This is the internet age, we all have a social media account or two that we use to stay connected with friends and keep abreast of things going on around us.
As much as the use of social media has many benefits, it is not without its downsides. An indiscriminate of social media could land one in trouble and lead to missed opportunities especially if you are a professional or aspiring one.
What you say or how you present yourself in your online profile might determine whether the employer will hire or dismiss you. When looking for a job opportunity, there are certain things you should avoid posting.
Inappropriate Pictures
It may be tempting to post that nude picture or semi-nude picture, a photo of yourself smoking and an alcohol drinking spree but don’t forget that pictures speak a thousand words. The kind of photos you share to your social media pages tell a lot about your type of person. Posting inappropriate photos only sends a negative message about your personality, especially when seeking employment. It is not uncommon for employers to go through the social media pages of potential employees so it is best you maintain a clean profile.
Watch Your Language
As much as your pictures speak about you, your language also does. If you are a professional, you need to be extremely cautious about the posts and comments you leave on social media. Nobody wants to hire the know-it-all or someone who comes off as a rude person. When commenting on social media, exercise discretion as you don’t know if your prospective employer is reading. You don’t want an old tweet being the reason you lost a good opportunity.
Complaining About Your Boss Or The Company
The worst thing you can do is airing negative comments about the company you work for, for the world to see. Even if you think your posts are safe from the boss, another employee could see everything you’ve posted. Always watch what you post since that one comment might not cost you the current job, but haunt you while looking for another one.
Sharing The Latest Job Offers
It is easy to get carried with excitement when you have the good news of a new job but before you take to social media to announce it, ensure that it is official. According to a Mashable.com report, a woman once got a job offer and posted saying, “Cisco just offered me a job! Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” The company saw the post, and she got fired before her first day.
Use Of Pseudo Names
When you use aliases as your social media profile names, it could be a turn off to a potential employer. What this says about you is that you are not a genuine person. Asides from this, using pseudo names is unprofessional. Using your real name shows you are authentic and have nothing to hide.
