Thursday 12 March 2015

How To Make Your Twitter Employer Friendly


Can everyone please stop telling us that we're 'in the real world now'. Like seriously, we don't fancy it. Take us back to no responsibilities and never having to think past the next few hours of our day, we're not a fan of this whole 'planning for the future' business, it's tiring.

Sure everyone talks about this real world, and it's never sounded like much fun but being in it is a whole other story. Having to face employers (and the rejection that they are so keen to dish out) makes you question your abilities, and how you come across to others, which like we said is pretty tiring.

But unfortunately it has to be done, and while we would love to book a one way ticket to somewhere hot and carefree, our morning is actually going to be spent applying to placements, sigh.

Ok, so we'll stop moaning now and get to actually being helpful.

Are you one of those people that tweets absolutely every thought that you have? Do you tweet without a second thought? And think that the more controversial you are the better? Well if so then we love people like you, but employers may not.

Gone are the days when you turn up to a job interview and are judged on how you perform, and the way you appear (oh how much easier would that be!?), nope now there is a whole library of information that employers can find on you, and that's all thanks to the wonderful place we like to call the internet.

While Big Brother is a set up environment it's not too far away from real life, and employers really are like Big Brother watching you. What better way to get to know what someone actually thinks, than stalking them on an account where they will happily bare all without a second thought?

You need to show some consideration to how you come across online, and here's a few tips on how to do so:

1) Show an interest in global affairs

This is extremely impressive to employers as it shows you have interests that are of use, rather than just being interested in who slapped who on The Real Housewives (sorry Kirst). We have been asked to discuss events taking place in the world in previous interviews, so displaying a knowledge through your online identity will help employers find what they are looking for in their candidates.

2) Avoid bragging about working on a hangover

While your friends may find this funny and impressive your potential employers will not. We are not saying don't do it (because where's the fun in that?) but what we are saying is don't brag about it. This instantly tells employers that you are unreliable and makes them question if you would be someone they could trust to employ.

3) Be careful what you retweet and favourite

So often we do not consider what we favourite/retweet and simply click a button to do so without even thinking. Ok granted you didn't write the tweet, but what you favourite actually tells an employer a lot about you, as it's an indirect way of expressing views that you might have. Would it be something that, with employers watching you in mind, you would tweet? No? Then don't favourite/retweet it.

4) Ditch references to things that break the law

This sounds ridiculously obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many people do it. Tweeting about the illegal substances you consumed the night before may be the norm for you, but 83% of employers say that this would completely put them off employing you (understandable really). You have to get the balance of being yourself, and impressing employers, meaning that some things need to go unsaid we're afraid.

5) Watch the grammar

We know, we know your Twitter isn't an academic piece of work, and you spend enough time proof reading assignments, but the trouble is that this is what is expected of you, where as correct spelling on Twitter, typically is not. This means that employers are shown your true literary abilities (rather than the usual spell checked stuff you've written elsewhere), and with 66% of hiring managers claiming they would be put off by evidence of poor grammar, we're sorry to say that spell checking your Twitter is gonna have to happen.

6) Pick your opinions wisely

If you know you will be applying for a job at a specific company, make sure your tweets show a consideration of this. You may think you are fine if you are not negatively tweeting about the company themselves, but many of the big corporations work together, so be careful to not be digging at any alliances that they may have. Do your research, and make sure you censor your posts so that a potential employer will not be offended by what you have written.


It seems like the obvious solution would be just be to make your account private right? Unfortunately not, as this will limit your accessibility when you are searching for a job. Instead it's best to find a balance between being yourself, and being someone that employers will like.

This does not mean singing the praises of all your potential employers (hellooo they will see right through you), but it does mean being mindful of how you conduct yourself online. Like we said, this is the 'real world' now, and as much as we hate to admit it, this means being responsible and attempting to appear to like adult (most of the time).

2 comments:

  1. Such a brilliant blogpost, it makes you think twice about what you post online doesn't it! X

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    1. Thank you! It really does, we didn't even consider it before uni! x

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