What Your Boss Doesn’t Want to See on your Social Media Profile

In today’s day and age, it’s no wonder that everyone, including our bosses and executives, is always online. Many employers have admitted to looking up their employees online profiles in order to get a glimpse behind the curtain, see who they really are and keep an eye out for potential red flags.

So, what are some of the things that your boss definitely doesn’t want to see when visiting your online profile? We’ve put together a list to give you some insight into what they are looking to find, or not find, in some cases.

Very sparse details

People who create Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles without giving away any relevant information about themselves can come off as weird. So much so that your boss might come up to you and confront you about the fact that your profile picture or employment information doesn’t match the person standing in front of them (especially on professional sites like LinkedIn). Update your online social information and remove any unnecessary photos and posts before letting your boss know that you have a profile in the first place.

Update your online profiles so that people can clearly see who owns the profile and how they can contact you should they need to – many colleagues and partners will do so.

Few, if any, posts

Being reserved and polite is all well and good, but doing so in spite of your office’s online activity may trigger some red flags with your boss. This is particularly true for roles that require a strong media presence (writing, marketing, sales, even non-profit organizations). You want to show that you are active and have interesting, relevant content to share on your social media profiles. Try posting interesting articles, pieces of music or even family photos here and there in semi-regular intervals. Having an active social media presence will not only allow you to connect with friends and family but also come off as normal in the eyes of your boss.

Create a mental schedule (or create one on your calendar or in your bullet journal) for updating your online status once. Even simple links to news or interesting articles will help people determine what you like or don’t like, thus making you more likeable and easier to connect with.

Negativity towards work

It’s easy to get carried away and let off some steam on social media. It’s another matter entirely if you have your boss or someone higher up as a friend on said social media. Posting any negative comments or content that correlates to your current office developments may have severe consequences.

You might be confronted with the notion that your profile puts a bad image on the company’s name and that you should start working on making it better. Reserve your judgment for coffee breaks and talks with colleagues and friends you can truly trust.

Find the positives in your professional life and focus on promoting them online. Posting anything negative about your work won’t solve any problems you might be going through.

Inappropriate content

Posting inappropriate content on your social media page can have drastic consequences on you as an employee. Some executives like their employees to show exemplary behaviour, whether at work or at home. They are constant brand ambassadors and should act accordingly. Make sure that anything you post online doesn’t offend anyone you work with and doesn’t fly against the company policies. If you are in charge of your companies social media activity or blog content, you’ll want to ensure that anything written there or shared also aligns with company values and policies. There are writing services out there that can help you get it right.

Reserve yourself from posting inappropriate content that might reflect badly on you and the company you work for. Keep such content private and don’t post it anywhere publicly.

Unwillingness to change

One of the worst things you can do as an employee is not listen to what your boss is trying to tell you. You might get off with a warning about something you have posted online or even a couple of hints as to how you can improve your social media profile.

Make sure that you listen to this advice and act on it as soon as possible. Failing to do so can be understood as an act of rebellion against your employer and might cost you your job. No amount of personal satisfaction from posted online content can make up for the fact that you might end up unemployed. Be the smart person in the equation and do what’s right for the company.

The will to change is the keystone of success. Do what you can about changing your online social media habits if your boss or executive gives you a subtle advice about what to do next.

Conclusion

Maintaining a social media profile once you become a part of a large and established business can be difficult. People will always find flaws in the way you present your work to others and your bosses will always find something to complain about. Make sure that your online profiles reflect the position and status you have at your workplace. Act respectfully towards the company and its executives and they will treat you likewise in return.

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