Everyone is familiar with “status remorse.” This social media syndrome is a common aliment among Facebook and Twitter users. You have the perfect status in your head; you decide to launch your carefully crafted idea into the social media world and then…nothing. You don’t even get a single ‘Like.’ However, this blow to your ego isn’t the worst that could happen. People could pay heavy attention to your status, giving it nothing but negative feedback.
Status remorse is extremely common. While the majority of status updates can be easily removed and humiliation avoided, some users are not as versed in the laws of social media use as others. It’s important to know what is appropriate and what isn’t. Potential employers are jumping on the networking train and screening potential job candidates’ social media profiles before ever committing to a formal interview. This fact alone makes it crucial that social media users pay attention to what they post – or they could face social media suicide.
With the innovation of LinkedIn, it’s easy to post resumes and recommendations for all potential employers to see. More often than not, social media users are the most professional on this particular site. However, that professionalism is rarely carried over to the more popular sites of Facebook and Twitter, where posts are more personal. For this reason, LinkedIn recently announced that they have broken up with Twitter. What this means is that LinkedIn will no longer be offering users Twitter updates via the site and vice versa. This split was probably in the best interest of the users as well, as many users didn’t know how to use their Twitter accounts for professional use only.
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According to Mashable.com, over 90% of recruiters and hiring managers have visited a potential candidate’s profile on a social network as part of the screening process. In addition, a whopping 69% of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on content found on his or her social networking profiles. This shocking infographic shows the role social media plays in the hiring process.
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So what exactly should we refrain from on our social networking sites? Just use your common sense. If you are about to go on a job hunt and you know your potential employers wouldn’t be happy with pictures of you passed out on a couch or taking shots during a night out on the town, delete them. You may want to go through your tagged photos and untag yourself from photos that are questionable. Refrain from any and all negative comments about companies (especially the ones you’ve applied to) or about the interview process in general.
You may think that having a private profile means you’re safe, but this is simply not the case. Ask yourself how much you want the job and how far you willing to go to get it. Some companies have told job seekers ahead of time that if they want the job, they have to be willing to let them snoop on their pages.
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Some of the most popular cases of social media suicide are the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader scandals. Many of the girls have had bad publicity due to what they’ve posted on social networking sites. One young cheerleader-hopeful was denied her dream after posting inappropriate photos of herself on Facebook. This sounds like the situation could have been avoided by using a little common sense. However, it shows that every single person, no matter the position they’re applying for, should monitor their social media profiles.
This relatively new practice of employers creeping on applicants’ social media sites raises questions about fairness and ownership. Is it right for employers to expect such a high level of censorship from potential employees? Profiles on Facebook and Twitter are designed to be outlets for personal expression, so it seems only right that the creator of the profile should be the only one concerned about its contents. Unfortunately, this is far from the case, and many social media users are unhappy with the current attitude.
Job candidates already put up with background checks, drug tests, and credit checks. Why should a capable person be denied a job because they post about their political beliefs or hobbies they enjoy in his or her free time? Sadly, this type of job discrimination is happening and people who have public profiles only fuel the flame. Many job-seeking sites suggest that those searching for employment keep their page private. Anything in a public profile is fair game to employers. Some companies have gone so far as to ask potential candidates to hand over their passwords so they can view private messages and posts.
Say you make it through an employer’s meticulous inspection and land the job. What happens after you’re hired and your new boss asks to add you as a friend or follow you? Ultimately, it’s up to you, but be mindful that your boss and others from your new workplace are now privy to whatever you post. You may consider gracefully declining a friend or follow request. Or consider adjusting your privacy settings so your office connections can’t see everything you post.
Social media use is ultimately up to the user. Understand that your social media presence is as much of an identifier as your driver’s license. It represents who you are, what you value, and how you communicate with others.
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