Social Media Posts Could Jeopardize Your Employment Prospects

It could be your attitude, demeanor, or last social media post that cost you a job after an interview. Social media is not new, and employers have been using those platforms to learn more about potential candidates. As a staffing agency that is committed to helping connect businesses and employees together, American Labor Services would like to share a few precautions to put your best digital footprint forward.

“Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn give employers insights about a candidate’s values and character,” said Ben Kaplan, President of American Labor Services. “If you tagged Starbucks in a post and ranted about how long it took to cash you out, employers could take note of that.”

Kaplan explained that there are other reasons you should tread carefully when posting content that could be offensive. In some very specific scenarios, posting about a negative situation can be powerful, especially if it magnifies some form of social injustice. However, if your message goes viral, it is important to be mindful that posts will live forever on the internet. There are stories of high level executives and employees alike who could not land a job for years until they gave up.

American Labor Services would like to share a few key points that can help you remain employable for the foreseeable future.

• Avoid posting about political issues that are highly divisive, especially if you don’t have a full understanding of the topic.
• Before posting, consider how your immediate supervisor might react if they saw your post.
• Do not share content that promotes violence because it can show a lack of sound judgment.

The social media site of choice for professionals is LinkedIn, but most people also have an account with Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. These key points should apply to all of those platforms. If you don’t already have a LinkedIn profile and are looking for a job, an added safety precaution would be to not have errors in your profile.

These are just some of the suggestions you should keep in mind with regards to social media. American Labor Services screens countless applicants every year, and we always provide guidance on how to put your best foot forward. If you are interested in working with American Labor Services, call our toll-free number at 1844-967-5257.

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