Communicating on Social Media | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

One social media post can have a huge impact on your career, potentially leading to job loss or career advancement.

Key Insights

• 😣 What you post on social media can have severe consequences for your career, from missed job opportunities to job loss.
• 🔉 Employers actively use social media to evaluate job applicants and current employees, with more than half of hiring managers rejecting applicants based on their social media profiles.
• 💍 Engaging in inappropriate behavior on social media, such as posting confidential information or engaging with controversial content, can lead to disciplinary action or termination.
• 🥺 Sharing your talents and passions on social media can also lead to career opportunities, as seen in the examples of Justin Bieber and Suzanne.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How do hiring managers use social media to evaluate job applicants?

According to a Career Builder survey, more than half of hiring managers reject job applicants based on red flags found on their social media profiles. This includes offensive or inappropriate content, evidence of drug/alcohol use, and discriminatory comments.

Q: Can current employees also face consequences for their social media activity?

Yes, over half of employers use social media to research current employees. In fact, more than a third of employers have disciplined or fired employees due to their social media posts, even for mundane activities that may be deemed inappropriate by the employer.

Q: Why is it worse to be "invisible" on social media according to employers?

Employers find it worse if employees have no social media presence because it may raise suspicions about the individual's online behavior or suggest a lack of technological proficiency. It is important to have a social media presence that aligns with a professional image.

Q: What are some examples of posts that led to job loss?

One example is a social media user who posted a picture of a cocktail party celebrating a deal before it was officially announced, breaching confidentiality and resulting in termination. Another example is employees liking a political rival's Facebook page during an election, leading to their firing.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Justine, a Senior Director of Corporate Communications, made controversial tweets during her layover and faced severe consequences when she landed.

• Studies show that more than half of hiring managers reject job applicants based on their social media activity, and over a third of employers have disciplined or fired employees due to their social media posts.

• The examples of getting fired for breaching confidentiality and making politically aligned likes highlight the importance of being mindful of what you post and engage with on social media.