We all do it, share our lives on social media but you may not be aware that it could cost you a job. These days hiring professionals see you well before they meet you. One in five employers says they have rejected a candidate after seeing something they deem as inappropriate online. So, what are the red flags employers look for in your social media?

According to YouGov.com, three quarters of employers agree that aggressive or offensive language is the most off-putting social media behavior.

So, what can you do to improve your social habits for the sake of your job or future career? The following tips will help:
1. Get Linked In! Make sure your LinkedIn profile is at all star status! The more you add, the better chances you will have. Add professional pictures and links to any portfolios of work you may have. 48% of 2,000 business manages reported LinkedIn as there go-to social media platform to check on potential employees. Facebook came in as a close second at 46%.
2. You are your own brand. You may not realize it, but what you post across social media paints a picture of who you are and what you stand for. Be cognizant of that every time you post.
3. Avoid the provocative. Images speak for themselves and if you have pictures of yourself doing things up in “da club”, you may want to keep those on your private phone or privately secured pages. It’s not great that people judge, but businesses need to thoroughly vet candidates so they are confident they are making a good investment for their company.
4. Slow your roll with the Selfies! Selfies are great but there is a line that many cross when posting too many and they end up looking very self-involved. Remember, you are your own brand and is being self-involved the message you want to portray about yourself? If you love the selfie, no worries, just stick to Snapchatting your friends with them!
5. Don’t badmouth. Social media can turn into a very hostile place. Just remember to keep your anger in check and most importantly – don’t badmouth your current or previous employer. This creates a negative image of you and your future employer will assume that you will do the same thing to them.

If you are currently seeking employment, it might greatly benefit you to reach out and connect with a recruiter at the All Star Labor & Staffing branch near you to see how we can help.