Looking for your next employer? Make a strong and positive impression by using digital platforms and tools to your advantage.
CLEAN UP YOUR PROFILE PICTURE and POSTS
Google yourself. Because they will Google you. Photos of you smoking, drinking, or dressed provocatively may not impress an employer. Save those photos for your private album. Same for your public posts. Keep it clean & respectful. Even if they are not in English, they can now be translated so best to just delete it or change your settings to private.
BE SENSIBLE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA
Show off your cooking skills by posting your dishes on your Instagram. If you are into hiking, you can share pictures of the peaks you have conquered. But be careful of forwarding or showing pictures of your employer’s children. Some employers prefer to keep pictures of their kids private, and they might be turned off if you overshare. Don’t forget to review your Whatsapp profile picture.
l
PREPARE FOR YOUR VIDEO INTERVIEW
Find a quiet place with good Wifi connection. Make sure your phone is fully charged and you have a back-up power bank. You don’t want to run out of battery in the middle of an interview. If you can, ask your friend to test the sound and video so you are looking and sounding your best for the interview. Inform your family and friends not to call you during the interview time.
TEXT WISELY
Most of us text our family and friends everyday but texting employers needs to be a little more professional. “Sori, GTG, CB L8R” doesn’t sound as professional as “Sorry, my ma’am is back, can I call back later “? As with face to face, manners like saying “good morning” , “thank you” and “please” go a long way. Read your texts before pressing the send button. If you must, take a quick break and write your reply carefully rather than doing it while you are distracted with work.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Sometimes it’s hard to synchronize timing when you are working and the agency or employers text you. If it’s difficult to reply to a text, let them know beforehand what time you are contactable – “Ma’am, I’m working till 8pm and cannot reply yet. Can I get back to you after 8?” That way people don’t think that they are being ignored. While we are talking about timing — avoid opening your conversations with “How much is the salary?”. While salaries are important, it is best to wait until after you are sure you are interested in the family and the position to ask about it.