The holidays are here, and with them comes lots of gatherings with friends, family and co-workers. The holiday times are always stressful and this year, with so many of us looking for jobs, they are even tougher. Still, these types of gatherings and celebrations can help us re-charge our batteries and even network with those we haven't seen often during the year.
With the increased dependency on high tech gadgets and social networking, there are some tech etiquette no-no's that we should all be aware of. Here are 4 of the biggies:
Using a cellphone or other gadget at the table - Unless you are Skyping with family members who weren't able to join you, there is no reason to hang on to your smartphone or iPod during the holiday dinner. This is a time for connecting with those around you, not trying to beat another level of Angry Birds. Of course, there is nothing wrong with whipping out your iPhone to take some pictures of the table, just don't be obvious when you tweet them. Buying an expensive present for a new love - If you just started dating someone, there is no need to give them an expensive gift. If you are going to be bringing them to your holiday celebration, you can give them something small. It's always a better idea to wait and see how things go before spending a lot on pricey gifts. Not only is it senseless, it can make your new love feel uncomfortable as well.
Sharing family photos without permission - If you are taking photos of your family's holiday gathering, be sure to get permission from everyone in the photo before you post it online. Not everyone wants to be tagged in photos, especially if they have been drinking or doing something remotely embarrassing.
Posting company party photos online - There is a great deal of debate on this one, but according to a survey by Yahoo, the majority of people over 50 think this is a bad idea. Since that is a similar demographic to most bosses and higher level executives, it's something to consider. Personally, I think that each case is individual. There is nothing wrong with a simple photo of you and your co-workers; stay away from photos that show a large group or candid shots of people drinking.
During the holiday season, it's easy to forget that most people value their privacy. It's hard to fight the temptation to over-share, but it is possible to celebrate the season without having embarrassing photos show up on Facebook.
What other no-no's can you think of? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for TechCareersBlog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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