No matter how flawless your resume or interview may be, in the dark lies the possibility of social media sabotage.
Although a great way to communicate and keep in touch, be very wary of what you post on your social media accounts. Many companies nowadays use social media for background checks and the last you need is for any unorthodox behavior to be seen by them.
1.Be Careful of Too Much Personal Information...
This one is very important and happens to be the top social media failure when it comes to looking for a new job. These days it is effortless for companies to look at your Facebook page - privacy settings or no. This is why it is vital to make sure to watch what you say and keep an eye on what posts you are linked to. Photo’s of you drinking and being foolish are fine, but just ensure that the public cannot see them, and avoid letting them find their way onto sites where you cannot control who sees what, i.e. Twitter, Tumblr or Instagram.
2. But Keep Some Online Presence
So you have remembered to change your privacy settings – well done.
However keep in mind that you do not want to go to the extremes, it is just as important to have an online presence as it is to not have too much of a negative one. Lack of information can be worrying to someone who plans to employ you and is looking to get to know more about you. When job-hunting, try to at least have a LinkedIn account that includes your full resume and activity that is up-to-date.
3. Try to be Literate.
Sometimes it is better NOT to write the way you speak, especially when it comes to social media. Try to at least keep your language on your profiles profanity free. There are many hiring managers out there who will be investigating your online presence, so it’s best to think of any written word as a billboard advertising your assets.
That warning you got many years ago about how you should pay attention to the written word? See this is where you finally begin putting it to use.
4. You don't fit their culture.
There is nothing wrong with having strong opinions, just be aware that not everyone may share them.
Although Social media is an excellent place to broadcast your opinions and vent about the day, but there are no genuine ways for you to control who reads your Twitter or Facebook posts. Complaining about your employers or lecturers may seem like an amusing or clever idea, but there is the chance that it will appear offensive or disrespectful to those who read it online.
If you are currently in a job – all the above applies to you too! Try to avoid complaining or posting crude comment about your boss or current job online. If you would not want anyone you work with or for to stumble upon posts such as these, rather just not post them at all. As Thumper from Bambi said, “if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.”
Lyn Arbuckle is a professional online marketer and recruitment specialist working for the most innovative job portal, Jobvine.co.za.
Although a great way to communicate and keep in touch, be very wary of what you post on your social media accounts. Many companies nowadays use social media for background checks and the last you need is for any unorthodox behavior to be seen by them.
Below are a few ways that social media can ruin your job searches if you are not alert:
1.Be Careful of Too Much Personal Information...
This one is very important and happens to be the top social media failure when it comes to looking for a new job. These days it is effortless for companies to look at your Facebook page - privacy settings or no. This is why it is vital to make sure to watch what you say and keep an eye on what posts you are linked to. Photo’s of you drinking and being foolish are fine, but just ensure that the public cannot see them, and avoid letting them find their way onto sites where you cannot control who sees what, i.e. Twitter, Tumblr or Instagram.
2. But Keep Some Online Presence
So you have remembered to change your privacy settings – well done.
However keep in mind that you do not want to go to the extremes, it is just as important to have an online presence as it is to not have too much of a negative one. Lack of information can be worrying to someone who plans to employ you and is looking to get to know more about you. When job-hunting, try to at least have a LinkedIn account that includes your full resume and activity that is up-to-date.
3. Try to be Literate.
Sometimes it is better NOT to write the way you speak, especially when it comes to social media. Try to at least keep your language on your profiles profanity free. There are many hiring managers out there who will be investigating your online presence, so it’s best to think of any written word as a billboard advertising your assets.
That warning you got many years ago about how you should pay attention to the written word? See this is where you finally begin putting it to use.
4. You don't fit their culture.
There is nothing wrong with having strong opinions, just be aware that not everyone may share them.
Although Social media is an excellent place to broadcast your opinions and vent about the day, but there are no genuine ways for you to control who reads your Twitter or Facebook posts. Complaining about your employers or lecturers may seem like an amusing or clever idea, but there is the chance that it will appear offensive or disrespectful to those who read it online.
If you are currently in a job – all the above applies to you too! Try to avoid complaining or posting crude comment about your boss or current job online. If you would not want anyone you work with or for to stumble upon posts such as these, rather just not post them at all. As Thumper from Bambi said, “if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all.”
Lyn Arbuckle is a professional online marketer and recruitment specialist working for the most innovative job portal, Jobvine.co.za.
Comments
Post a Comment
If you have comments, questions, or additional info to add in this post please share them here.