Inc. Magazine posted the Top 10 Awkward Social Media moments. Number seven struck closer to home for me:
No. 7
What’s the fastest way to lose a job offer? Tweet about how much you’re gonna hate the job. In response to an offer from Cisco, recent Berkeley grad Connor Riley tweeted: “Now I have to weigh the utility of a fatty paycheck against the daily commute to San Jose and hating the work.” A Cisco employee quickly tweeted back, “Who is the hiring manager. I’m sure they would love to know that you will hate the work. We here at Cisco are versed in the web.” Riley was dubbed “the Cisco Fatty” and ridiculed for bungling a prime opportunity in the midst of a recession.
Some job seekers have asked me why they can’t seem to get a job. Their work experience seems pretty good. They’ve graduated from a good school. So what could it be? It doesn’t take long for me to scour the web and find the most unflattering information about them, posted by them! I’ve seen people write, “I hate my job… I can’t wait to quit.” or “I can’t focus on my work, so I’m going to play on the internet instead.” If a potential employer takes a look at that, they can automatically sum up that you’ll be nothing but a money waster.
What are you posting about yourself online? Don’t get too relaxed about your online image. Whether you realize it or not, people are checking up on you – regularly. Be sure to clean up your online image and if in doubt, just don’t post your latest ramblings. Save it for your journal or for a text message with your best friend, but do not advertise to the world and most importantly, the people who will be giving you paychecks, that you’re unreliable.
Check out the rest of the Inc. article here.
