Attorney at Law Regional Edition Inaugural : Page 23

Career Advice Common-Sense Etiquette Tips for the Digital Age By Charles A. Volkert, Esq. S personal life, maintain distinct personas online. On Facebook, ocial networking sites like Facebook and Twitter encourage for example, it’s inappropriate to “poke” business acquaintances spontaneous exchanges, casual conversations and and colleagues. Similarly, avoid posting updates about your latest impulsive observations. It’s easy to connect with others via Fruit Ninja high score, what you had for breakfast and other these tools – and even easier to make etiquette blunders that could trivia. Do you really show up alongside want your boss to your name on Internet know that you were searches for years. playing Angry Birds It would be during a conference embarrassing and call? Probably not. awkward enough if Which brings us to our online etiquette faux next piece of advice … pas affected only your Stay offline at work. social life. But three Bosses tend to take a out of four (76 percent) dim view of activities human resources (HR) like checking personal email during meetings or tweeting when managers polled by our company said technology etiquette you should be working. Even if you’re using your own smart breaches can affect a person’s career prospects. With so much phone or other device to access the Internet, it’s a bad idea to do at stake, administrative professionals who communicate online it during work hours. must pay careful attention to the rules of digital etiquette. The Don’t abuse instant messaging. Because they often pop up in next time you’re about to tweet, post a message or send an email, front of other open computer windows with a noise announcing keep the following guidelines in mind. their arrival, IMs can be distracting to the recipient. Don’t overdo There are no secrets in cyberspace. It’s possible that anything it – especially if you’re IMing your manager. you say online could be copied, pasted, forwarded and otherwise Although it might put a bit of a damper on the carefree, endlessly duplicated in cyberspace. That means you have no spontaneous nature of online communication, it makes sense to control over who might ultimately see that gripe about your boss follow the rules of digital etiquette. You’ll steer clear of trouble or criticism of a coworker. To be on the safe side, be professional and preserve your professional reputation. and discreet in your online communication. Don’t gossip, The Business Etiquette Guide from Robert Half offers guidance complain or make negative comments. Save the venting for for using social media to grow relationships with professional private, real-time conversations with trusted friends who you’re contacts, as well as insight into digital protocols to follow when sure will not record and post your rant on YouTube. interacting on social networks. Separate personal and professional. You would never walk up to one of your company’s clients and give them a friendly punch in the arm, nor would you answer Charles A. Volkert is executive director of Robert Half Legal, a leading staffing service the phone at work with a hearty, specializing in the placement of attorneys, paralegals, legal administrators and other legal “What’s up?” Just as you have a professionals with law firms and corporate legal departments. Based in Menlo Park, Calif., professional demeanor at work Robert Half Legal has offices in major North American and international markets. and a more relaxed style in your June 2012 Attorney at Law Magazine ® | 23

Common-Sense Etiquette Tips for the Digital Age

Charles A. Volkert

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter encourage spontaneous exchanges, casual conversations and impulsive observations. It’s easy to connect with others via these tools – and even easier to make etiquette blunders that could show up alongside your name on Internet searches for years. It would be embarrassing and awkward enough if online etiquette faux pas affected only your social life. But three out of four (76 percent) human resources (HR) managers polled by our company said technology etiquette breaches can affect a person’s career prospects. With so much at stake, administrative professionals who communicate online must pay careful attention to the rules of digital etiquette. The next time you’re about to tweet, post a message or send an email, keep the following guidelines in mind. There are no secrets in cyberspace. It’s possible that anything you say online could be copied, pasted, forwarded and otherwise endlessly duplicated in cyberspace. That means you have no control over who might ultimately see that gripe about your boss or criticism of a coworker. To be on the safe side, be professional and discreet in your online communication. Don’t gossip, complain or make negative comments. Save the venting for private, real-time conversations with trusted friends who you’re sure will not record and post your rant on YouTube. Separate personal and professional. You would never walk up to one of your company’s clients and give them a friendly punch in the arm, nor would you answer the phone at work with a hearty, “What’s up?” Just as you have a professional demeanor at work and a more relaxed style in your personal life, maintain distinct personas online. On Facebook, for example, it’s inappropriate to “poke” business acquaintances and colleagues. Similarly, avoid posting updates about your latest Fruit Ninja high score, what you had for breakfast and other trivia. Do you really want your boss to know that you were playing Angry Birds during a conference call? Probably not. Which brings us to our next piece of advice … Stay offline at work. Bosses tend to take a dim view of activities like checking personal email during meetings or tweeting when you should be working. Even if you’re using your own smart phone or other device to access the Internet, it’s a bad idea to do it during work hours. Don’t abuse instant messaging. Because they often pop up in front of other open computer windows with a noise announcing their arrival, IMs can be distracting to the recipient. Don’t overdo it – especially if you’re IMing your manager. Although it might put a bit of a damper on the carefree, spontaneous nature of online communication, it makes sense to follow the rules of digital etiquette. You’ll steer clear of trouble and preserve your professional reputation. The Business Etiquette Guide from Robert Half offers guidance for using social media to grow relationships with professional contacts, as well as insight into digital protocols to follow when interacting on social networks.

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