Is Your Social Background Catching Up With You?
Are you trying to get a better job or get into a prestigious college? Could your social media posts be keeping you from that crucial acceptance? Possibly.
There are definite social media mistakes that many people make, especially when they are headed for a life-altering change like a new job or going to school. By keeping your social media profiles under watchful eye, you can avoid some of these mistakes.
The Center of Controversy
Are you frequently supporting controversial items on your Twitter or Facebook account? Do you always have something to say, whether it is gun control, women’s rights, equality, etc.?
While it seems like a common arena for furthering your cause, a constant stream of items that could be deemed controversial may not set well with that admissions director or headhunter. If the job matters that much to you, clean up your social media to be more middle-of-the-road.
You’re a Hothead
Another red flag to many employers is when they look at your social media and see mostly rude comments or you being angry.
If you have a track record of going off on those who comment to your wall-posts, or you frequently curse on your page, it isn’t going to bode well if your social media is looked at by those in HR or admissions.
You Go Against Policy
If you are already employed and aren’t very savvy to what is in that employee handbook, you may want to reread it.
Some companies are putting in clauses that state what is and is not acceptable. These stipulations on social media are a new thing, but your company could be one that has them. Get with your HR department and see where your company stands on social media. It could mean the difference between keeping that job and finding yourself interviewing for a different one.
Ways to Help Your Social Media Standing
If you want to help save the way employers and colleges look at your social media account, here are some tips that can be beneficial:
Keep it locked. Facebook especially can be troublesome with the picture uploads and items shared. Keep your social media on a friends-only, or private, account. You can even make it unsearchable.
Change the picture. Give your Facebook account or any other social media service a clear headshot of you, not the Spring Break photo of you inMexico. These are more professional and are better received when viewed by HR and admissions.
Redo the bio. If you have just a basic bio, consider a full upgrade. Make your bio a mini-resume of your work. This can go a long way into helping the HR department or that college admissions guide ready to give you a try.
Always think before posting, that is the best advice out there. Social media is everywhere and to think that the admissions director at the university isn’t watching or that headhunter isn’t looking you up on Facebook is ludicrous.
There are many ways to fix it and you can learn how to remove information, but not posting it to begin with can be the easiest fix of all.
Photo credit: poetsandquants.com
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