Thanks to the Internet and my cell phone it’s really difficult to find the right balance between work and play, professional and personal. No matter where I am, any time of day, people can find me (if I let them). For the hundredth time, I’m giving away my age, but I remember when family counselors would tell us, “You shouldn’t bring work home with you. We should leave work at work and enjoy our personal lives when we get home.”
Well, welcome to today’s world. Next time you’re in a mall look around and see how many people are texting and talking on their cell phones. It’s a miracle there aren’t more injuries from people walking into each other. Half the people on phones are checking their emails to connect with friends on Facebook.
Warning: Your employer may be checking your Facebook page, too, to see what you’re up to, and after a job interview your potential employer will look for you on Facebook to learn more about your personal life. Employers may tell you they don’t check Facebook pages because it’s an invasion of your privacy, but when that hiring manager gets home, he just might “accidentally” find your Facebook page while surfing the Net. You know what they say, once it’s on the Internet it’s out there for everyone to see.
So how are you managing the overlap between your professional career and personal space? If the line seems a little blurred from time to time don’t feel bad because I think you have a lot of company. I’m far from an expert in this field, but here are a few tips that may help you manage your career and still maintain some sanity in your personal life.
1. Start with baby steps. Leave your phone in the car the next time you visit a restaurant. A local diner in Waterloo has a sign; “We don’t have Wi-Fi, try talking to each other.” Pick an hour or two at home and make it a “no phone, no computer” time. The only exception may be your kids doing homework. I know a grandmother who collects phones and video games from the grandchildren when they enter her home. She keeps a supply of board games to keep everyone talking and entertained.
2. I mention Facebook, but we need to be careful with all kinds of electronic communication. Emails, blogs and Instagrams become public information once they reach the Internet. Even if you’re not looking for a new job, what you put out there can affect relationships with customers, co-workers and managers at your current employer. The benefits of the Internet far outweigh the potential drawbacks, but there’s no question that what we do on our personal time can appear in places we never intended. It’s unfortunate we have to be so careful to guard our personal space, but that’s become the world in which we live.
3. Use the Internet to manage your career. Of course, it’s a great place to look for jobs, but there’s many other ways it can help you find a new job and a great employer. Do your research before your next interview. Look up information about the company and you may even find a blog published by employees. There also are ways to uncover the names of key managers in most companies. If you can’t get past the HR department, consider writing a letter (or email) directly to the hiring manager. The website LinkedIn has almost become a necessity for many professional careers and there are other discipline specific websites for nurses, engineers and other fields.
4. This may sound like a contradiction, but I realize some people are willing to pay the price to be successful in their chosen career. I know account executives and small business owners who promise their customers they will respond to phone messages and emails within two hours, 24 hours a day. I’m not going to judge whether this is a good or bad idea, but this level of service may be required to keep you one step ahead of your competition.
I think the secret to a balanced perspective is to realize that we can control how and when we use this great gift called the Internet. Maybe it’s time to have a conversation with your family, friends, customers and your employer to agree on what’s reasonable? I know one manager who tells her employees not to send messages after 6 p.m. and no messages on weekends unless there’s a true emergency. Imagine the possibilities …
Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. He also is an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact him with your questions, suggestions and comments at www.bill@stone associatestraining.com.
