Have you ever been told, “If you have nothing to say, then don’t say anything all?” Well, that statement plays correctly when it comes to the digital era. Over the years, Social media platforms have grown to become one of the most dependable livelihoods for people worldwide. 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
Pictures speak a thousand words, and what you post says a lot about the kind of person that you are. Posting inappropriate photos only send a negative message about your personality, especially when seeking employment. Most employers want to know the kind of person they’ll be working with, and social media has made it easy. Always ensure you maintain a clean profile; you never know when a potential employer would come along.
Language
Are you the cranky critic who doesn’t shy off from abusive and offensive remarks? The open-minded person who comments in almost all subjects from politics to religion? As someone with a professional career, you might want to tone down. Nobody wants to hire the know-it-all and who comes off as a rude person. Exercise discretion when posting or commenting on social media. Your prospective employer or current manager could be reading.
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’s natural for someone to get excited when they land a job offer, but be careful of what you post or sometimes don’t post until the offer becomes 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.
Pseudo names
The only thing you’ll tell a potential employer when using pseudo names on social media is that you are not a genuine person. It also seems unprofessional, thus, putting off the employer before they even call you for that interview. Using your real name shows you are authentic and have nothing to hide.
