One would think that social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be viewed as "safe havens," where it is acceptable to post before you think. Unfortunately, with this comes a cost that could be more severe for some users than for others.
Social media sites can be desirable for the fact that they allow you to communicate with your family and friends, and even enables one to network and make new connections. However, if you carelessly post on the internet, you could risk losing your job or a potential opportunity that may not have even presented itself to you yet.
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What people do not realize is how their social media profiles can leave an everlasting impression on their potential employers. And you know what they say, you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.
According to Jobvite's Social Recruiting Survey taken in 2014, 93 percent of hiring managers will review potential employee's social media profiles before making a final decision as to hiring them or not. It does not take much common sense to know what types of posts will leave a negative impact on the account owner's image. Of course making any references to illegal drugs and the use of them is a sure way to damage your future employer's perception of you. About 70 percent of employers said that "sexual posts" will be counted against you, and 44 percent of employers see posts referring to alcohol as "concerning."
Now, drugs, sex, and alcohol are not the only things that will bring negative attention to your page. Have you ever thought about how you talk to your family and friends on social media? Well, you should. Because 66 percent of hiring managers said they will hold poor grammar and spelling against their potential employees . Also, the use of vulgar language can leave a negative impact as well. It's best to keep your political affiliation away from your social media profiles, too.
There are just some details about yourself that you need to keep hidden.
However, you can use social media to your advantage. Would you like some tips on how? Well, for starters, keep your work history up-to-date. Employers want to know the level of experience you have. For example, just like on a job resume, it looks good when you list any volunteering you have done or any donations to a charity you have made. Employers will also use your social media profile to look for examples of previous work you have done or projects you have completed.
And, as an extra heads up from me to you, LinkedIn is becoming more and more popular with hiring managers. In case you do not know, LinkedIn is a business community that works as a networking tool for individuals to make professional connections. Around 79 percent of employers said they have hired through LinkedIn, so I would recommend creating an account soon.
Regardless of which social media platforms you decide to use, do not post anything you do not want your potential employers to gain access to. Once you put your personal life on display for the public to see, you cannot take it back.
I know what you are thinking. We have what we call "privacy settings," which protect us, right? Wrong. Privacy settings are known to change very frequently, so stay aware. And just because you have not experienced any issues due to what you post on your profiles yet does not mean it will not come back to haunt you in the future.
A word of advice, don't log in and post recklessly. What would your mom think?
