Protecting Your Professional Image

We all know how important image is to a job search. It’s crucial. This is why we wear a nice suit and print our resumes on thick paper. It’s all about image. And yet, sometimes job seekers fail to remember the image that they are presenting on the internet.

Be careful about what you Tweet!
Pictures and statements of wild parties, drinking or just a friends’ night out on the town may seem fun and innocuous, but they may cost you your next job. More and more articles are appearing citing examples of people whose social networking profiles (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, etc) are causing them to be passed over for job opportunities. A recent study in Time Magazine cited that 70% of HR professionals claim they have passed over a job candidate because of their internet profile. These sites are checked by a growing number of firms and you must be mindful of your public image. None of these are truly private. Most of us have found friends or colleagues’ profiles who were supposed to be “private”. Be mindful of how you present yourself.

Would you “friend” your boss on Facebook?
It’s worth noting that this is not limited to job seekers. Many of us have had a co-worker or boss ask to “friend” us on Facebook. This is a potential minefield. What are your options? Tell them “no” and risk causing an issue? Tell them yes and insist all of your friends keep comments “professional”? (I don’t know about you, but I would worry about what my friends would post if I suggested this!) You could ignore the request..until they ask you about it face-to-face at work

So what’s the solution?
These are the image struggles of the 21st century and they are very real to each of us. The easiest solutions are to stay off of social networking sites or keep them “professional” in content or appearance. But seeing how this is not a realistic option for many, I would suggest that at the very least, you “clean up” your site, remove comments you have made that could reflect poorly, and change out the pictures on your site to make them a bit more conservative until you have started your new job.

I would strongly encourage you to objectively review any of your social networking sites (I am confident your professional networking sites like LinkedIn are already “professional”). If there is anything you would not want your employer, prospective employer, co-workers or your grandmother to see, remove it. If you can’t/won’t/don’t want to do this, you should ensure your accounts are set to the most private settings possible; this will help prevent unwanted visitors to your profile.

The 21st century is full of electronic marvels; just don’t let them interfere with your 21st century career.

Courtesy: Travis, Bitesize Bio.

15 Reasons to be a scientist ..........

Just for fun, here my top 15 reasons for being a scientist. Add your own reasons in the comments below if you so wish.

1. Not being stuck behind a desk all day every day

2. Conferences… see the world for free

3. Understanding some of the fundamentals of life and the universe

4. Getting paid to do something you can actually enjoy

5. Realising just how little understanding we have of life and the universe

6. Having the freedom to plan & execute your work (If you are a PhD student you may have to wait until you have finished your studies for this one!)

7. People believe what you say (trust me I’m a “doctor”)

8. Not having to wear a suit to work every day (could you imagine that?)

9. Getting paid to think creatively

10. If it doesn’t work, it’s not your fault. Most things don’t work anyway – this is research!

11. Getting paid to think logically and innovate

12. Lab coats – even less need to dress smart for work.

13. You can work in nearly any country in the world that you choose

14. Owning a bunsen burner (or the equivalent gadget for your specialization)

15. Your mother/father/grandmother thinks you are a genius (unless he/she is a scientist too!)

Got any more?… add them below.


Courtesy: Nick, BitesizeBio

SCIENTISTS-ONLY DATING SERVICE!!!!!!!

You know what it’s like. You’re committed to your career, you work long hours so you don’t get to socialise as much as you needed to meet that special someone.
And those people you do meet wouldn’t know their a-factor from their elbow.
So what options are there for the lonely scientist who wants to find someone with whom they can share their copy of Molecular Biology of The Cell?
Well, the Scientist magazine has a scientists-only dating service called Science Connection that can help with that very mission. According to their website:
“The world is a crowded petri dish, and yet for those of an intellectual bent who happen to be single, it’s not easy to find that certain person for a great symbiotic relationship. Enter Science Connection.”
Being scientists we of course need some statistics on how successful this service is and Science Connection duly provides. Their up-to-the-minute stats boast 87 marriages, 69 engagements, 274 “serious relationships” and 303 dating couples out of 15,031 individuals who have joined the service since it began.
Membership fees are only $65/year…Â a small price to pay to find the scientist of your dreams?

Courtesy: Nick, BitesizeBio