5 social media mistakes that could sink your career

“We have complete control over what we say and do on social media.”

This is one of my most repeated phrases that I use when giving presentations on social branding, managing your reputation and the impact of social media on careers. Whether you are transitioning from study into the workplace or looking for a promotion, social media can damage your career in so many ways. For students, who have not established credibility, trust or reliability, social media can be devastating.

Avoid the following 5 mistakes to have a stress-free career.

Never complain about your job

It is so tempting to complain on social media. We have constant access to it all the time via our smart phones. And whether it is a bad day at the office, a meeting that was less than productive or a manager who is pushing your buttons, having a grumble on social media is definitely not the way to go.  Comments such as “that meeting was a waste of time” or “my manager is so annoying” could potentially cost you your job or land you in more serious trouble depending on what you say.

Social media platforms are part of your life not an extension

In my book The Business of Being Social: how to harness the untapped power of social media, I explored the question of whether social media is a public or private space? In reality it is both and employers always take a look at your social media accounts.  And depending what you have been posting it can have an unfavorable effect on your job prospects even if it is only an unconscious bias.  What you post, like, share or comment on is a reflection of you the person so it is essential to be careful how you are coming across.  Instead use social media as a branding tool to shine a positive light on your career, what you have achieved and what your credentials are.

Social media audit of your profiles

When speaking to university students about social branding, I always suggest they do a Google search on themselves and see what comes up. Because whatever comes up is what other people see when they search for you.  It is always useful to go through your social media profiles and audit the content that is there. This is particularly important for students who are about to embark on their career journey. Don’t wait until the last year of your study; audit your social media today.

Tagged photos

Think before you post on social media is important but so is think before you accept a tag. A picture is worth a 1,000 words is a well-known expression and when it comes to social media this applies even more. It doesn’t matter if you are starting out or established in your career. Our social networks are a combination of personal and professional connections.  Anything can be potentially seen by anyone who is not connected to you.  An unfortunate one off photo may not necessarily be too damaging, however, a continuous stream of inappropriate photos in your feed imprints a negative pattern of behaviour about you.

Avoid spelling mistakes

Anyone who has ever sent out a resume and gone for a job interview will tell you the importance of making sure your spelling and grammar is correct. Regardless of how good your experience and expertise is, if your resume is peppered with mistakes you won’t get an interview. Basic spelling and grammar proficiency are essential and they are just as important on social media.  Recruiters will check your profiles and mistakes over words such as ‘there and their’ or ‘to and too’ shouts inadequate attention to detail. And is not the best way to leave an impression.  Everything you do on social media is a reflection of you so make sure your social media reflects positively.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this blog or subscribe to our newsletter for more tips.

Take a look at our website or Facebook page for more information about how we can support your business.

Tags: social Media • Social Media Career Killers • Social Media Checks • Social Media Profiles • Social Media Risks