Companies are increasingly checking online representation and social network activities of candidates for suitability. This also applies to academic institutions, I would assume. What are the pitfalls to avoid and good practices to follow from the candidates' point of view regarding social network activities (such as here on RG)?
Coaching from HRM practitioners is highly encouraged, which might be well appreciated by younger colleagues.
Disclosure: I am not involved in hiring academics, and I do not seek new employment.
Interesting question Michael, altough I don't think that I am an expert in HRM I' ll try to share some thoughts:
1)In our 'search engine era' there is nothing that you have written and can be hidden, so keep in your mind that everything is recorded.
2)When you apply to somewhere you have to be at least polite, so avoid net fights, since this is an indicator of an aggressive behavior
3)You have to clearly demonstrate your qualifications: if you hide them, nobody will try to reveal them, there exist not time for this
4)Fear is not a good advisor: remember the extreme relativity of our beliefs, especially when different cultures are interacting
5)Good luck!
According to the concept of free market place of ideas, let them write whatever they are writing. With the passage of time their understanding will be developed and they will be more experienced. Yes RG score is good example to gauge them and making them participated with quality of thoughts.
@Amir, as Demetris said everything that you have written can be found. Moreover, everything will be there forever. I think young researchers should be careful what to write, because in a few years it might be important for their careers.
That's good advice, Jane. Networks like RG should be of help, if young researchers want to be seen by search engines, and a professional RG appearance should also be of help.
Hi Michael, I think you might need to draw a distinction between the personal (private) and the professional, and keep those separate. That advice would apply to anybody though who may be active in the job market. Although you cannot as you say undo social media, you can limit who sees your Facebook for example. I think its helpful if you are using social networks to be in the mindset of the role you play. On RG we are in the role of Researcher, on Facebook we are in the role of private individual. If you want some rules for interaction in social spaces I did create this for a MOOC project here [ http://mattsedcmooc.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/rules-of-engagement-edcmooc.html ]. Some, not all, of the points gained support form participants.
You can express anything: but it should be in academic language supported by facts. From a company/recruiter's point of view, a high level of transparency is required to judge a person. So, If you are covert enough to hide your personality, it may end up with getting wrong job!!
I think that professional life can be assumed as part of personal life, but no vice-versa. Personal life can't be hidden for a long time in professions also and honest and authentic presentation of a person make him more trustworthy.
It is a very relevant question... But I think it is no easy to differenciate professional and personal life in social networks. Ok, Researchgate or Academia.edu, or linkedin are in the professional area, but I am not sure that Facebook and Google+ are in the personal or private one. Google+ and Facebook can be used also for professional pursposes, and in this line it is very difficult to preserve a personal and familiar space.
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