Social Media and Employment
Many people view their social media accounts as a reflection of who they are. This is true. But what people don’t realize is how much of their own self is available for others to see. People used to put their best foot forward for their employers in the past. Their personal lives were not discussed with their employers unless they brought them to work or got into trouble with the law. The situation today is very different. Social media users can expect to have their lives exposed to potential and current employers. It is essential to be careful when posting information on the internet and avoid certain vital behaviours.
Red Flags
Recruiters look out for red flags that could disqualify candidates from employment. Social media sites such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others, are all reviewed. It’s good that many people have stringent privacy settings. This is a sign that the candidate doesn’t carelessly post their personal information on the internet. Although it’s rare and illegal in some countries, potential employers may request access to candidates’ social media pages. Even if your social media page is private, it’s essential to be careful about what you post and keep it clean.
Actual disqualifiers are items that cast doubt on an employee’s ability or embarrassment their employer. Many college graduates were shocked to find that photos of them doing keg stands prevented them from being hired by a company. Negative traits include expressing aggressive or extreme political views. While it is acceptable to have opinions, extreme views or loudly expressed ones can be a sign that the candidate cannot leave politics behind in the workplace. Disqualification is automatic for offensive language, especially if it’s harassing. It is a good idea to take a look at any social media page and go through it. What if you could show your boss the page and ask him to read your posts? If you suspect that your boss may be offended by the posts, you should immediately remove them and stop engaging in this type of online behaviour.
Scrubbing
You should scrub your social media pages if you are concerned that they could be a danger to your job. To begin, increase the privacy settings to the maximum. This means that you will not allow friends to view your profile. Your posts should only be visible to friends. Twitter and other microblogging platforms require you to lock your profile and approve your followers. Next, scroll through your posts and check for inappropriate or unsuitable content. If in doubt, delete it. Don’t forget to include comments on your posts. Next, look through your photo albums. Save the photos to your computer or to an external drive if you are unable to delete them. Social pictures are generally acceptable. However, if you have a lot of pictures that show you drinking or engaging in dangerous behaviour, you should delete them. Make sure your cover and profile photos are appropriate. While you are free to express your opinions, it is essential that you appear mature. You might be participating in a sport, and a good photo would be one where you’re drunk or have an alcoholic beverage.
Social Media is essential!
It is essential to take your posts seriously. Consider how your potential employer might view it before you share, tweet, or share anything. Is it necessary to file a complaint against the DMV worker? Do you feel like you would harass a secretary if it were justified? You shouldn’t only look at it through your lens. Consider the perspective of an older manager, who is more concerned about the business than your personal feelings. The hiring process today is a multi-person endeavour. Your work performance is not the only thing that you should be focusing on when you apply for a job. You should ensure that the person you are hiring is represented online.
