Use Foul Language

I recently gave a nod through Twitter to a new friend of mine.  I commented on his love for his job specifically to help promote his personal brand.  I said that he was good at what he did and he loved doing it.  He’s in the job market and I wanted employers to notice him.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t looked at his Twitter feed.  When I did, I immediately noticed foul language.

What kind of a representative of his current company and personal brand is he, when he talks like that?  I was embarrassed for him and his company.  Likewise, I was disappointed that I had associated with the individual on Twitter via my tweet about him loving his work, as I now realized his behavior could potentially tarnish my brand!

Talk Politics

I know everyone is diametrically opposed or passionately for everything the government does lately, but before typing our thoughts we’d do well to think it through.  Would it make you uncomfortable, anxious, or angry to speak your political view face to face with someone of the opposite view?  If the answer is yes, it’s probably best not to share it on Social Media.  You never know, your favorite hiring manager may have the opposite view!

Talk About Risqué Topics

If HR would blush about the topic you’re discussing on Twitter, consider not participating.  In a recent poll, 80% of hiring managers and HR admitted to throwing out an individual’s application because of something they found on Social Media sites.

Be Negative

Being around negative people takes so much energy from the people who are trying to motivate and push a company forward.  If they see it in your social media presence, they’ll assume you’ll bring it into the work place.

Be positive!  Work hard and wear a permanent smile.

Mope

If your tweets are about bedtime, how you slept, or how late you got up, it may be wise to consider a different approach.  If you’re down about something, talk to someone in person, not on social media.

I can’t imagine a hiring manager that wants to hire a person who mopes around.  Life is too short.  There’s always a silver lining.

Remember Ronald Regan’s favorite joke: A boy’s family thought he was too optimistic.  They took him to the psychologist.  The Doctor knew what to do.  He took the boy out to a barn on a farm that was full of manure.  The little boy climbed to the top of the pile and dug feverishly!  “What are you doing?” asked the psychologist.  The little boy exclaimed, “With all this manure, there’s got to be a pony in here somewhere!”

Regardless of political affiliation, that’s a funny joke!