We live in an age of technology. People are glued to their devices and spend most of their free time on social media apps. Instagram, Twitter and Facebook changed the way that the world communicates on a daily basis. These pages allow you to show your personality, share your ideas, express your opinions and stay in touch with your networks every second of every day. But many young adults struggle in using these sites in a way that is not harmful to their future.
No matter what career you choose to go into, it is important to know that the majority of employers look into social media pages to review candidates outside of the normal interview process. How frustrating would it be to miss out on an opportunity due to a post on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram?
We need to know how to put our best selves forward on our personal pages in order to create an image that we can be proud of and have no doubt that we deserve any opportunity heading our way.
Here are 10 tips and tricks to social media that will help you put your best self forward personally and professionally!
1. Avoid Posts That Show Alcohol Or Drug Consumption
Having a good time with friends or family can be great moments to capture and post, but be aware how the consumption of alcohol or drugs can cast a certain light on you and your hobbies. Too many partying posts can cause a negative reaction, especially if anything illegal is taking place in the pictures. Having photos or posts about having a great time is encouraged, but try to eliminate the presence of drinks, bottles and so forth to increase a positive opinion of the post!
2. Try To Use Appropriate Language
Swearing is often viewed as being offensive. If many of your tweets or captions include vulgar language, you may be creating an image that you are vulgar. Avoiding language that is harsh and offensive will gain you followers that are more accepting, and potentially less judgmental of how you express yourself through words. Positive language creates a positive vibe to your posts, which all followers appreciate!
3. Avoid Posting Photos That Can Be Viewed As Sexual Or Inappropriate
Although many sites have restrictions on nudity in posts, photos viewed as sexual or inappropriate are often excluded from these restrictions. We all see the fitness transformations showing people barely dressed displaying their hard work; however, these photos can interpreted by others negatively. The occasional "gym selfie" is a staple to most social media pages. But, be aware that a photo in your shortest shorts or shirtless may be seen as unprofessional when it comes time to find a career.
4. Post What You Find Interesting
Don't be afraid to post things that you find interesting. If you can create personal pages that show your interests in life and what you truly enjoy, employers are going to appreciate seeing that. If your posts are interesting to you, I guarantee you will find people that find them equally intriguing! Posting for likes or shares is obvious, but posting because you like something is much more genuine and will receive better feedback from your network.
5. Try To Reduce Over-Sharing
We are talking too much posting and sharing too much information. Most people unfollowed or unfriended someone because they post too much. This clutters news feeds, annoys many users and gives off an image that you have too much free-time on your hands. To employers, this may be a big red flag because it suggests that you are too wrapped up in your social networks. Another big no-no is over sharing your personal information. This is not a safe use of social media sites, and it can compromise your privacy on the Internet.
6. Eliminate Confrontational Posts
Facebook fights are so middle-school, but they can bite you in the butt later in life. If people view your pages and see that you are confrontational with friends or strangers, they think you're an aggressive person. Confrontational posts are viewed as immature and ignorant. You don't want to portray either trait to your network or prospective employer!
7. Be Considerate Of Your Friends’ Reputations
Even if your posts do not show you doing questionable activities, pictures of your friends doing them are as harmful to your reputation as they are for your friends. Keep in mind that exploiting their not-so-hot moments on social media can affect their future opportunities, as well as yours. Be considerate of your image as well as your friends' images and your posts will be less harmful for everyone involved!
8. Find Your Aesthetic
A new trend that led to more followers and likes on pages is having an aesthetic. A page that visually represents you as a whole can have a positive impact on your visitors. People judge books by their covers, no matter how many times the phrase tells us not to, so why not make your page awesome? A good aesthetic on a page promotes the image you put out to the world, and it shows employers you value that image!
9. Less Is More: Selfie Posts
Selfies can be empowering, goofy, gorgeous and everything in between. But, too many selfies isn't the best look. If your page shows only photos of your cute face every day, followers will be less inclined to support them each time a new one pops up on their feed. So as the saying goes, "less is more" when it comes to your selfie-game.
10. Be Consistent
If your pages are inconsistent, for example some are censored while others are not, it will be noticeable to followers and future employers. Obviously there are posts that you would prefer only friends see instead of employers or family members, but on the internet anything can be seen by anyone if they search enough. So keep in mind that even if you think they can't see the post, they probably can. Keep all of your pages clean and you'll be in the clear!
