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Beware: Your Social Media Profile Can Cost You a Job

Job Hunting, Job Offer, Job Search, Social Media

The following article will explain how your social media profile can cost you a job.

Many people today have social media profiles on different sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. There is nothing wrong with being on social media, but a measure of caution must be exercised. If your profile appears unprofessional and if what you post becomes too political, rude, or in bad taste, your career can be impacted.

When screening candidates, many recruiters, and employers will look at a potential candidate’s social media footprint and assess if their profiles are appropriate and suitable for a career in that organization.

Some might think this is unfair and that their social media profile is their own private domain. This is a false way to think. As soon as you put your thoughts out there on social media, they become accessible to the public, including employers. There have been many stories of employers who passed on interviewing candidates because they found embarrassing pictures posted online, such as selfies where the candidate was intoxicated and other moments caught on camera.

Social media can still be enjoyable, but thinking in terms of your career and potential impact on your personal brand, it’s a good idea to avoid posting the following things on social media:

Never post embarrassing photos of any kind that put you in a bad light.

You might think it is cute to post photos of yourself after a night in the town or when you had too much to drink but if potential employers see you in this kind of light they will only think of you in bad taste. This, in turn, will result in fewer job opportunities for you.

Be cautious when posting about politics.

Your personal opinions are important, but you might offend a segment of the population who do not agree with you.

Politics are an important part of self-identity but with the world being very divided by politics you could cost yourself an interview if your politics differ from a hiring manager or recruiter beliefs. Keep out of political discussions to prevent potential employers from rejecting your application.

Never post anything that is of bad taste.

If you are not sure is something is of bad taste, then don’t take the chance—don’t post it.

Anything that can potentially offend or insult anyone should not be posted on social media. If you are not sure if something is offensive the rule of thumb is not to post it on social media.

Never post something that could be perceived as rude or obnoxious, as this will make people see you in a negative light.

One person’s impulse for humor might differ from others. To avoid potential employers from rejecting your application do not post offensive rude and obnoxious items.

Stay away from posting about controversial topics. Doing so may turn some people off.

You might have had a chance at your dream job when all out a sudden a potential employer sees a post about a controversial topic you had posted on social media and that one shot at your dream job is now over.

Get rid of past social media posts that may paint you in a negative manner

This is what I suggest: look through your social media profiles and delete any pictures or posts that match the above criteria. This could take time but won’t that be worth not losing out on your dream job.

Conclusion

By having professional social media profiles, you will reduce the likelihood of potential employers drawing a negative conclusion about you based on your profiles. This, in turn, will prevent you from being disqualified as a candidate. With a professional presence on social media, not only will you build your personal brand, you’ll go further in the selection process, perhaps even landing that coveted job.

Job Offer Negotiation Tips

Job Hunting, Job Offer, Job Search

The following article will give you information on how to negotiate during a job offer.

After going through all the hard work of creating a resume, searching for a job, and interviewing, it is still possible to blow a job opportunity at the offer stage. This article will show you what to do—and what not to do—when accepting or negotiating a job offer.

Don’t Delay Accepting an Offer You Like

 As soon as you get an offer you like, you should accept it without delay. Do not play hard to get. If you play games at this stage, an employer might withdraw the offer.

Make Sure Your References Are Ready

At the interview stage, you should already have references prepared and ready to give to whoever asks for them. When choosing who to list as a reference, always pick people who you know you can trust to give a great reference. If possible, have backups in place in case some of your references can’t be reached. I would recommend having at least 5 references, including 3 managers and 2 colleagues. It should go without saying, but remember that it is not acceptable to use close friends and family members as references.

When you send a potential employer your references, let the people who you’ve used as references know so that they’re expecting to be contacted. Also, give them a friendly reminder to complete their references quickly. Some employers will take away an offer if references are not completed right away.

 Accept the First Good Offer You Receive

Some job seekers sometimes will wait after getting an offer to see if a better offer comes along. In my opinion, this is a big mistake. You should always take the first good offer that comes your way. If you don’t have other offers on the table but hold off on accepting an offer, you could lose the first offer because the employer moves on to other candidates.

What If The Offer Isn’t What You Expected?

 If the offer is slightly less than desired but you can live with it, you should accept it. If the offer is giving you other perks that make up for the money you won’t be getting, such as a flexible schedule or career advancement, you also might consider accepting.

If the offer is below your expectations with no other incentives, instead of accepting it you might consider negotiating. In your reply to the person doing the negotiation, politely let them know that you mentioned your salary expectations during the interview process and that’s what you will need to get in order to accept a job offer. In some cases, the employer will meet you in the middle. They may even accede and give you the salary you desire.

Long-Term Job Strategies

 Even after you get hired, you should never stop having a long-term job strategy. In today’s economy, there are very few jobs that you keep for life. That being the case, you always keep your resume and LinkedIn profile updated and stay in touch with recruiters. Even if you are looking for promotions internally, make sure your information is always up to date.

Conclusion

 By following the suggestions in this chapter, you will be able to determine when to accept a job offer and how to negotiate for a job offer. You’ll also come to understand the importance of having a long-term job strategy.