Don't Be a Facebook Felon
Don’t be a Facebook Felon
With social media on the rise your personal brand is public for all to see. Recently it has become normal protocol for employers to require social media information from potential employees. When postings, commenting, tweeting, and blogging remember who might see it and how It may be perceived.
Social Media Background Search
Some things are fairly obvious as inappropriate. Sexually explicit pictures, harsh political opinions, unethical behavior like underage drinking, racist comments, drug use, rioting, etc. are all things an employer will definitely not enjoy seeing in a potential new hire or even current employees. Other behaviors may not be initially recognized as bad for personal branding…
Foot in Mouth
If you wouldn’t say it in front of your boss or your grandmother, I wouldn’t recommend you say it at all. Profanity, sexual comments, graphic posts, or even simply how you are faking sick to stay home are not things that need to be public. Ever had that really hilarious joke with your best friend that taken out of context could be very inappropriate? Well, consider how that might look to your boss….or grandmother.
Negative Nancy
I hate the world. I hate people. I hate you. I think you get the point. Nobody likes a Negative Nancy, and if that is the person you are on social media sites, kiss that job goodbye.
What you can do
So now that you may feel pretty bad as a representative of your own image, here’s what you should do.
- Google yourself – find out what others see.
- Check through old posts and pictures
- Adjust privacy settings- don’t let others ruin your image
- Have someone else do it all for you- Reputation.com
RESOURCE
Facebook is Fun for Recruiters, Too find at http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424053111903461104576464823762727188-lMyQjAxMTAxMDIwNDEyNDQyWj.html or in the NMDL resource guide Ch. 1 page 36.
Social Media Links for Taylor McGuffie
MSU New Media Drivers License Copyright 2017