Professionalism and Social Media

In today’s world, social media is a common and popular form of communication. There are so many different sites for so many different purposes, one can sometimes get lost in the masses. This is all great and wonderful because it allows people to stay in touch, express themselves, and communicate in ways people have not been able to do so before. That being said, there are some downsides to social media that all users should be wary of, particularly in a professional sense.

1. Loss of privacy. Even with privacy settings, people can still manage to find out what you post on your social media pages. This is fine if you are sharing cute pictures of your dog but not so great if you are letting out frustrations about your job. To steer clear of any professional damage, it is best to not talk about the negatives of your job at all. People get caught up in that ugly web all the time so just be safe and think twice before you post.

2. More open to judgment. It is safe to say that most employers google prospective employees and search for their social media accounts. There is a false sense of anonymity that comes with social media that makes people feel safe in expressing themselves in very public ways. Social media can be an employer’s first impression of you which is why you should always play it safe and watch what you post. Again, privacy settings are great but cannot always be trusted.

3. Personal information becomes very public. Social media is great in updating people on what is going on in your life. Just be careful that you do not overshare your problems and personal details. Every piece of information you share, contributes to your online persona and it is important that persona is professional when looking for jobs. Politics are also something you should be careful in talking about because it is super easy to get hotheaded over a current issue or event. This can show an unflattering view of you if taken out of context.

Overall, just keep in mind that you are representing yourself and your company on social media every hour of every day.