Be professional with social media

[Jessi]

Here's -how- you should behave professionally: http://www.wikihow.com/Behave-Professionally-on-Social-Media

 

Avoid sharing emotionally, religiously or politically charged statements. If you wouldn't do this in the workplace, don't do it online either. Don’t make statements that could offend or turn off other people. Steer clear of getting on your soap box about political candidates, religions or starting emotionally charged arguments or heated discussions. All of this can lead to disappointment down the career track.

[SpikeTheLobster]

My first thought was "Who is this aimed at?" since there are so many different ways to use social media successfully... and I have to say, I'm appalled. It's targetted at job hunters.

 

If any employer wanted my social media info or went looking for it and used it to decide if they should employ me, I'd drag them face-down through the entire justice system. That's a MASSIVE overstepping of reasonable bounds of propriety. Your personal life is none of their business unless you give them reason for it to be (i.e. someone reports to the company that a person claiming to be an employee is commenting about them on their private media channel or something).

 

And to be honest, if you followed all those instructions, you'd have one of the most boring social media channels in the whole world. It'd be like following an accountant all day or something.

[Nathan]

My first thought was "Who is this aimed at?" since there are so many different ways to use social media successfully... and I have to say, I'm appalled. It's targetted at job hunters.

 

If any employer wanted my social media info or went looking for it and used it to decide if they should employ me, I'd drag them face-down through the entire justice system. That's a MASSIVE overstepping of reasonable bounds of propriety. Your personal life is none of their business unless you give them reason for it to be (i.e. someone reports to the company that a person claiming to be an employee is commenting about them on their private media channel or something).

 

And to be honest, if you followed all those instructions, you'd have one of the most boring social media channels in the whole world. It'd be like following an accountant all day or something.

While I see you point I doubt they would admit that they looked at your social media profiles, but could still use that in their decision making.

 

I remember at one of my jobs we were hiring someone and we found his Facebook holding a cat he killed, needless to say we didn't hire him.

[Marc]

I kinda stick by the fact that you should never put something on a social media site that you are not bothered about anyone seeing. That be your mother, your employer or otherwise. People are just far too open these days with these kinds of thing and Ive personally watched people get fired through it. One actually got fired through something she posted on my own site about collegues.

[Hardison]

I kinda stick by the fact that you should never put something on a social media site that you are not bothered about anyone seeing. That be your mother, your employer or otherwise. People are just far too open these days with these kinds of thing and Ive personally watched people get fired through it. One actually got fired through something she posted on my own site about collegues.

 

I agree that people put too much personal stuff online. My mom used to tell me that if you don't want to anyone to know something, never write it down. There are no secrets online. Anyone with any decent research skills can find out a lot about you. I read someone ( I think it was Lifehacker) that some employers were asking job applicants for their Facebook passwords.

[Jessi]

It's actually pretty common for them to check your social media profiles when you apply for a job. Not only will they look you up on Facebook, but they'll Google you, too, and that's not overstepping anything. That's simply researching you and many will admit to doing it even.

 

I actually had a meeting at one place of employment when I was younger where the manager was a-okay with her college employees partying but had more than one team meeting reminding people that they should be careful what they put on Facebook.

[ridwan sameer]

I Behave like a total idiot on all social media I use.. But then again i use it for my personal stuff.... But for business purposes.. Good article

[Hardison]

I really expect that a potential employer would Google me and look me up on Facebook. I don't think is cool asking for Facebook passwords. Either way, I am very careful about what I put online.

[Victor Leigh]

I think the main thing to remember is that Facebook is your cyber identity not your personal real life identity. If you keep that in mind, you can't go wrong. Of course, if you have your mind set on creating a cyber identity of someone who spends all his time partying and making out with girls, that's your choice.

[Jessi]

I think the main thing to remember is that Facebook is your cyber identity not your personal real life identity.

 

From a professional standpoint, sure. The problem is, the majority of people who use Facebook are using it as an extension of themselves.....their "real life selves." It's their name, their picture, their family connections, their party buddy photos, yada yada.

[SpikeTheLobster]

From a professional standpoint, sure. The problem is, the majority of people who use Facebook are using it as an extension of themselves.....their "real life selves." It's their name, their picture, their family connections, their party buddy photos, yada yada.

 

This reminds me of a friend at interview: he took all their "psych tests" (in quotes because they're about as close to psychology as my physical abilities are to those of Spiderman) and came out as an absolute perfect match for the job. The interviewer questioned his responses because they fit so well - too well to be completely honest - and he said "That's my work persona, not what I'm like outside."

 

This is why I don't think checking Facebook or any social media is appropriate and I'd drag a company through the courts if they did it without my permission. Which, of course, they probably couldn't because I don't use my real name (hah!).

 

The thing is, a social media personality has as little resemblance to reality as this forum does to a normal discussion. That is, very little. It's stilted, often extreme and is nothing like the real thing. Employers should understand that and, if they don't, they're being rather short-sighted and VERY prejudiced.

[ComputerHelp808.com]

I constantly tell my clients. If you don't want everyone to know it, don't put it on the internet and now I'll add a caveat to that.

 

Don't put it in writing period! This includes texting and emails!

 

Rick