10 Ways Social Media Affects Your Employability
10 Ways Social Media Affects Your Employability. Nowadays, it’s just not enough to have a CV which shows off your academic qualifications or skills. Some employers believe it’s not going to tell them the whole story. Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook can be useful tools for keeping in touch with family and friends and for communication and marketing purposes but if used incorrectly they can also cause considerable problems, especially in an employment setting.
1. Complaining About Your Former Job or Boss
Putting your complaints out there for the world to see is never the way to go, especially when you have something to say about your old job or your boss. A future potential employer might see it and decide that you’re not worth hiring since you’ve badmouthed your employers in the past.
2. Sharing Your Latest Job Offer
The thing about job offers is that they’re sometimes confidential. Just because you have the job offer doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing, and if you break that confidentiality right off the bat, your employer may see you as untrustworthy and revoke the job offer. Definitely don’t say anything negative about the job offer!
3. Pictures
Try to stay away from bikini pictures, drugs, and profanity to avoid losing your job. Those pictures can get you many likes and comments. You may trend for a few days,but it can put a dent in your career. Depending on your job type,one should be very careful on the pictures they share.
4. Using Texting Language
It might seem like no big deal to use texting language on social media, especially when it’s convenient while posting on your iPad Air or when you can’t make your tweet fit otherwise. However, chances are you’re better off spelling everything out. Otherwise, you could be losing jobs because of it.
5. Posting Tasteless Comments
Any comment meant to offend another person or group could cost you your job. A mere drunkenly tweet on racism or homophobia can cost you big time. Wherever you are on the Internet, avoid posting offensive comments like this, even if they’re meant as a joke.
6. Posting Photos With Alcohol
Even if you’re over 21, this behavior could cost you your job. More so when you are into professions like teaching, you need to be careful with alcohol.Many parents look at you as a role model to their children. Steer clear of these photos no matter the situation.
7. Mocking Your Clients
Like complaining about your boss, mocking or complaining about your customers can have equally poor effects. . Complaining about customers only shows your company in a bad light. Most employers won’t stand for that, so avoid posting these types of complaints online.
8. Thinking Of Trolling?
Most employers will have some kind of code of conduct they expect all employees to abide by. Each time you comment on a post or news article you are projecting your opinions to the world. So before you press ‘enter’, think about whether your comment could be considered harmful or breach ethical standards.
9. Be Wary Of Your Friends
Remember to be mindful of is who is taking photos of you. For young people it’s not uncommon to find yourself in a situation where a phone is pointed at you. While the person with the phone may be your friend, they might not always have your best interests at heart. You have to ask yourself – where might that photo or video end up? No one should have to feel like their privacy is being invaded.
10. Check Your Privacy Settings
Facebook often changes its privacy policies, meaning it is incredibly important to regularly check your settings. How much of your Facebook activity an employer sees is up to you. It’s important to get your settings right because employers and recruiters do actually look at social media for prospective and new employees.
