You may think of your Facebook, Twitter, or other social media account as a private place to blow off steam. However, a 2017 study by CareerBuilder shows that 70% of employers check potential hires’ social media accounts, and half of employers check the accounts of current employees. While your employer or potential boss probably isn’t combing through every single post, there are a few red flags that employers can’t ignore. Here are some things to avoid when posting on social media.
Inappropriate Content
Pictures of keg stands and boozy beach weekends may boost your popularity in college, but they aren’t doing you any favors in the working world. Employers want employees who know how to present themselves in a professional light. Keep it classy. Minimize profanity, and don’t brag about your escapades while drunk or high. Make sure your pictures are acceptable to the mainstream. Ask your friends not to tag you in questionable pictures or posts.
Ranting
It’s fine to blow off steam after a bad day. But try not to let your posts devolve into angry rants. You’ll look unstable and can quickly be drawn into hostile arguments. Avoid speaking poorly of your current or former coworkers or supervisors. This behavior can make employers wonder whether you’ll do the same to them. Also, keep an eye on your spelling and grammar. Even if you’re upset, stay logical and rational, stick to the facts, and make sure your posts are well-written.
Oversharing
If you use your social media to keep up with far-flung family and friends, make sure your more personal posts are filtered to only go out to that group. Your employer or potential employer doesn’t need to learn your religion, your pregnancy status, your political affiliation, or other personal details from your social media accounts. They certainly don’t need to know about your ongoing relationship problems, your fight with your mom, or your best friend’s money troubles. Your public profile should stick to light, uncontroversial topics.
Plagiarizing
You might have a squeaky clean public profile that you use only to share thoughtful insights on mainstream topics. Yet if you aren’t giving proper credit to those whose memes, articles, or photos you share, your plagiarism can cause an employer to think twice. Yes, it’s the internet, and yes, people share all kinds of things without attribution all the time. But it’s technically illegal and ethically wrong, and it can lead an employer to question your credibility.
Social media provides an unprecedented opportunity to express yourself. If you’re job hunting, though, or concerned about keeping the job you have, make sure you are representing the best version of yourself.
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