From Facebook and Twitter to Blogger and Foursquare, social media rules our lives. It can be used as a way to connect with old friends, or meet new ones. However, social media has also crept its way into our professional lives. Some people even delete their accounts while applying for graduate schools or looking for jobs, while others are now required by their employers to be active on these sites. The impact of social media on your career may vary, but you don’t want to take a chance at losing out on a job or opportunity because of the content you post. Many employers admit to checking up on Facebook profiles before asking for interviews.
Some of these examples below may have been acceptable on your MySpace account several years back, but it is high time to cut these atrocious habits and up your professionalism.Â
You may need to re-evaluate your social media accounts…
iF YoO sTiLl tyPe LiKE tHiS..
Ok, so maybe tYpiNG liKe ThIS was cute in middle/high school, (although even that is debatable) but that could be a major turn-off for employers. Whether it is a tweet, status update, or blog post, keep it classy and only capitalize when necessary.Â
If your profile picture is of you doing a keg-stand, making out with the bar tender, or anything similar
Of course it is hilarious that you and your friends re-arranged the letters in the sign at the restaurant down the street to a profane phrase and took a picture in front of it, but is that really the impression you would want your future employers to have of you? Often times we think a quick-fix is to limit the access other viewers have to our accounts. However, if you have heavy privacy settings, employers wonder what you might be hiding. Even if you are a few years away from starting your job search, you still should be focusing on applying for internships or on-campus jobs related to your field of study. Un-tag yourself from pictures of you five beers in at the bar last weekend and keep your content professional.
If your social media status updates revolve around what you ate for lunch
As interesting as it is to read what your peers are eating, drinking, watching and doing/not doing every second of the day, employers may not be as entertained. Social media outlets can be great tools to promote your cause and aid in your job search. Make sure the things you are posting are relevant to your field of study or interest. Tweet about an interesting article regarding a new industry trend, or promote your fundraising event through Facebook. Regardless of your major, make sure you are using these tools to your advantage.
If you can tell your whole life story just by scrolling through your page
There is such a thing as too much information, and it is easy to get carried away when we have such easy access to social media. Be cognizant of the amount of personal information you are sharing. Aside from general safety reasons, employers don’t need to know your every location, personal relationship, or see every picture ever taken of your dog. Even if your content is professional, employers will start to wonder if you have a life outside of social media if you are posting and updating every five minutes.
If your social media accounts have become that best friend you vent to
It is easier to share our thoughts and feelings when we are separated by a key board or phone screen. Because of this, we may find ourselves posting things that we would not normally tell people in conversation. If your social media accounts have become a way to vent about the negative things in your life, you may want to reconsider how that comes off to an employer who doesn’t know you. Everyone has bad days, fails tests, fights with their boyfriend, or gets annoyed by a roommate, but you don’t want to come off as a whiney, negative person by constantly posting about them.
You don’t have to delete every remnant of personality or fun from your social media accounts, and they are still great ways to keep in touch with friends and family. Just be conscious of what you post and where, and make sure it is appropriate enough for your future boss to see!