Whether your spends hours on end mindlessly scrolling every day, or barely keep up with your socials, a clear out is needed from time to time, especially in a time were our digital presence often interwinds with our “real life”. Here’s why you might want to spring clean your digital space this year:

Potential jobs and opportunities

Many of us created our first social media accounts before any rational and thoughtful decisions could be made. And while it can feel like all funs and games, is not an uncommon practice for academic institutions,  recruiters and employers to have a look at your social media platforms and overall digital presence. Go through all your accounts and untag yourself/delete questionable posts (like those blurry pictures of you holding red cups back in high school), and be mindful of what you post and how that represents you.

Digital clutter

If your devices are running low on storage or if it takes you more than a couple of seconds to find what you’re looking for, you’re probably due for a digital clear out. That paper you wrote freshman year or those 200 reject selfies that never made it to Instagram can probably be deleted for good. After years of being online and a handful of devices that automatically backup, it can be surprising how much junk we never get rid of, and it can turn overwhelming fast. Take care of your digital real state. Delete and unsubscribe from what no longer serves a purpose or is no longer useful.

Self-care

Sometimes it is as easy as unfollowing and deleting. While we might not be in control of how certain posts make us feel, we can control what we see. Sure, social media can be a place to start debate and conversation, but there is no rule that forbids you from unfollowing that family member who is constantly going on offensive rants. Watch the content you consume, how it makes you feel, and get rid/unfollow what no longer serves you.

The post Why you should spring clean your digital space appeared first on RG Magazines.

If you’re a teenager today, chances are that you have an active presence on social media. Facebook is particularly popular among people of all age groups, but you may also use Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Tumblr, or myriad other social networks to communicate with your friends and curate your public image.

In your experience with social media, you’ve probably already learned a few lessons about what to do and what not to do online, and much of this advice sounds like common sense. However, it’s always a good idea to check in with yourself and make sure that you’re keeping your university goals in mind as you build your online presence.

  Does my social media presence matter for university applications?

As a university-bound high school student, you’ve likely been told to be careful about what you post online due to the possibility that admissions offices are watching.

Briefly, it’s unlikely that committees will go to the trouble of digging deep into your social media profile. However, you need to be aware that anything you do or post online can potentially come to the attention of university admissions officers, as well as hiring managers, scholarship committees, law enforcement, and other agencies that can impact your future.

Admissions offices may be more likely to look into your social media profile if they’re unsure about whether to accept you and want more details about your accomplishments. They might also search you out if they have reason to be uncertain or suspicious about the information that you’ve submitted.

Sometimes, universities can be exposed to information you’ve posted on social media, as well as other information about you, without having to actively search for it. There have been cases in which other students, teachers, or community members have tipped a university off about a negative factor that the student did not mention on their application.

Given the size of today’s applicant pools, universities simply don’t have the time to routinely check in on every single applicant’s online presence, but if they do choose to do so, there’s a lot that they can find out. A small misstep here or there likely won’t torpedo your application, but evidence of major misconduct, poor judgment, or untruthfulness can definitely affect the admission committee’s final decision.

Your social media profiles are part of your public persona, and it’s important that you pay attention to how that public persona is perceived by others. In general, you shouldn’t put too much weight on the judgment of others, but at the same time, the reality is that applying to university is in large part about presenting yourself in the best light to the people who are evaluating you.

Even if you’re conscientious about your privacy settings, there’s always a chance that the things you post online could become more public than you intended. The internet is never really a private space, and you need to make sure that your overall social media presence reflects the best of what you have to offer.

Besides your own actions, you also need to think about those of others. Even if you behave appropriately online, others may not, so you need to keep an active role in shaping what people might think of you through your social media presence.

What not to do on social media

Every day, the media covers stories of real-world consequences resulting from social media posts. Below, you’ll find a list of some essential guidelines for keeping your social media profiles appropriate and positive as a college-bound high school student. Even if you are already conscientious about your online activity or these tips seem obvious to you, it’s wise to go over this list and double-check your approach.

• Don’t post, repost, or like materials that are widely considered offensive. If you feel the need to state a controversial opinion, do so maturely, and keep in mind that your stated opinions may affect how others view you.
• Never use social media to harm, harass, or bully others. Just don’t do it.
• Watch your language online. Colleges know that people swear sometimes, obviously, but excessive vulgarity will not reflect well upon you.
• Keep interpersonal conflicts off of social media as much as possible. A polite discussion of politics on your Facebook page, for example, is probably fine, but you need to keep debates or disagreements like these civil and respectful.
• Don’t post evidence of illegal or unethical behavior — for instance, underage alcohol use, cheating on a test, or vandalism. Posting this type of content can also expose you to negative consequences at school or under the law.
• Don’t reveal personal or confidential information on social media, both for your own safety and to demonstrate your integrity.
• Don’t do anything else online that shows questionable judgment or character, or that might make a college wary of inviting you into their community.
• Don’t be afraid to delete comments from others, untag photos, make posts private, or do whatever else you need to do to keep your social media profiles appropriate.

Of course, this list can’t cover every single possibility, and you’ll have to use your judgment when encountering social media quandaries. Given the impact it can have upon your future, it’s generally best to err on the side of caution and not post any questionable content online.

[bio] Monikah Schuschu is an alumna of Brown University and Harvard University. As a graduate student, she took a job at the Harvard College Office of Financial Aid and Admissions, and discovered the satisfaction of helping students and parents with the often-baffling college admissions process. She also enjoys fiber art, murder mysteries, and amateur entomology.

This article was originally published in the 2019 edition of the Rg Scholarship Directory. 

The post How your social media presence affects your scholarship applications appeared first on RG Magazines.

Keith Szmierek

With Bermuda being such a small physical space and population, there is even more opportunity to create lasting relationships with people that matter. While the resume is always going to be an incredibly important piece of the recruitment puzzle in finding a role, how you develop your network and maintain it is equally as important, as strong connections within your field open up otherwise missed opportunities.

While the ability to network effectively doesn’t come naturally to everyone, the process of developing relationships with like-minded people can be developed. Whether you’re at the start of your career or have decades of experience, there are a few do’s and don’ts that apply to everyone:

Involvement

Volunteering, playing sports or coaching kids, getting involved in the church or being active in your community are all great ways to meet people on a level footing and build your network.

Social media

Having an informative LinkedIn profile is a great way to show off your skills and make you more marketable. Keeping your profile fresh by updating it or regularly posting relevant articles are important ways to market yourself in the information age.

Events

Attending events is great, but take your networking up a notch and really showcase your expertise by being a speaker/panelist instead of just an attendee. Presenting at an event will boost your credibility as a leader in your profession and will give you a platform to offer insight to others.

Get in there

Bermuda’s size provides excellent opportunities to rub shoulders with decision makers. There will be plenty of times when you don’t realise you’re having dinner or a drink at a table next to someone who is influential. That said, for the same reasons, be wary of your surroundings before you overindulge!

Tips for networking:

• Create your elevator pitch. A concise personal and professional profile of who you are.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Make every effort to engage with people you don’t know. Take the initiative.
• Ask questions, listen and learn. Anticipate the kind of people you’re likely to meet and what you would like to ask them. Then listen and learn from the response.
• Bring plenty of business cards and exchange them with people you speak with.
• Follow up and follow through. Thank people for their time, connect with them on social media and do whatever it is you said you would do.
• Be patient, developing contacts isn’t always about immediate results. Good connections and relationships are developed and payoff over time.
• Be prepared. Before heading to networking events, make sure you find out who is going and think about what you might ask them or want to learn from them.
• Don’t be “too social” – Remember those first impressions last, as do old impressions that might still be on your social media. Be careful not to overindulge in the wrong circumstances.
• Be careful about what you post online. You wouldn’t think to post your resume on Facebook or Instagram, but make no mistake, more employers research all social media when deciding who gets the job offer. Creating a professional image on LinkedIn is a great tool but don’t undermine it with what can be found on other social media.

Simply sending in job applications might not be enough – spend some time on building your network. Done right, it can provide a range of benefits, including the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information that can take your career to the next level and develop longstanding friendships along the way.

Keith Szmierek is the Recruitment Manager for Bermuda-based recruitment agency Frontier Financial Services Ltd. Established in 2000, Frontier provides both permanent and consulting recruitment for international and local business, as well as immigration and new business set-up, compliance and related professional services.

The post The (Not-So) Secret to Networking in Bermuda appeared first on RG Magazines.

Many college-bound students work very hard to achieve good grades, write compelling essays, participate in extracurricular activities, and even devote their time to helping in their communities. These are all excellent ways to boost your chances of being accepted to a university or getting a scholarship. However, one area that tends to be completely overlooked is digital presence.

If you are a millennial, chances are that you have a consistent online presence on multiple websites. While you may think of social media as nothing more than harmless fun, the truth is, it can impact your chances of winning scholarships.

Scholarship judges care about what you post on social media

 A 2017 study by Kaplan Test Prep in New York found that 35 percent of college admissions officers check Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social networking sites to learn more about potential candidates. Furthermore, 42 percent of admissions officers who check said they had discovered information online that had negatively affected an applicant’s prospects.

What is negative social media content?

 Negative social media content includes posts that are vulgar, emphasize illegal drug use, sexual acts, violence, and anything else that would horrify your grandma.

So, if your social media pages are filled with unflattering content and nothing substantial, it could cost you a college admission, scholarship, and even future career opportunities. The good news is that you can also use your internet presence to your advantage.

Here are a few suggestions on how to clean up your digital presence and use your social media profiles to highlight your accomplishments.

How to use social media to your advantage

Step 1: Clean up your digital profile

Your social media accounts say a lot about you. Go through your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media profiles and delete any posts or photos that are inappropriate. If you don’t want to sift through everything, delete the account and start over. Do not open a dummy or fake account. You will be perceived as sneaky and dishonest if they are traced back to you. You can also adjust your privacy setting as high as possible so that casual browsers won’t have access to your posts.  It is also wise to Google yourself and check what turns up. You should remove any material that belongs to you and is questionable.

Step 2: Be mindful of what you post

You want to be careful about the images you share, and the posts you’re tagged in.  If someone catches you on camera or video making out or playing beer pong, ask that the images be deleted before they are posted online and out of your control. Moreover, your profile name should be appropriate. Don’t call yourself SexKitten69 or GanjaLover420, just use your first and last name.

Be respectful in what items you like and share. You may find a racist cartoon hilarious, but sharing it on social media can make you look like an intolerant bigot. Keep your opinions conservative. Avoid heated political, religious, racial, sexual, or other intolerant online arguments. While it’s okay to debate with your friends, far left or right-wing musings can cost you big.

Step 3: Populate your profile with positive content

You want your online presence to show you in a positive light. Highlight your accomplishments and achievements. There are a few ways you can do this. Try to emphasize your excitement about the program you’ve chosen, or post pictures on Facebook of you accepting a volunteer award. Tweet about your sports team winning a championship game, or showcase time with your family. You can write public blog posts and notes about an empowering or touching incident that happened recently. Emphasize time with your family, photos of your world travels, and positive academic or social activities from school.

Social media and an online presence can be extremely powerful tool in your quest for scholarships, but only if done right. You want to present yourself in the best way possible to scholarship judges. That includes content that you post or share on social media. Use this valuable tool to modifying anything unfavourable that may hinder your credentials.

This article was originally published in the September 2018 edition of Rg Scholarships.

The post Yes, social media habits affect your scholarship chances appeared first on RG Magazines.