Today, more business-related discussions take place via e-mail, social media and web conference than over lunch. Unfortunately, the finer points of ‘tech etiquette’ are less established. One bad social media blunder could put you career at risk.
Unlike professional networking portals, Facebook and Twitter were initially designed to keep up with friends and family. Now, individuals increasingly leverage these tools for career- and business-related purposes. While the line between ‘personal’ and ‘professional’ continues to blur, many job hunters and employees damage their credibility with ill-advised keystrokes.
To help you avoid career-limiting faux pas, here are some social media do’s and don’ts.
DO post polished content. When using your accounts for business purposes, think strategically about every piece of information you share. Proofread your status updates and tweets. Even in the relatively fast and loose world of social media, poor spelling and punctuation can negatively affect your credibility.
DON’T post empty updates about your lunch or desperate pleas for FarmVille assistance. Instead, highlight your professional knowledge. Share thoughts on industry trends and developments, link to insightful news articles or ‘retweet’ pertinent posts from others in the field.
DON’T let your guard down. Think twice before venting. Going public with job-related gripes and groans is a recipe for disaster. The same is true of off-color jokes, gossip, inappropriate photos and potentially controversial comments about touchy topics such as politics and religion.
DO pause before posting to consider how your professional contacts (or a future hiring manager) might view your questionable content. One imprudent post is all it takes to do irreparable harm to your reputation.
Technology continues to create fascinating new forums for connecting, sharing and, yes, blundering. Unfortunately, certain technology-related bad habits have spread like viruses.
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