Who reads you’re Social Media posts?

Employees are spending more and more time online, particularly on social networking sites such as the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Digg and StumbleUpon. With often no real thought put into what’s posted - the comments said and the images uploaded.

It’s very important that especially for the young ones out there that they don’t get into online bitching and slagging off sessions as this will ultimately come back and bite them firmly in the rear end, and it will always be at a time when they would least expect it, the same could also be said for the grown ups out there too!

People who forget themselves and make potential harmful posts whilst using social media are split into varying categories, here are just a few.

• Those who do it because it’s how they are, it’s in their makeup.
• Those would do it forget it’s not just their family and friends who have access to their posts.
• Those who are impulsive both in their actions and understanding.
• Those who do not have a correct understanding of English, meaning their posts can be misinterpreted.

One area where their posts can come back to haunt them is that of employment, both potential new employment as well as current employment.

They may after weeks, months or even years of posting on social networking sites decide that they need a job or even wish to change their job..... So off they go and are very creative with their CV, doing very well in any follow up interview thinking that they’ve dogged all those awkward questions.

The truth of the matter could, would, and is...... that the potential employer knows more about them before they got to the interview than they otherwise think, simply by looking them up online - seeing and reading their Facebook and Twitter account profiles.

Some people will say “So what” and others will say “How dare they”....... fact is any posts made are in reality fair game - if any post is made especially any derogatory or foul language ones then there open for all to see, whether they be a friend or not.

Many employees currently employed, especially those whose job role has no need for online use, have fallen foul of the ‘employment social media trap’ by making private and personal posts during work time. Only for their employer to look online profiles and see their posts time stamped during work time.

Uploading images is another area that should be considered to either be selective on, or not doing it at all.

Images showing someone always drunk, holding bottles of alcohol, looking like they have been dragged through a hedge backwards will certainly not bode well with any current or potentially new employer who comes across them online.

An example to prove the point is...... A well known UK airline actually has used social networking images to warn, reprimand and even dismiss some of their staff.

“How “you may ask, well they identified images of their staff outside of work, both partying and socialising with other friends and work colleagues. The one common factor in the uploaded images was that the fact they were drinking from the small miniature sprit bottles served on the planes.

Upon checking the flights they were on, then reconciling the sales of products made and a stock take highlighted a positive belief and assumption that theft had taken place by staff members within the uploaded images - Interviews and hearings where called, and relevant action taken.

Remember that you always need to connect people in the right manner, creating a positive and long lasting impression.

By using the internet to put your true personality across stays there.... searchable and visible for a very, very long time and it’s important that they remember this and take steps earlier enough to recognise the power and harm that could be utilised from the use of online social media.

Social media use which is calculated, planned and done right can be very powerful and rewarding....done wrong it can be very harmful...