"Did I do That!" - steve urkle

According to an article in "inc." magazine, our suspicions were confirmed. What we post on social media is being viewed by many more people than you thought possible. The article says.....

"54 Percent of Employers Have Eliminated a Candidate Based on Social Media. Time to Clean Up Your Feed (and Tags)Do your profiles tell tell the right story?

In other words, getting rid of that video of you doing body shots is probably a good idea"

Now don't overreact and run out to close all of your social media accounts. Because we are also told that a full 44% of hiring managers discover social media content that influences them to hire a candidate.

The article tells us "It's also not a good idea to just get rid of your social media profiles altogether. Employers didn't like candidates who lacked a social media presence--57?percent of employers said they were far less likely to call someone in if that person was an online "ghost."

If you can't be found online, you're seen as shady. So it's not about deleting unflattering profiles; it's about cleaning up your feed."

So, maybe you have some "junk" on Facebook? Some opinions that might not be shared by many on LinkedIn? Twitter posts that were funny at the time, but not so much today? Maybe a TicToc dance video that really doesn't show you in your best light?

So, what should you do to give yourself a Social Media check up?

1. Google yourself

Never done this? It might be a good idea to do it periodically, You may be very surprised at what is out there. If there is something unflattering, you may be able to make it go away, but not likely. You can, however, be prepared to address it should it come up.

2. Would you hire you?

It is always a good idea to keep some amount of line of demarcation between our personal life and our private life. And not every cause, thought, social issue, political position, etc will pay well in the eyes of your prospective employer. Also, a photo seen out of context is not necessary for everyone's viewing. Even something as subtle as your music choices may paint a picture to a stranger that is different from reality. My advice, GO GOOGLE YOURSELF . See what others can see and see if they see what you want them to see.

It is important to look at your profile through the eyes of someone who knows nothing about you other than what is right before their eyes.

Are the posts and timelines current? Does your picture reflect the you that they want them to? In other words, do you look professional? Now, be sure to look at your posts. Memes that might offend someone, take them down. Got pictures of you enjoying a birthday party a little too much. What about pictures that you are tagged in - does it need to go?

3. Plant some posts that show the real you

It is not unethical to make your Social Media account a good advertisement for you. Share some thoughts that would be considered Ethical or Thoughtful. Compassionate notes on your timeline, a story that speaks of you etc. Steer away from politics, social issues, and religion unless it is important to you to make this statement. Remember, not everyone who sees your post will agree with your position and some may not agree significantly. Did something good happen that you can make note of? Did you see or hear of someone going out their way to "pay it forward" that you can comment on?

4: Review all of your social media profiles and keep private things private.

Not every social media site that you are on needs to be or should be public. Remember the line earlier about the line drawn between your private life and your public life? I am not saying that you have to become a social media hermit, I am only suggesting that know whom you want your message to get to. You can make many social media sites private and you should consider doing that If there are postings and content that you don't feel the need to explain.

5: Post-hire, continue to review your accounts to see that nothing has changed. Review all of your social media profiles and keep private things private.

Did some new postings come in that are not the real you? were you tagged in an unflattering picture? Were you doing something that you shouldn't? Also, be certain that even your private items stay that way.

Let me give some examples that have occurred in my career that have cost people their jobs.

• is your account linked to a friend's account who is connected to someone in your company? I had an employee that was goofing off on a Sunday night that was very quiet at the hotel that she worked at. So, she had some friends come over to help take away the boredom. First, she posted to her timeline to have friends come over. Then she posted photos of her and her friends getting some food from the hotel kitchen to munch on. And a video of one of her friends searching for porn videos on the hotel computers. (actually, this was a joke she just labeled the use of the computer as that). Sadly, she was a "Friend" on the social media account with one of her bosses so when she posted, it went to all of her friends. Bye Bye
• I had a manager call off on the day that we were having a big event in one of my hotels. Sadly, she posted pictures of the Hot Tub Bachelorette Party that she hosted. The pictures of them all drinking and posing in their bikinis were bed enough but the caption read "it is good to work at a Hotel so that you can party with "Company Booze" These pictures were posted on a private site. So far so good. But several of the people that got them were not so discrete when they forwarded the pics. Bye Bye