Be Careful What You Tweet

If you are active on social networking services such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+, you may want to start being a little more careful if you’re looking for a job. Today, it’s increasingly common for potential employers to do a quick search on their new hires, and if you’re not careful, they may not like what they find.

While self-censoring may rankle you at some level, it is a simple fact that while you do have your own personal opinion, if it doesn’t match a potential employer’s opinion, you might find it difficult to find a job. If you have been a little free with your opinions, or worse, if you have compromising tweets or Facebook posts, now is the time to take care of it.

While some Facebook posts are indeed private, the same is not true on Twitter, unless you have a private account and monitor who you add closely. These posts are archived, and if even you delete them, they may still show up on a cached search.

If you are currently looking for a job, there are a few good rules of thumb to remember when using social networking sites.

1. Always try to be professional. That means no drunk pictures, no slangy posts and especially no overt sharing of negative opinions. It’s perfectly fine to use social networking, but you do want to come off intelligently and avoid posting things that will portray you in a negative light.

2. Always, always, think before you post. Before you reply on Twitter, retweet or tweet, stop and ask yourself — What would a potential employer think of this? If it’s not good, don’t do it.

3. Avoid bashing former employers. This should go without saying, but it happens. Just remember, from an employer’s point of view, if you bashed your old employer, what are you going to say about them? Again, think before you post.

4. Treat everyone respectfully. That means no flaming tweets, no nasty retweet comments and especially avoid any derogatory language, even if it’s to a close friend and that’s how you normally talk to each other. Just remember, other people viewing your tweets may not get that, all they will see if what you’ve posted.

Self-censoring may be a little painful at first, but once you start, you’ll realize how important it is.

Do you have questions about finding a job in the social networking age? Let the experts at SelecSource guide you and help you find the job of your dreams!

 

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