10 Things Employers Look Out For On Your Social Media

I quit social media for a week. I was tired of comparing my life to everyone else's and decided to delete Instagram and Facebook entirely.

Social media has become a tool for people to look for new job opportunities as well as for employers to scope out potential employees. Employers rightfully do their research on anybody who might be added to their company to make sure they are a right fit as well as to ensure they won’t be too much trouble or hard to deal with in the long run. In fact, according to a survey of employers, at least 55% of recruiters have reconsidered hiring a candidate after looking at their social media profiles. There are a lot of different things employers look out for when doing research through social media.

1. Overly-sexual posts

Needless to say, employers don’t want to see a lot of sexual posts on your timeline or feed. Since you are supposed to represent the company, you cannot be overly sexual on your social media. Apparently, this happens a lot more than you might think.

2. Complaining about a previous job

If you complain about previous jobs publicly on social media sites, then you’re likely to do the same with your new job. Employers would rather their employees not badmouth their company publicly. I can’t blame them.

3. Being active during normal work hours

If you’ve been active on social media during work hours with a previous job, then, again you’re likely to do the same with a new job. Employers don’t want someone who’s going to be on social media all day instead of contributing to the company.

4. Making snide comments about a job before you’ve been offered a position

If you’ve interviewed for a job and start making offhanded comments about the work or the company before you’ve even been offered a position, you’ve probably just lost the job offer. Don’t be cocky and don’t make snide comments, you’re expected to be grateful for being able to interview and get a job in the first place.

5. Exposing your own lies

Too many times, people will call in sick to work or say they have had some kind of emergency only to post pictures of themselves sipping beer on the beach all over their social media. Don’t expose yourself. At least if you’re going to lie about wanting a day off, be smart about it and don’t post pictures everywhere (but it would be smarter just not to lie in the first place).

6. Divulging a company’s private information

It’s probably best not to say much of anything about your private work on social media. You never know what sensitive information you could accidentally be posting for the whole world to see. This will get you fired quicker than you can hit the “post” button.

7. Listing your education

Employers do want to see that you’ve listed your education and experience on your social media.

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8. Double-checking your tone and grammar

Make sure you don’t sound too snobby or entitled in your posts. Additionally, check your grammar for mistakes and typos so that one little accident doesn’t affect how professional you appear to be.

9. Knowing your stuff

Talk about what you know on your social media. Engage in conversations about your career interests and show that you have a really good idea of what you’re wanting a job in.

10. Being present

Be present on social media and make yourself recognizable. Reply to posts, like things, follow pages and people, and get connected. Interacting shows effort, which is definitely one of the things employers look out for!