Finding Jobs in Social Media Has Its Dangers

As an employer, the ability to search social media for prospective employees is mind boggling. In the past, you would post jobs in classifieds, use head hunters, university job placement, etc. Even Craigslist seems outdated compared to what you can do today. Hit your favorite social media sites, search for the profile of the  you’re interested in and go nuts.

On the flip side, it’s also an amazing time for those looking for jobs. Like never before, you have the ability to market yourself to an infinite online audience. Post thoughts, opinions and original ideas on blogs, Twitter and Facebook. Linkedin can put you in contact with endless groups of people assuming you have some depth in your contacts. But just as social media can be a great asset in the job market in can also be a quick disqualifier.

Here are a few random thoughts for those looking for new jobs in social media (especially Twitter):

Be responsible. Think about what you’re tweeting and how you’re tweeting it. Yes, you should feel free to be yourself, but use your head. There’s a level of responsibility that’s expected from others who are astute in social media. A couple days ago I was at a coffee shop and some guy was talking to a friend on his cell phone about how much he disliked a certain customer. Are you serious? What if someone from his customers company was in the coffee shop? Same applies in social media - be responsible in your conversation.

Think about how much you’re tweeting. I can tell you as an employer, if I see someone is tweeting all day long, I wonder what type of employee that person is. Do I want to pay someone who spends all day making personal tweets rather than work? Do I want someone making personal calls all day? The answer is no and no. Remember, even if you’re talking in “public” to someone specific doesn’t mean that others can not hear your conversation!

Watch your mouth. If you wouldn’t speak something in public, don’t write it in social media. Language, phrases, etc. Remember, potential employers will look at you and envision whether you are the type of person they want representing their company.

There are tremendous opportunities for networking and identifying new employment opportunities on Twitter and in social media, but be careful what you do, what you say and how you say it. Though it may be a conversation between you and someone else, it doesn’t mean that the rest of us aren’t paying attention.

Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.

Tags: Good Business, jobs, Linkedin, Twitter

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