With the popularity of MySpace came the emergence and every-growing popularity of what is known today as social media. In about ten years, pictures, statuses and comments posted online have all become as integral to your social life as actually being at events in person.
As a society, we have online personalities that are reflected through filters, hashtag use and tweets. The privacy levels of our accounts, however, are decreasing disproportionately with the rise of social media. The more popular social media becomes, the more public we are willing to become.
Posting publically on social media has its advantages and it has its consequences. That balance is still being identified and begs the question of how you keep a public Instagram account and get that job at a law firm?
When Facebook first gained its popularity, stories of school teachers being fired because they were holding a glass of wine in their profile picture were making headlines. Some people were outraged while others stood behind the fact that alcohol should not be apart of personal social media accounts. Where does the etiquette lay?
Wherever you fall on the scale of the public versus private debate, it is always smart to think about the industry you are aiming to work within. Certain industries have completely embraced social media while others have not. Knowing where your employer stands is key.
For example, many PR companies in the beauty, fashion, or aesthetic industries want to see your Instagram skills! Certain PR companies actually ask for their applicants to tag them on Instagram so they can check out their personal style on the popular platform. They want to see how applicants promote themselves in order to see how detail-oriented the applicant would be in promoting a client of theirs. That does not mean, however, that they want to see anything and everything on your Instagram. Doing a keg stand? Absolutely not. A trendy picture at brunch? Definitely.
Additionally, any industry that involves self-promotion will most likely encourage public accounts. For example, bloggers, actors, models, designers and entrepreneurs are a few. But again, what you post on your Instagram should be in line with the brand or the industry you are self-promoting. With self-promoting, brand identity is key.
While there remains some freedom in certain industries with having a public account, there are other companies that find public social media platforms to be threatening to the integrity of their business. Think of the more traditional, conservative jobs: lawyer, doctor, or accountant. If the office code is professional, your presence on social media is additionally expected to be professional!
Our rule to live by is: If your Instagram is public, it should reflect the moral and aesthetic codes of your job. When in doubt, here are five rules to follow that will ensure your public life online won’t jeopardize your career goals:
Being a part of an online community is what being social looks like today. Let your social media platforms represent your goals, your reputation and your style! Don’t let it represent a failed or missed opportunity.
