Keeping Separation Between Personal and Professional Social Media

Recruiters are making good use of social media in the quest to find skilled employees who will uphold the missions and values of their companies. As a result, job candidates and even current employees must follow several social media rules. People who do not follow the rules run the risk of losing out on great job opportunities or even losing their current jobs. As a human resources professional, you must set a good example for workers by learning how to separate your professional life from your personal life online.

One of the easiest social media rules to follow is to make your personal profiles private. It is okay to have a Facebook account for connecting with friends and posting personal photos, but what you post could come back to haunt you if your employer manages to get a look at your profile. Facebook, like other social networking tools, allows you to make your posts visible only to those who have been added to your friends list. Make use of social network privacy settings to prevent your employer—and the employees you manage—from seeing posts that contain profanity or photos that show you drinking alcoholic beverages.

Another one of the social media rules that can help you set a good example and avoid losing your job is to have a policy of not accepting friend requests from people who work at your company or in your industry. If one of these people sends you a friend request, decline it. If you do not want to decline the request without an explanation, send a message that explains your personal policy of keeping your personal life separate from your professional life.

If you have accepted friend requests from colleagues, then you have to get creative with your privacy settings. Some social networks allow you to choose who sees each of your posts. If you post something harmless—such as a recap of your favorite television show—it doesn't hurt to allow your colleagues to see it. If you post something that contains harsh language or images not suitable for a professional environment, then use your privacy settings to restrict access to that particular post.

If you cannot follow these social media rules, then you should seriously consider closing your social media accounts completely. Improper use of social media has very real consequences in the professional world. Bob Jones of News Channel 5 reports that an Akron, Ohio, teacher was fired after posting a photo of her students with duct tape over their mouths. Teachers have also been fired for complaining about their students on Facebook and other social media networks.  Closing your accounts prevents you from giving in to the temptation to vent about your employer or post information about people who work for your company.

These social media rules are not set in stone, but they are a good start for anyone concerned about using social media in a professional manner. Make good use of your privacy settings and avoid posting certain photos and comments where colleagues can see them. Following established social media rules will help you set a good example for the employees you manage, making you more effective as a human resources professional.

(Photo courtesy of Pixomar / freedigitalphotos.net)