Today's communication abilities are amazing and terrifying all the same to employers and employees alike. What will they post? What can I post? Everyone has questions. Social media at work is a hot topic. While new issues arise daily, they all have a single underlying pro and con. The pro is accountability. It's not everyone's favorite pro, but it is a great tool nonetheless. The con is judgement. Every post is judged and exposes the judgement and maturity of the poster.
3 Times it's Good to Use Social Media at Work
-1- When you're talking up your teammates, your job, and generally being a grateful human
Positivity reflects positively on your bank account. Employers are delighted to see anything besides blatant narcissism on an employee or potential employee's social media. All your posts in varying moods and circumstances give a great profile of your character and emotional maturity. Additionally, no matter how adorable and witty you are, negativity is not the material quality employers are seeking. To employers, emotional maturity and judgement frankly correlate to dollars. If you want a leg up, use that social media like your boss is watching. A few cute selfies are completely fine. Drunk selfies probably send the wrong message. It's that simple.
Should I delete questionable posts? When you're serious about your career, it's fine and completely recommended to delete unsightly posts. What's lovely about today's super-social society is our ability to let people change and grow. What bosses aren't necessarily doing is trolling back through the last decade of your life. That said, what they are doing is evaluating you by your relatively recent (maybe a year or so) post-judgement. Certainly by what post while you are employed. A word to the wise— just because bosses or colleagues aren't following you doesn't mean that aren't privy to the info. Yep, that's the case for real.
-2- When you need a mental break at a scheduled break time
Mind the timestamp. You have a lunch break and maybe, depending on your job, other scheduled breaks. All positions are not created equal. All bosses aren't either. If you don't know when you are on and off the clock, ask your boss to make that clear. Posting while you should be working is bad form. It could be used against for anything from stalling promotions to letting you go.
-3-When you are searching for solutions, including new employees, or finding great vendors
Proactive is fantastic. Bringing the latest and greatest from social media surfing to work is a great way to get noted as a problem solver. The kind of employee that typically rises to the top the fastest does this and documents it well. Most bosses want someone they have to pull back over something they have to push. Be proactive with your social media at work in gathering information and presenting it. Don't get discouraged when it all isn't exactly what your boss needs or had in mind. It still says a lot when you show real effort and resourcefulness.
Look before you leap. If posting about your work in any way is on your mind, company standards often must be followed. This consideration often includes abiding by company standards in wording, images, and associations—meaning where you post and what you post about. It's a good idea to get a simple sign-off before you post anything work-related.
Don't let the red tape stop you. Using your social media savvy is a fantastic way to get noticed and appreciated at work. Go about it with a little knowledge of protocol. Present your idea to the most flushed out extent you can muster. Be ready and appreciative of the changes that might be suggested—or the reason your idea got shot down. Yes, that can happen. If or when it does, you learned something valuable. Whether you get a lesson or accolades, savor the moment.
3 Times when Social Media at Work can Lead to Disaster
The numbers tell a story In 2017 Career Builder conducted a 3 week survey to report that nearly 30% of employers had released employees over using internet or social media at work inappropriately. Additionally, nearly 20% had let released an employee for a social media post.
Last year, 70% of employers researched potential hires on social media, up from 60% the previous year, and that number is climbing.
What about my privacy? If this seems like an intrusion of privacy, think again. Posted information is public content—even when the account it private. Employers what to know if you use sound judgement and if your character fits the requirements of a specific role they are responsible for overseeing. If you are just starting off in the employment market, know for certain that what you post is more permanent that what you say in an interview. This is true, clearly, beyond simply using your social media at work and during work hours. When you chose to put your immediate feelings out there, you share them with way more people than your immediate peers.
It's reasonable to realize that if your personal beliefs conflict with a company standard or politics—it might mean you're not a good fit to that institution. Post away, because you can. No one here is touting right or wrong. My job is to let you know there are consequences to every post. Now you know. Post to get the results you want.
-1-When you post negativityor emotional rants
Emotional Intelligence is a standard on the rise. Employers are realizing that talk about mental an emotional health in the workplace is essential for the bottom line. In decades past, politial correctness has been championed—which was a great correction tool for some ugly societal norms. As with many cultural corrections, that notion is currently being counterbalanced with a new movement towards reasonable transparency and accountability.
You're special—just not that special. I'm here pull back the curtain and give you a peek as to what your employers are talking about ofter you leave the interview. First, employers don't want uncontrolled instability. Life happens. Realistically it happens in similar amounts to people who react very differently to those situations. One person deals with their issues in a professional manner while the other deals with them publicly in a post. Guess who seems more stable to someone deciding on employment or advancement. This does not mean you should not report illegal, unethical, or immoral activity. It simply means you need to address it in a way that demonstrates maturity. Going first to your social media account typically doesn't fit the bill. If getting paid by someone other than yourself is your goal, it's time to realize how to play on the team.
-2- When you post negative or damaging information regarding current or past work
YAY! You left that horrible place behind you. Suppose that last job really was toxic. You've moved on, but you really want to let people know your past experience at the former workplace. Resist. It's an immature move to voice your complaints online where your 'friends' can validate your choice armed with only your one-sided story. More importantly, it is a red flag to future employers. There are two things that immediately out even a stellar candidate, and this is a big number one.
-3- When you post anything your company doesn't like
It's an uncomfortable modern truth. It's true. If your ideals are so far removed from those of your company or boss, and you feel the strong urge to post about them, you are in a pickle. My best advice is to look elsewhere for a more fitting job. Fair? Maybe not. Here is the reality—this is 'Merica! You have free speech—by way of the government not restricting it. Your company, however, is most likely operating in the private sector. This means it is not obliged to honor your absolute freedom of speech. In other words, say what you want and enjoy the consequences.
Again, love you. Don't shoot the messenger. How helpful am I if I just tell you what you want to hear? Spend your time changing what you don't like in the world by understanding what channels actually produce change, and leave the armchair quarterbacking posting to people who care less about their careers.
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