neildenzilwalkerwells

When you're out there in the marketplace Social Media in its various incarnations can either be friend or foe, enemy or ally. The problem is, with the web connecting everyone fairly intimately, nobody really knows you do they? And so people and prospective employers sometimes try to get a feel for what you're about, compile a profile as it were. A living, breathing digitally-sourced you.

Well your Linkedin looks good, CV, resume, references etc. but what are you really like? 

Your webpage looks good, solid work, ooh you've got a blog! Interesting stuff, getting a feel for your interests, music taste, movies you like. 

You're starting to take shape now, flickering into life. (No, not flickr'ing).

Facebook you looks like a lot of fun, what a lovely wife and daughter! The Maldives looked stunning I have to say, I'd love to go one day too.

Looking good for you so far buddy. 

But wait, there's still Twitter to go. You follow some of the same people, great. Oh you had a barbeque last weekend, how nice. 

And so, you come fully alive, a little digital you in their eyes. 

And yet it can all go so wrong too. A bizarre picture on Facebook, an in-joke or photo between friends on Twitter and digital little you becomes tarnished. 

I think Twitter is the one to watch here. I've taken photos of illegally rude graffiti, had outrageous banter with good friends and colleagues, all of which, taken out of context might make digital me look bad. 

I'm not saying employers necessarily go to these lengths, but hey, hiring someone these days is a big step so the least you can do is look digitally presentable.