Because social media is intertwined with everything we do these days, navigating it in a professional manner can be extremely tricky. You don’t want to share too much, but at the same time it’s essential to career growth to have an established online presence.
So how do you figure out what is appropriate to post about work and what isn’t? Start by avoiding these major faux pas:
1. Posting something inappropriate
The general rule is: if you’re wondering if it would be appropriate to post, the answer is probably not. If it could hurt you or someone you know, don’t post it. Tap into your common sense and consider the content before you click “post/publish/tweet”. If it is not promoting and advancing your personal or professional brand, it’s probably better kept offline.
2. Overusing sarcasm or other unpleasant attitudes
You cannot control the way your online messages are interpreted. People pick up on your tone, and will snap-judge you based solely on that. Social media is for sharing your voice and having your opinions be heard, but you want to make sure that you are coming across as genuine, positive, and an accurate reflection of who you are as a person.
3. Overtagging
Now this can be a hit or miss. You should tag friends and family in content you think they will like, but when it comes to tagging coworkers there is a balance. If something you’re posting is related to the team, try send an email or quick Skype message. When you post on social media, you are speaking to everyone who follows you and then some, so you want to make your content relevant to everyone. The last thing on social media you want to do is exclude someone who could bring a new perspective on something important.
Posting about a dreadful day at work can be tempting, but make sure you remember that even with privacy settings, your social media could be seen by anyone. The globe is small and we live in a very connected world. Don’t be the person who didn’t think before they went out and overshared with the whole word…. think before you post! (Your career will thank you for it.)
