5 Things to Post on Social Media if you Want to Lose your Job

Almost everything is done online these days. From chats with friends that used to be face-to-face, to writing letters and even doing the weekly shop, it’s all on there, and so are our frustrations and opinions.

This can pose potentially serious issues relating to a variety of things, from angering our friends with our thoughts on last Friday night in town, to infuriating our employers with our views on current working conditions and pay. While social networks are “the place to be”, and people seem to post updates on an hourly basis, (some even more frequently than that), there are some things that just shouldn’t be posted, and can actually affect your careers.

While there are plenty of things you could post which could affect your personal or social life, your professional life should be kept separate, but bosses and potential employers can easily track you down using social networks and can therefore monitor everything you say, possibly resulting in you not getting the job you applied for or losing the one you’ve worked so hard to get. Here are just five work-related topics that probably shouldn’t be discussed or posted online

Working Hours

Most people work hours that they don’t like. Some people might have 5am starts, others might be working until 11pm, others have shifts that vary every few days like doctors and nurses. But moaning about your hours on a regular basis could result in a good old fashioned line from the boss “you know what you can do if you don’t like it…”

Colleagues

While you might get on with nearly everybody in a department or in your office, there might be one person that you just can’t stand for whatever reason. Sometimes there isn’t even a justifiable reason!! But complaining about them on social media could come back to haunt you if your work friends get involved in the chat and they are friends with that person and it comes up in their news feed. One word – awkward!

Clients

It almost goes without saying that you don’t complain about your clients online. Sometimes typing the name of a brand into a search on any of the social media sites can bring up results you don’t want that specific brand to see. If they then trace you back to your firm and inform your boss that they won’t be working with you any more, you can kiss goodbye to any bonuses – or your job!

Relationships

Okay, you might have the hots for the receptionist, or for the guy who comes in to fix your computer when it turns itself off for no reason, but a lot of firms frown upon inter-firm relationships and “going out” with colleagues. There are good reasons for this, it can certainly be awkward if things go wrong with the company divided among the two individuals, particularly if things end badly. Sometimes you can’t help it, so unless it’s “the real thing”, you’re probably best keeping things quiet and subtle until the time is right.

The Boss

Most importantly, never criticize your boss on social media sites. As mentioned previously, they are able to read almost everything you put on social sites, particularly if you’re friends with them on Facebook or if they follow you on Twitter. You might mean things as a joke sometimes, but on other occasions it could be taken the wrong way, and you’ll be taken out of the door with a P45 in hand.

In summary, social media is great, but think about what you’re posting, particularly when it comes to work. It may have been a long, boring week in the office, but to the owner of that business it’s their pride and joy and can take your criticism badly.

This article was written by UK-based blogger Matt Rawlings who specializes in helping people looking for jobs and also in the technology field, giving advice on where to buy their gadgets for the best price.