What You Shouldn’t Do on Social Media to Get a Job Offer

Social media is not just about sharing photographs from random events or finding long lost friends. It’s also a valuable tool when searching for a new job. You can find about new job vacancies, follow your favourite brands or companies or easily present and promote yourself as a job seeker.

But be careful. It’s also pretty easy for the potential employers to drop their interest in you, if they see and evaluate your digital presence on social media as unprofessional and unfit for their company. Various juvenile videos with animals or strong political opinions may be popular with your friends, employers however will most probably see it differently.

We’ve prepared several examples of content that definitely does not belong on social media.

1. Controversial posts or comments

If you are a die-hard fan of any political party or have extremist political beliefs or opinions, that is purely your choice. There is however a certain possibility that someone on the other side may disagree with you. And if that certain someone is your potential employer, don’t expect any phone calls in the next few days.

2. Illegal activity

Any illegal activity beyond law will not land you a new job. Public boasting about damaging property or causing harm to a homeless person will more likely end in a visit from the police rather than an invite to an interview.

3. Public slander about current or previous employer

Negative remarks about your past employer can be perceived badly by your future employer, as they have no assurance that you will not bad-mouth them as well. However tempting it may be to share your thoughts and complain on social media, and no matter if you’re right or wrong, simply don’t do it! Leave it for a different occasion, perhaps dinner time at home.

4. Whining and overall pessimism

And when we’re on the subject of complaining – avoid any negative remarks and permanent pessimism. Nobody wants to sit next to someone who doesn’t know how to have fun and puts all the effort into simply creating problems.

5. Foul language

If you’re presenting yourself as a likeable and polite person in your cover letter, it’s probably not a good idea to go on a swearing rant or use any kind of foul language on social media.

6. Photographs

Most of us have that certain photograph which simply can’t go public for the world to see, let alone the future employer. Limit your public sharing of incriminating photographs and keep a certain level of professionality. Yes, it’s true that anyone can share photographs on social media. In these cases, we highly recommend enabling the content review option. This feature allows you to control what appears on your profile and lets the unwanted content stay hidden.

7. An inactive profile

In today’s modern world some employers judge you not only based on your personal characteristics or your professional qualities, but also on your virtual social media presence. Small activity or even total social media invisibility will guarantee you that your future employer will not see any compromising information or photographs, they will also not be able to find out more of the positive things about you and on top of that, they’ll realize you’re not the biggest fans of new trends and technology.

Interested in the digital world? Read about some of our tips on how to maintain a good online reputation.