Social Networking While Working Your J-O-B

If you do any kind of online work or surf the ‘net on a regular basis, certainly you’ve heard of social networking. These are the sites where you fill out a profile and proceed to accumulate a circle of friends or followers. These online friends with funny looking avatars are your connection to the outside world, especially if you’re working a j-o-b and are stuck in a tiny cubicle.

Social networking provides the opportunity to befriend people across the globe and also to connect with potential business partners. Even if you work online part time on the weekends, you can benefit from social networking to gain traffic to your website or blog or to find a joint venture partner to create a new product.

However, beware of the potential hazards of social networking while working your j-o-b…

1. Wasting time at work. With hundreds of social networking sites available, it’s quite easy to start filling out profile information only to discover you missed an important meeting or conference call. In most offices, supervisors can (and DO) monitor their employees’ online activities and your social networking could be a potential problem. If you feel the need to check your social media, do so during your lunch break.
2. Misrepresenting your company. Some larger corporations may not be on the social networking bandwagon just yet and they might be hesitant to learn more about the process. If you mention in your social networking that you work for Company X, be sure you have that company’s permission to mention their name, especially if you hand out advice about company products or procedures.
3. Your secrets are exposed. Some large companies regularly search popular social networking sites prior to hiring new applicants to determine if they’re involved in any lewd or unsavory behavior online. In this circumstance, that funny looking picture of you drunk at a college party isn’t so funny when it costs you a good-paying job. Remember that once you say something or post something online, it’s there forever.

Finding a new job, whether offline or online, is made easier with the popularity of social networking. Job postings are immediate as are the applications but if you aren’t discreet, your employer could find out about your plans. Rather than publicly announce your interest in a job, respond privately by phone or email.

Social networking is often considered a lifeline for those who have limited access to friends and it’s also a wonderful opportunity to follow experts in various fields and learn from them. However, if you work in an office, then your first obligation should be to your employer or clients since they’re paying your salary. You can still reap the benefits of social networking on a part time basis and then both you and your employer are happy.

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photo credit: carrotcreative

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