Is your social media content preventing job acquisition?

In today’s climate, a seemingly innocent social media post can be misinterpreted and cost an applicant their dream job. Today I will be discussing the reasons to have a social media account designed for professional use only and posting appropriate content relevant to career ambitions. I will also talk about the need to set strict privacy settings on all personal use social media accounts. The key takeaway I hope is gained from this message is understanding the importance of discerning which content should be shared on professional versus personal social media accounts.  

Every day there are published articles of famous actors, athletic coaches, news anchors, and influencers being terminated or “canceled” for controversial social media posts. Being fired over social content can happen to anyone. A quick Google search reveals several articles of such media-worthy instances. Some occurrences were unfortunate missteps, while others were unquestionably wrong.  Here are a few examples of social content firings that made headlines: 

• An excited salesperson was fired after a client saw her tweet about closing their not-for-public deal.    
• A teacher was dismissed for sharing her off-duty enjoyment of illegal substances and routine party habits.
• A couple of employees were terminated for ranting on social media regarding their disdain for their employer and customers.

It is no secret that employers and recruiters have (and will) peruse social media accounts to make hiring and firing decisions. In 2020, a Harris Poll found that 71% of employers check social media accounts to screen job candidates. The same poll discovered that 54% of these employers declined to give job offers because the candidate’s social profile did not align with company values. Another 26% of the employers fired employees after finding posts requiring such measures.  

Check out my video to learn more about what having a professional social media account sets you up for success and how turning on those privacy settings will ensure your career ambitions are realized. Have a question or idea for future discussions, share it in the comments section below 👇.