Your Social Media Presence – Should You Listen to What Others Tell You?

When I trained at Hays, we were suited and booted — although the boots were definitely not allowed!

Shoes only. No slingbacks. No colourful handbags. One pair of earrings. Minimal jewellery. Tattoos covered. No nail polish. Neutral lipstick, or none at all.

And if a man arrived with noticeable stubble, it could be suggested that he went home and had a shave!

Wow, how times have changed.

Since Covid, many workplace rules and expectations have relaxed — and I am all for allowing people to express more of their personality.

However, I still believe we should dress appropriately for the occasion. You wouldn’t normally attend a wedding in jeans, and an interview deserves the same consideration.

These are simply my thoughts:

For an interview

Dress professionally and wear smart shoes. Keep things fairly neutral, but if colour is part of your personality, introduce it in a way that still feels polished and appropriate.

Your appearance might not appeal to every interviewer, but perhaps it is better to discover early that they are not your type of people.

I would usually recommend wearing a jacket unless it is a boiling-hot day. You can always remove it once the interview begins. It shows that you have made an effort and gives you the option to become more comfortable.

Also consider the organisation, sector and seniority of the position. Professional does not have to mean boring, but it should show that you understand the environment you hope to join.

For LinkedIn

We are often told that our profile photograph should be a corporate-looking head-and-shoulders shot: smiling, friendly and with nothing in the background to distract attention from us.

I agree that the photograph should be clearly and recognisably you — without family members or pets cropped out at the side!

Beyond that, I wouldn’t overthink it. Choose a friendly, recent photograph that captures you naturally. You can always change it and see whether it makes any difference to your profile engagement.

Today, I changed mine to a photograph that genuinely looks and feels like me. I’m wearing my favourite coat, my hair has just been done and I’m holding a glass of prosecco. Lovely!

If someone gets the right sense of who I am from the photograph, then it has worked.

For Facebook and other personal accounts

Facebook may be a personal network, but prospective employers and clients could still look you up.

Check your privacy settings and think about what is publicly visible. Remove anything that could reasonably cause offence or create an impression that does not reflect who you are professionally.

Your private life should remain yours — but the internet rarely forgets.

For your posts and comments

Be mindful of what you write, share and comment on.

If you are out of work or experiencing setbacks, it is completely understandable that your frustration may occasionally show. However, publicly criticising an employer, interviewer or company could harm your reputation more than theirs.

You can be honest about a difficult experience without naming, blaming or attacking anyone. Stay professional, even when others have disappointed you.

So, should you listen to what everybody tells you?

Listen, consider the advice and decide whether it feels right for you. Your professional presence should be appropriate and credible — but it should also feel like you.

What do you think? Have expectations become too relaxed, or are we finally being allowed to show more personality at work?

For practical CV, LinkedIn and job-search support, visit https://myprofessionalcv.co.uk/.

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