Are you overwhelmed with all the “things” you must be a part of? Bring your part of the neighborhood potluck, finish the reports for work before Friday, go to your daughter’s recital, and remember to feed the dog. It’s true that today’s world is a little more complicated and little busier than in generations past. However, we cope the best we can without pulling our hair out. But, add another layer of “things” to be part of online and it may seem unmanageable. Tweet about the article you read, add a friend on Facebook, update your resume on LinkedIn, and always make sure your profile picture is a profession reflection of who you are. Do we succumb to the siren calls of the various social media networks to make sure we are adequately represented in the cyber world? Or is it possible to just ignore the online sphere as a whole and get along fine?

There are so many different networks, each with a different purpose and a different audience. Because of the variety of sites, it may seem to be an easy choice to decide which branch of the social media scene you want to be part of. The logical comparison would be deciding which magazine to buy off the check-stand at the grocery store; if you like fashion, buy Vogue, but if you like recipes and crafts, buy Martha Stewart Living. The line of social media isn’t as clear-cut as the magazine stand, unfortunately. Getting along in today’s society requires the most successful persons to be in all circles of social media, regardless of their preference for one over the other.

Because of the nature of today’s world, simply having a Facebook account isn’t going to get you very far. While it’s excellent to at least be attached to some form of social media, to achieve great success in all realms of life, especially professionally, expect to be involved in more than just “liking” the photos of your former roommate’s summer vacation.

It is a common practice now for employers to delve into a potential employee’s online presence, almost wholly concentrating on the potential employee’s presence in regards to social media. They’re looking for professional profiles, and also an understanding of who a person is after they clock out…or even when they’re clocked in. There are dozens of stories of employees who were fired when a boss read a tweet or saw a Facebook picture, which may seem like a no-brainer – don’t even get involved in the social media in the first place. The truth of it is, however, if you’re not participating on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the like, then your employer might think you’re not adaptable to change. Keeping track of what’s current and using these sites as professionally as possible will actually help you.

Besides, the social media out there isn’t only for professional use. People use these sites to express themselves and show to their friends and followers who they are. Social media can be both professional and fun. There are always guidelines you should check on the sites, such as the security of the sites. Make sure your security settings are where you want them to be when both friends and strangers come looking at your profile. Be smart about what you post and where you post it, both for your safety and your reputation. As mentioned previously, social media is a wonderful tool, but can also be the bane of your existence if you let it get out of hand.