What Not to Post on Social Media During Your Job Search

The job search process is stressful, and many people feel pressure when it comes to how their social media presence appears during this time. Say the right thing and you may win some points in the eyes of a hiring manager. Perfect! On the other hand, one poorly worded tweet could quickly get your materials tossed into the recycling bin. In order to make sure that your social media presence isn’t harming your job hunt efforts, keep these tips in mind:

What not to do:

• Make potentially controversial comments about political matters: You may have all of the research to prove your point, but hiring managers are going to be hesitant to extend an offer to someone who might be polarizing in the office. If you love politics, create a separate, anonymous Twitter account to voice your mind. Linking your name and picture with a series of heated tweets or Facebook posts about a controversial subject isn’t wise when you’re in the market for a new job.
• Talk negatively about a past employer: No matter how nutty your former manager was, avoid posting negative comments about the situation on social media. Hiring managers don’t want to get involved with someone who will talk trash about past employers. If you’ll do it to someone else, they fear that you’ll do it to them.
• Bragging endlessly about yourself: If you publish something or receive an award, it’s good to post about these accomplishments. Tooting your own horn a bit is another way to show hiring managers why they want you on their team. However when your social media becomes an endless stream of bragging, managers may reconsider offering you a job. No one wants to work with someone who seems full of themselves.

The things you should do:

Instead of committing the social media missteps listed above, try using social media in these ways to draw positive attention to yourself as you search for a job:

• Use it to show your industry knowledge: Illustrate that you’re up-to-date on what’s going on in your field by tweeting out links to relevant news stories.
• Get connected: Join Twitter chats and engage in dialogue with people in your field. This is great for networking, plus it shows hiring managers that you’re truly invested in your industry.

You can also use social media to stay on top of news relating to the companies you’re hoping to work for. Read about new initiatives they’re putting into place or new people they’re hiring. This way you can show up to an interview sounding informed.