Social Media Mistakes?

More companies are now using social media to keep tabs on their employees and make hiring decisions. Thirty-five percent of companies use sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to screen potential employees.

Too many workers have a false sense of privacy, believing there’s an imaginary line between their public and private lives, warns Kristina Vaquera, Attorney at Jackson Lewis, LLP. “If you are uncomfortable with your mom reading something on your profile, your employer might be uncomfortable as well.”

Think this can’t get you fired? Larry Johnson, a former Kansas City Chiefs NFL player and Octavia Nasr, CNN’s former senior editor of Mideast affairs were both fired because of their tweets.

How to avoid missteps?

Econsultancy created a list of “10 Common Social Media Mistakes” such as publishing first, thinking later and not training employees.

Companies like KPMG have added a social media section to their ethics and compliance training to remind employees how to properly project themselves online.

Run your own search and make sure what comes up is what you want reflected of you, suggests Vaquera. “A lot of young women don’t do that. You need to be aware of what you’re putting out there.” It can affect your career.

Bonus PINK Link: On the job hunt? Social media may be a great way to find one.

By Aleta Watson

“Neither privacy nor publicity is dead, but technology will continue to make a mess of both.” Danah Boyd