkedIn group for our program. Additionally, I created and curate an internal newsletter in which I summarize relevant articles and share them with staff that have opted in; to collect the articles that I include I use twitter, Facebook, and wide variety of websites (traditional news outlets, new media sites like Buzzfeed and Vox, blogs, etc.). All told, I spend at least an hour a day on social media and news sites for work.
We work in an open office plan, and I worry that people get the wrong impression when they see me with multiple tabs of twitter feeds and blog posts open when they walk by… Is there anything I could or should do about this?
Alison’s advice is good for anyone who does similar work at their job … or anyone who might have the tendency to overthink things like this. (In other words: most of us.)
Terri Webster Schrandt at Perspectives on Life, Work, and Leisure: How to Get 700 Followers on Your Blog
“I recently reached another milestone with over 700 followers on my blog,” writes Schrandt.
If you keep a personal blog for professional reasons, you know what a big deal that is. If you also try to keep up with social media, you know how easy it is to lose steam on the longform end and invest all your branding energy in social. The goal is to balance the two so that you can build something lasting, while expanding your reach.
In short, Schrandt says, it’s hard to sustain a blog without social networking, but if you use social the right way, you can build an audience for your writing and get followers for your blog itself.
Hannah Morgan at Career Sherpa: 10 Things Employers Love to See
Before the internet, all you had to show for yourself was a resume, cover letter, and maybe a portfolio of work. Now, technology makes it easier than ever to show prospective employers what you’ve got to offer. Of course, the downside of that is that expectations have gone up accordingly.
“Recruiters, human resources, and hiring managers are searching online for talent,” Morgan writes. “Some use LinkedIn, some search the Internet, and some do both. Employers are also checking you out online. They’ll search for your name using Google or LinkedIn. The information you share online, or lack thereof, will determine whether or not you get called!”
In her post, Morgan tells you what will impress employers the most.
Tell Us What You Think
What’s the best career advice you’ve heard this week? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
I want