Have you ever said this to yourself?
“Social media privacy isn’t an issue, I have all my profiles set to private.”
FACT: No matter how well you prepare or set your settings to ‘private’, everything you post online should be considered PUBLIC. Remember when people post photos of you or mention your name (tagged or not) you can be found in a Google search. It’s nearly impossible to keep a personal life private when you start posting online. This is something to be mindful of during your job search.
It’s important to know that employers reserve and exercise their right to research applicants and candidates online. A simple Google search and social media search could show them all they need to know.
Social media is a great place to stay connected with friends and showcase your experiences and personality. We love social media! Unfortunately, people utilize social media as a journal entry or tell-all book with extreme oversharing. Posting photos on a “private” profile thinking it’s private, and in some cases, these are photos they probably would never want a future employer to see.
Millions of posts go up daily around the globe. Here are a few things to remember about your social media as you move on in your job search and career:
- Don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want your boss or future boss to see.
- Understand that everything you post adds to your personal brand. What do you want the world to know/think about you?
- When you’re having a bad day, don’t take to the internet to vent. A negative personal brand could be a turn-off to a company that thrives on a positive culture.
- Being the life of the party can be fun, but could also give negative connotations. Keep it classy.
- Lastly, make sure your friends know your boundaries on social media. Let them know that you’d rather not have all photos posted, etc…
Social media is 24/7 media for EVERYONE. Just because we have the opportunity to post anytime, anywhere, about anything- Doesn’t mean we should. Be mindful. We’re looking out for you and speak from years of experience with applicants.
We hope this helps! We want you to have the best opportunity to be hired for your next job.
-The York Employment Team