Cleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking Sites

Cleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking SitesCleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking SitesHave you considered that the image that you are presenting to the rest of the world, including profil employers, may be working against your efforts? Have you recently checkedsome of the profiles you have on social media networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, or your personal blogs?Employers Use Social Media to Screen CandidatesWhile many of the social media sites are there for personal fun and networking, there are employers out there who are also represented. Its not uncommon for hiring managers or human resource people to come across interesting profiles and invite other members to learn more about career opportunities. Its also not uncommon for them to do their research there to find out more about job applicants, although the legality of this is often questioned.In a recent study conducted by SHRM (the Society for Human Resources Manage ment) an estimated one-third of all human resources managers use some type of social media network to recruit and research tauglichkeit employees. (HR Magazine, Dec. 08) So when employers are searching for you online, what will they find? Hopefully nothing that will embarrass you or negate from your value as a potential hire.How to Clean Up Your OnlineImageHere are some tips to help you put your best face forward and help you get started on cleaning up that image on all the social media networks you belong to1. Remove any and all embarrassing photos or videos of you online.While it may be amusing to your friends and family, its not very flattering to your image.2. Create accounts, profiles and email accounts with mature sounding names.Avoid the following words sexy, sweetie, baby, stud, crazy, lover, or any other words that sound immature or sexual in nature.3. Be careful what you post online under your name.Do a quick Google search to weed out any posts on forums or networking site s that are offensive. Likewise, stop posting personal things about your life unless its under a fictitious name.4. Develop a nice blog or website dedicated to your job search.On there, post a confidential resume (leave off personal information like address, phone numbers, etc.) and examples of your work portfolio. Leave off the cutesy pictures, music and themes make it as professional as possible.If you work hard to improve your image online, you should start to get better results when you do your job search. Be koranvers to use the social networking sites to let others know you are searching for a great new online job and see if you can establish any networks with companies that are hiring in your industry. There are a great number of resources you can tap into on the Internet and social media networking is one of them.Readers, have you had to clean up your online image? How did you do it? Tell us about it in the comments section below

Dont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 Mistakes

Dont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 MistakesDont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 MistakesSometimes, ur own worst enemy is the one staring back at us in the mirror. Although we mentally want to succeed, our actions might say otherwise, and in the end may be what is causing us to fail. During a period of unemployment, make koranvers you dont ruin your chance of job search success by standing in your own way. Keep reading to learn about the mistakes you might be making and how you can get yourself back on track.Here are six ways you could be ruining your job search success, and job search tips to correct these mistakes1. Taking ShortcutsIn an effort to save time or make the most of the time you have, you might take a shortcut here or there. Dont. Taking shortcuts only shortchanges your efforts and your overall success.What you should do Take the time necessary to complete the task, and see it through to the end. Set yourself up for success by managing your time.2. Not A sking Others for HelpUnemployment can come with feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or inadequacy. This mindset can lead to taking everything on, on your own. Dont try to do everything yourself as youll find yourself missing important details, feeling stressed, and limiting your opportunities.What you should do Reach out to your network and allow your connections to guide you. Rely on people whocan provide a different perspective, job search support, or a break away from the stress of job searching.3. Not Focusing on QualityIn theory, sending in 20 applications rather than 10 should increase your chances of landing an interview, and subsequently a job. However, when you dont focus on quality, your chances decrease. Hiring managers and HR professionals arent looking for someone who can do mediocre work quickly, but provide quality work within goal parameters.What you should do Make sure that you dot your Is and cross your Ts. Focus your efforts on ensuring the details of your work are of quality. Places that you should focus are your cover letter, resume, social media profiles, and online portfolios.4. Avoiding ResearchYou found a job with a title you love and the requirements match up with your skills and experience. So, you send in your cover letter and resumewith the applications without so much as looking at the company. However, you arentever called for an interview, and werent evenacknowledged through the application process.What you should do Before sending in your application, prep your cover letter and resume to make the best impression. Research the company and include personal details in your cover letter about being a good fit. In your resume, focus your skills and experience on the company and the job you are applying. Dont forget the importance of keywords, too5. Letting Others Sway YouUsing the support of others is a great way to further your job search success. However, you dont want to let them sway your decisions. Sure, there are different persp ectives to consider, but making a decision based on someones investment or ideas might backfire on you.What you should do Before beginning a job search, take stock of what you want. Consider doing assessments to help you learn mora about yourself. Feeling more confident about your choices will help keep you from making decisions based on others decisions.6. Not Taking ActionTime is of the essence when conducting a job search. From applying in a timely fashion to returning phone calls, a lack of action can leave you without any job offers. Making quick and decisive decisions is necessary.What you should do Monitor for new jobs at the same time nearly every day. Applying quickly, after youve done your research and created quality documents, is pertinent. Also, dont be afraid to apply to those jobs youre on the fence about. Take action and take the leap.Job search success relies on you not standing in your own way. Dont ruin your chances by falling into a pattern of destructive actions . Rather, avoid the above mistakes by taking the time necessary to focus on the smaller details and the quality of your submissions.Readers, what steps do you take to have job search success? What are some other mistakes should job seekers avoid? Tell us below

5 ways to stay healthy this fall according to experts

5 ways to stay healthy this fall according to experts5 ways to stay healthy this fall according to expertsIf youre like most people, youre psyched to embrace everything thefallhas to bring. You havesweaters to buyandPSLs to drink,football partiesto host, andpumpkins to carve. For adults, it might not beback to schoolseason, but it can still feel like an exciting time for fresh starts and positive vibes.Its not all cozy autumn flavors and snuggly outfits, though. Along withfallcomes a slew of seasonal-specific health issues and concerns. Heres what to look out for, as well as expert advice on how to stay healthy.1. Iffy indoor air qualitySpring is often considered the trickiest season for allergy sufferers, but the less-than-optimal air quality of many indoor spaces means that fall can be just as challenging for your nose, ears, eyes, and throat.Cold weather pushes people indoors for extended periods of time, with greater use of fireplaces, gas heaters, and other fuel-burning applianc es, which can increase the levels of indoor air contaminants like carbon monoxide and wood smoke, the experts at air quality engineering companyMolekulenote.You can improve the air quality in your home during the fall months by staying on top of dust buildup on your floors, using a dehumidifier, cracking windows, using exhaust fans, and avoiding synthetic fragrances in the cleaning supplies you buy.2.Seasonal affective disorder(SAD)Triggered by changes in the seasons, SAD is a type ofdepressionthat tends to affectmore women than men, per doctor, author, stress management expert, andNutritional Magnesium Associationmedical director Carolyn Dean. Thedisordercan make you feel moody andanxious, make it difficult to get up in the morning, negatively impact your ability to concentrate, and cause cravings for less-than-healthy foods.Unfortunately, most of us get lessvitamin Dwhen the weather turns colder, which is responsible for changes in hormone levels that can cause SAD.Vitamin D and m agnesium supplementscan help re-balance those hormones.3.ColdsWith people spending more time inside as temperatures drop - especially with the windows closed - cold germs are prone to spreading more furiously than they did in the spring and summer.Margot White, health educator and founder of healthy beauty and wellness boutiqueThe Choosy Chick, advises regularhand washingand a good hand sanitizer to stop those germs in their tracks. Hand sanitizers produced without harsh chemicals can also help guard againstdry skin, an issue that also flares up in the drier fall climate.4. Itchy skinA lack of vitamin D aufsaugung canalso show in your skin, according to dermatologist andRealSelfcontributor Dr. Joel Schlessinger. Combined with reduced moisture in the air, this can result in chronicallydry, itchy skin. Fight this discomfort by using ahumidifier, taking lukewarm showers, avoiding rough fabrics, and usingcream or liquid foundations, rather than powder. Taking a vitamin D supplement ca n help as well.5.The FluYou might feel like you can put offflu precautionsuntil fall turns to winter, but youd be mistaken. According to Dr. Tony Yuan, associate medical director atDoctor on Demand, the flu can start spreading much sooner than expected, even as early as October. Getting a flu shot now is a great way to get ahead of the illness ASAP.My best advice to prepare for the flu season is just being aware, Yuan tells us. This means being aware of your surroundings and conscious of areas that pose a high risk for infection.Dont be afraid to politely decline a hug or handshake from someone whos recently had the flu. You can owe them one laterThis article first appeared on Brit + Co.