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 >  Home   >   Social Networking
Karrierefaktor soziale Netzwerke: Nur wer sich richtig inszeniert gewinnt

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The Career Impact of Social Networking: 10 most common mistakes that are made on social networks

The dangers that Facebook and other sites can have on your career your personal life - and what you can do about it

- part 2 - 

In Germany, the protection of the privacy of individuals’ private lives is considered a very serious and valuable right. Those who want to avoid getting into a gray zone of dubious convictions should be sure not to take note of a few basic rules when posting personal information on the Internet. This is, of course, particularly important in the job application phase, but also for all employees whose companies are committed to a behavioral code of conduct.

 

social networking

Here are the 10 most common mistakes that are made on social networks:

1. A social network is not a frustration outlet for all of life’s trials and tribulations.

 

Complaining does not always have to result in unemployment, but those who cannot resist the urge to complain about  their profession, company, colleagues and other workplace blasphemes must assume that their “friends” are not the only ones getting the message. Our tip: Let it be! There is just too great a risk of such information backfiring on you.

Most of us know this, and for this reason, it is not uncommon that we quickly regret some of the messages we post in a state of rage or anger on social websites. Even if the information can be deleted, you can never know if the text hasn’t already “got legs”.  For these reasons, we advise social network users to write responsibly.

The following other social media habits also tend to be viewed with suspicion by managers and human resource managers:

  • Excessive text: Some people have a tremendous need to notify others of everything that goes on in their lives. This need can lead to a feeling of “social network mania”, which usually stems from the comfortable means of dispersing information – this spurs certain individuals to write even more than they probably should.
  • “I only mean it as a compliment”: Some need to constantly stress how helpful, understanding, tolerant, friendly and helpful they are. Others who read such comments tend to ask themselves: What's going on with this person if they always need to talk about how great they are?
  • Dodgy comments: To get a better understanding of what we mean by these, check similar comments that are often posted in response to current online newspaper articles on websites like Spiegel.de or Focus.de. The comments are often full of sarcastic, biting, malicious or hypocritical remarks. What kind of image are you making for yourself by posting such statements?

  • Any statements that you make that contradict what you have written in your resume. For example, listing community service which involves feeding the hungry and then complaining about the “lazy bums on unemployment” in an online forum just doesn’t add up, while leaving a very hypocritical and insincere impression.

2. Insufficient privacy settings

Social-media users should make sure that their privacy settings are set so that the information that is revealed meets their individual preferences and the requirements dictated by one’s workplace. More specifically, on a site like Facebook, consider the following points:

  • "Featured People”:
    1. Family: Have I have spoken to my family members and asked them whether or not they want to be identified?
    2. Friends: Do I check this list often enough, and which of these people are really my friends?
  • "Education and Work": Does the information I am providing on these sites match what I have listed on my resume?
  • “Philosophy”: It is common for you to be asked to comment on your religious and political orientation. Do you really want to expose this information on a social network? Really? Then ask yourself for what purpose?
  • “Arts and Entertainment "," Sports", "Activities and Interests" and "Contact Information": If you provide this information, you are often, unfortunately, inviting a lot of unwanted advertising SPAM.

Following these sections, you will be asked about “Privacy Settings", which can be found in a smaller font under “Contact Information". Keep the following points in mind:

  • Those who want to protect their privacy and that of their friends and family should generally choose "Friends Only" or "Custom" for visibility.
  • Do not forget to edit the points' privacy settings from photographs and videos. Also, do not neglect to give the “Friends can specify that I am at a location" some serious thought. Such “location” settings are going to become more controversial as smart phones take over the market.
    It is important to check your privacy settings frequently. Updates and improvements made by your social media site can automatically set your personal settings back to the site’s default settings. For more tips, see www.socialmediasecurity.com.

3. Revealing yourself as a particular organization’s employee

 

You know the feeling: what a relief it is to “blow off steam” when your employer or boss has done something that makes you irate. However, not just the negative comments can get you in trouble. Even positive comments can be hazardous. If someone else is complaining about your employer, don’t feel the need to protect the company or its image. Unless you are an authorized expert who has been given permission to make statements on the company’s behalf, don’t make public comments at all. It doesn’t matter if you only meant the best for your employer – you can get yourself in trouble just by mentioning the organization’s name.
Find out which social media policies your company has regarding online social networks. Generally, an employee may only take part in an online discussion about the company if he or she is authorized to do so. In larger companies it is normal for a representative of the PR Department, a company spokesperson or even a compliance office to take care of these issues. Keep these important guidelines in mind when using social media:

  • You are always responsible for anything and everything you post online.
  • If you make statements without having official permission from your organization to do so, be sure to make it clear that what you are writing is solely your personal opinion and not that of the company. Always use the words "I" and not "us". Do not use company logos or trademarks without asking for permission from the appropriate company representatives first.
  • Do not - under any circumstances - release company trade secrets or any information that could be interpreted as such. In such cases contract labor laws can come into play, and you could very well lose your job.
  • If you make comments regarding your workplace, make sure these are approved by your supervisor.
  • Always be honest and make it a point to post sophisticated comments.   
  • Do not discredit company products or suppliers. Also, be sure to respect any copyrights.
  • Try to leave comments that „add value“ or at least increase the value of another statement.
  • Avoid controversial debates and be the first to correct your own mistakes.
  • Do not forget to identify yourself – you don’t want to be accused of hiding behind a false identity.
  • When in doubt, talk to your supervisor or your company‘s PR office.

4. Don’t talk about company secrets or preventive safety measures

There’s no question that company employees often know less than the stock market analysts. After all, "They never tell us anything at all,” is a common complaint that is heard from the workforce. Still, many employees know much more about what is going on in their companies than the general public. For this reason, you must always be careful about what you are saying and whether that information could eventually leak out to others.

It doesn’t have to be a big piece of gossip like the announcement of an upcoming restructuring program to get you in trouble. As long as the facts have not been officially announced through a company-wide announcement or by the company’s press office, you should be cautious of announcing it on a site like Facebook or Twitter. After all, whatever you hear through a large organization's grapevine is usually a combination of rumor, fact and fiction.

5. Using a false identity and not protecting your real identity

If you carefully read the social media guidelines that exist for your organization, you will probably find a statement concerning the use of false or stolen identities and how this practice will not be tolerated. Using a false identity not only puts your credibility at stake, but as a result of identity theft, users of third party accounts often use them to send mass amounts of (sometimes very embarrassing) SPAM. It is therefore important to not only keep yourself from being suspected of using a fake identity, but to actively protect your own electronic account information.
At a minimum, the following security measures should be in place:

  • Passwords should be at least 6 characters long and include special characters, numbers, and a mixture of lower and upper case letters
  • Sensitive information should be encrypted before sending
  • An antivirus program should be installed and kept active and up to date, which often requires the installation of updates
  • From time to time, use an anti-spyware program to check for unwanted snooping programs
  • More Information on web security can be found at the following sites:

[ This article is continued in the August 2011 of the newsletter of the Language Institute  Newsletters des Sprachinstituts TREFFPUNKT

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