Career Advice for Job Seekers
11 Social Media Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making
William Frierson
Heather Dugan, Salary.com contributing writer
Spotting the mistakes of others is easy: The cringe-inducing Facebook status message. The ill-advised “after hours” tweet. Using Foursquare to check-in at an establishment of questionable repute. While social media provides a multitude of opportunities, the flip side is indelicate revelations are always just a click away.
We know, we know…YOU would never do that. But there are other social media blunders that are far less egregious you might be committing. And those mistakes could be holding back your job search or attempts at advancement.
Navigating social media is no “one and done” endeavor. It’s all fair game and enlightening information is generally available to all. Privatizing the personal is basic good sense, but consider the following tips as well.
11. Not Getting in the Game
Some people are so afraid of damaging social media mistakes that they avoid the whole scene altogether. But that can be costly too, as social networks have become prime recruiting territory. Therefore, skirting potential issues via non-involvement removes you from too many opportunities to make that a smart option for most.
At the very least, maintain an updated business profile on LinkedIn. It’s the first place many employers go to check you out, and if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile it likely sends the message that you’re not current. If you’re in a creative or sales-oriented field, use personality to your advantage with at least selective involvement on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Google+.
10. Having Retweet Regrets
Be wary of the quick click.
You know better than to open an “OMG! Is this really you?!” link. But retweeting or sharing posts you haven’t actually read is risky as well. Headlines rarely reveal the whole story. If you’re an online influencer, your audience counts on you to be a valid source of information. So before you attach your reputation to an article or photo link, make sure it’s what you think it is.
Sharing a poorly written or error-ridden article — or simply one that misrepresents your actual views — puts you in an unflattering light.
9. Lackadaisical Social Efforts
Rather than try to be everywhere at once, be selective with your time and network choices.
Having a profile is like turning on a porch light. Non-responsiveness — “Sorry! I never check that account!” — sends a message. You may inadvertently communicate a lack of follow through or a lack of respect.
Similarly, an account with outdated information and an old photo, or even worse — a grayed-out avatar — indicates half-hearted involvement. Your public profiles should display energy and professionalism, not tepid indifference.
8. Painting an Inaccurate Self-Portrait
Read your story as shared on your timelines. When the tweets and sentences are strung together, who have you revealed yourself to be? Your life on the Internet has a theme. Make sure that your public information is balanced. If your story is punctuated by frequent happy hours, personal woe or is obviously self-focused, that will be the heading under which casual observers (and potential/current employers) will know you.
Only your nearest and dearest (or creepers) will read every posting. So, check your timelines frequently to be sure you are maintaining an overall balance of the You that you wish to share publically. Continue reading . . .
Article by Heather Dugan and courtesy of Salary.com
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