Are You Careful About What You Post on Social Media? You Should Be & Here’s Why

Most candidates know that having a professional presence on social media works in their favor when they’re seeking out opportunities. However, exercising caution when posting online is more critical today than in years past. Along with hiring managers increasingly vetting candidates’ social media presence, posts are being scrutinized more often during security background investigations.

Security Executive Agent Directive 5 (SEAD 5) specifically addresses the collection and use of publicly-accessible information found on social media profiles for the purpose of conducting thorough security background investigations, both initially and on an ongoing basis. As a result, posts of a questionable nature can reduce a candidate’s access to certain positions.

While SEAD 5 generally applies to government-related positions, hiring managers may use a similar approach when vetting candidates. Posts that are controversial, biased, sensitive, derogatory, or otherwise dubious may cause them to pass a job seeker over.

Precisely what kinds of posts (as well as comments and shares) will be viewed negatively can vary from one organization to the next. However, certain types of content are inherently risky. As a result, posts of those natures should be avoided or deleted. If you aren’t sure what you may need to avoid, here are a few sensitive topics that you shouldn’t discuss on social media.

Negative Comments About the United States

While most would agree that every nation has its triumphs and struggles, openly speaking negatively of the United States as a nation, its leaders, or how it functions carries with it an innate risk. Depending on the nature of the content, dissent can be viewed in several ways, most of which aren’t flattering. In the worst-case scenario, you may even be perceived as a threat.

Generally speaking, while it may be tempting to air your grievances, it’s best not to do so on social media. Similarly, engaging with posts of that nature is often unwise.

Overt or Controversial Political Posts

With election season on the horizon, political posts are increasingly common. Regardless of your position or the nature of your beliefs, creating content, commenting on posts made by others, or sharing posts of a political nature is risky. Not everyone holds the same political views, and politics is often a polarizing subject. As a result, outlining your perspective on social media may rub hiring managers the wrong way, potentially costing you job opportunities.

Negative Statements About Employers or Colleagues

Just as it’s unwise to speak negatively about current and former employers or colleagues during job interviews, it’s best not to do so on social media, either. Regardless of whether your comment is reasonably justified, it can cause hiring managers to question your mindset. Additionally, if the posts are frequent, the hiring manager may wonder how you factor into the equation, and most won’t risk bringing you on board in case the problem is you.

Proprietary or Sensitive Company Information

Government organizations aren’t the only ones that deal with sensitive and confidential information. Companies of all types have proprietary and sensitive data. If they see that a candidate is openly sharing trade secrets or discussing information that should be kept private, that’s going to give them pause. Plus, if word gets back to the company that owns the data, it could lead to legal ramifications, depending on the nature of what’s shared.


Ultimately, it’s best not to discuss any of the topics above on social media. If you’d like to find out how you can update your social media presence to reflect positively on you as a professional, the staff at The Squires Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.


 


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