INFOGRAPHIC: Multi-Network View of One Person's Social Presence

Ever since Google Ad Preferences came to my attention, I've been thinking about what my overall social media presence says about me and what I've concluded is that it is very misleading.

Google is perhaps the most misleading, after all it had determined by my search history that I must be a middle-aged man who enjoys fishing and investing, neither of which I spend any time doing.  They get some things right, I do like online gaming, advertising and travelling.  My Google profile consists of Google+, Reader, Gmail and YouTube so I'm quite surprised that the computer analysis wasn't closer to the real me. A human looking at my Google+ would easily determine that I am a woman and that I am involved in marketing.  I'm not a heavy user of Google+ yet, so it really isn't the best look at who I am and what I enjoy.

Foursquare is a bit more telling but it amuses me none the less.  I am the mayor of 16 places, a third or which are fast food or quick service eateries and I check into these types of places often. This may lead some to believe that I would be a bit overweight.  While I don't consider myself thin, I also don't consider myself fat or overweight.  I just happen to have a lifestyle where I seem to be eating on the run more than I am able to eat at home or at healthier options.  But I do love fast food.

I have 81 Foursquare badges.  I have driven out of my way to try to earn a new badge. I secretly hope to be first in points everyday even though they mean nothing.  I am competitive and all of this supports that.

I am new to Pinterest but by all accounts my account is pretty sad which either means I am not the least bit creative or am not easily inspired. I hope this isn't true. But what little I have pinned reveals that I love to travel, read and watch science fiction/fantasy, cook sweets and want to remodel my home.

LinkedIn, the professional networking site, is, by nature, going to be quite accurate.  After all, it is an online resume.  Reading between the lines, I have 177 connections.  LinkedIn has not disclosed the average number of connections but most people speculate it is around 50 when considering all users and closer to 500 for the active user.  Being an active user below 500 connections, I either don't make business contacts easily or I don't connect with people I don't know very well.  The truth is the latter.

Twitter is one of the least personal social networks in my opinion.  Sure you can show your personality off in your tweets, but there isn't a lengthy profile to complete, 160 characters doesn't say much.  But if someone were following me closely they would know that I am deeply interested in advertising, marketing and social media, that I check in via Foursquare and that I love to read and share articles.

Finally, there's Facebook.  I have both personal and a professional business page.  This is probably the closest to the "real" me.  I've switched over to Timeline showing that I'm an early adapter, I have populated this timeline with photos and events from my childhood, I share videos, I talk with friends and I play some of the games.  I also enact as many privacy controls as I can find ans stay aware of.  But I've used this network longer than the others and share the most on it.

I hope you enjoy the below infographic contrasting the real me with the social me.  You can also find this on my official website www.adgrlsu.com.

Job Seekers: Is Having the Wrong Social Presence Better Than Not Having One at All?

It might be hard to believe but there are still people out there who have not given in to the temptation and joined the social universe. These people don't have Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or blog or any other type of social account. I've met them as students in my college classroom and as colleagues and fellow community members. On the other hand, there are many more that have joined the assorted social networks but are "over-sharing".  I've also had these in my classroom and as friends and acquaintances. Members from both these groups are currently looking for work or will be very soon. The U.S. Unemployment Rate is 8.5% and with new job seekers entering the picture each month, competition for jobs continues to increase.

So I ask the question, is having the "wrong" social presence better than not having one at all?

More and more frequently, Human Resource Managers and Hiring Managers are reviewing the digital identities of their top applicants to learn about their character as well as their attitude. Posting photos of yourself in compromising positions, posting about "risky" behavior or ranting about negative experiences will certainly put a damper on your job prospects, but posting nothing at all may be worse. Developing within the business world is an expectation of social connectivity. More and more brands are actively engaging in social media campaigns and monitor daily news and discussions on the topics that are relevant to their business.  They expect this same level of engagement from their employees and potential employees. Not being socially savvy may translate to not being web savvy or engaged in a continuous learning process. Not having any social profile also leaves your identity up to speculation or interpretation.

For those out there who do have active social profiles, here are my top 5 Tips for a Successful Job Seeker.

1) Clean up your act. Delete any photos that show you in an unflattering light. This includes photos of you out with your buddies at the bar, revealing or tacky Halloween costumes and even some pictures you're not even in but show content that not everyone will appreciate. And it doesn't matter if you have your profile privacy setting at high alert (which I recommend); there are still ways to get to those images.

2) Limit the amount of profanity you write if you're a potty-mouth. Excessive foul language is a red flag to potential employers. It is a sign that you may have anger management issues or might be a harassment risk.

3) Don't be negative all of the time. This just shows that you can't be pleased and are likely to create a negative vibe in the workplace.

4) Add value to your relationships. Be encouraging, share useful information and be a part of the conversation.

5) Just be you. Don't create a persona you think a potential employer wants to see, they want to see you and they can spot a falsified account a mile away.

For those out there that still don't have a single social profile. Get one. LinkedIn.com is probably the best place to start. LinkedIn is a professional networking site and a source for job leads. The importance of having a social profile will vary by industry, but don't let the lack of one stand between you and your career.