Social Media Etiquette 103: The Big Picture

I've talked about how social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and how to 'behave' yourself on the sites. Now, I want to talk about how using these sites can affect your job.

So, one night, you were super stressed because of all the heavy pressures of life coming down at you. You and your significant other or your best girlfriends all go to the bar for a few drinks. The next day you realize they took a few bad pictures of you downing shots and now they are on Facebook. No big deal, right?

Sure, why not, unless you want those pictures to seen by a potential employer. Now, I'm not going to say that all places would be this strict, but, I have read that the first impression they make of you is through a Google search.

Here are some tips to keep you from having a bad reputation in the online world and to your potential new boss.

1. Clean up your act! (Errr, Pages)-Facebook and Twitter have a tendency to be a piece of paper in our journal. All our thoughts lay there. Except this time, other people can read them. Remove complaints about your boss and your job. Remove photos that could be deemed inappropriate. Also, opt for the highest privacy settings on these networks.

2. Rep is important-Along with the above mentioned, also having a good online reputation is imporant. If you're nowhere to be found on a Google search, your potential boss may not think you have kept up with the latest trends, or that you aren't qualified for a job that has technology and digital skills. For example, if you're a writer, start a blog! If you're a photographer, build a website or Facebook page featuring your amazing photos. For example, here's my first site that features my photo galleries along with blogging here at Patch! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tara-Smith-Photography/310403999080033?re...

3. Co-Workers- Don't friend co-workers. It's just a bad idea! Think about it, what if you "got sick" one day and called off. You end up going out later and your boss catches a post either you or one of your friends tagged you in. May get into some big trouble later, right?

These are just a few, here is a website I found that shows mistakes people make with Social Media and their employment. http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/job-career/facebook-...

Remember, be careful!