There are times when what you don’t say speaks volumes about your personal brand. These days you must be 100% aware of your reputation online. A large percentage of them are looking, evaluating, and deciding their next steps. My advice is to avoid disqualifying yourself over things you can control.
1. Outdated updates.
I see this daily on Facebook and Twitter. People want to break the news but don’t check the dates of the article. How disturbing is it when someone is posting an article about a celebrity’s death from three years ago? But let’s take this a little bit further. What impression is left when you post an update to a news article from three years ago? Or even a year ago? These same people who struggle with finding jobs and remaining employed seem to post the most out-of-date articles Bob Parsons, CEO of Go Daddy is right– especially in social media, yesterday’s news is irrelevant.
2. Inappropriate jokes
There are several I know employers hate to see. The one comment I heard recently (the employer will remain anonymous) is the ones promoting abuse and racial epitaphs. Politics and religion aren’t as bothersome, but those personally attacking any candidate is disturbing. It makes most people feel uncomfortable after the first, but then when someone sends a steady stream of them makes the user seem like an awful person–to hire!
3. Updates from parody websites without acknowledging they are a parody website
The problem isn’t the site, but it’s your citing them as a credible source is a problem. Then your comments following just confirms the insidiousness of the actual update. If you want your timeline to be reliable and impressive to employers, you’re shooting yourself in the foot and your pocket. Most of us assume you will post a verifiable source by checking other credible sources. These days a small blog can publish a credible article rarely seen, but it still needs verification from another source. Similarly, parody sites can post a reliable source, but parody is sprinkled throughout make the article insignificant.
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About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.