This illustration was created by Joe Pemberton (Flickr) back in 2009 – have things changed in your use since then?
Finding the right balance between personal and professional online profiles is a topic of conversation which often arises with people taking part in the Networking for Work programme.
Is there a case for keeping the two entirely separate or are some networks inherently more ‘personal’ by nature while others better suited to the workplace?
Of course, it’s not a issue restricted to jobseekers and it was interesting to read this blog post by journalism lecturer Andy Dickinson about discussions he’s had on the same subject with students.
“For me, understanding the line between personal and professional is really important when it comes to social media and journalism. There have been numerous examples of people falling foul of social media searching at job interview.
“And things don’t get easier once you have the job. Stories of journalists coming in to conflict with their masters over social media use are increasingly common. But, thinking about it, maybe there is a case for intruding a little on students personal social media habits.”
That prompted some further discussion including this from Charlie Beckett:
“Social media is a great way to learn how. It also helps you learn the skills for listening, gathering information and interacting. Of course, you should use different accounts for work – unless you are prepared to compromise the privacy and norms of your ‘private’ accounts.”
