be better about social media

Resolve to be better about social media.

Potential employers can, and often will, search for you online, uncovering the good, the bad, and the ugly of your social media pages.  These posts, if you’re not careful, could do major damage to your professional reputation, and cost you employment opportunities, particularly if the potential employer finds the content to be out of line with the company’s values and code of conduct.

Alternatively, social media can be a powerful tool in helping land the job.  LinkedIn helps connect like-minded professionals with opportunities for career growth and development.  Twitter is a more casual platform that gives users a lot of room to show their personalities, interests and passions, but mindfulness must still be practiced when using it.  No matter which social media platform you prefer, remember to always conduct yourself as though your mother—and future boss—are watching.

It’s important to note that although you may not be the person originating a post, interacting with it can also appear publicly; think about your Facebook newsfeed, for example, and how posts such as “Suzie Q commented on a photo” appear.  Be mindful of the items you interact with online.

It’s never too late to start on these 10 Social Media New Year’s Resolutions 

  1. I will revisit my privacy settings for each of my social media accounts.*
  2. I will stop ranting about controversial topics online: politics, unemployment, your current boss, etc.
  3. I will update my LinkedIn page as I acquire new skills.
  4. I will join relevant professional groups.
  5. I will actively seek out networking opportunities using MeetUp, SkillShare, Craigslist, etc.
  6. I will start an online portfolio.
  7. I will think three times about the content I post before I post it.
  8. I will think four times before “liking,” “sharing,” or “commenting” on content online.
  9. I will remove all incriminating evidence that is online.
  10. I will make meaningful contributions to discussion groups and lend my knowledge where relevant.

*Velocity Digital reports a whopping 25% of social media users don’t even look at their privacy settings.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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