The following text was based on a conversation with Madeline Mann, a 32-year-old career coach from Los Angeles and CEO of Self Made Millennial.
I have been advising people for professional matters for six years. I run Self Made Millennial, a career coaching company. My goal is to make my clients probably talk about themselves and get their dream job offers.
In the case of looking for a job, I always repeat: The recruiters will definitely look at your linkedin. But that's not the end. Your other social media accounts will also check your other accounts. That is why it is worth knowing what to not publish. Here are four things that can harm you.
1. Do not report your way to a new job
I do not recommend describing the job search process. More and more figures are published on LinkedIn what their everyday life looks like: “I went through conversations in this company, but it failed”, or “see what stupid questions this application contained.”
This type of content can attract attention and likes, but remember that employers are also looking at them. And they may think: “If we invite this person for an interview, what will I write later about our company?”
Although looking for a job can be lonely and sometimes we need to talk, it is better not to do it in public.
2. Mental health
I also do not recommend sharing your mental health experiences on the web. This is an important and more and more openly discussed topic – and rightly so. Despite this, employers may draw hasty conclusions.
If you write about depression or anxiety, someone from the HR department may ask themselves: “Will this person manage at work? How will it affect the team and the company?”
Even if your entry has a positive, reflective tone – it's still a risk. It is worth leaving such conversations, among the people you trust and know.
3. Do not share your CV on the web
LinkedIn gives you the opportunity to publish a CV, but I do not encourage you to use this option. If you throw one CV for everyone, you lose the opportunity to match the document to a specific position. This is especially important if you are interested in different industries – one universal CV can send a unclear signal.
It is definitely better to send CV only to specific companies you apply to.
4. Think twice before showing you a job on political campaigns
If you were involved in a political campaign, think about whether it is worth mentioning at LinkedIn. You have gained a valuable experience – it's true – but before you show it, think about where you want to work, in what position and in what city.
Many people do not separate political beliefs from professional and may have prejudices based on who you supported. Although this should not be so, minor prejudices can have serious effects. You don't want you to be judged before your employer really knows you.
5. Take care of your profiles
When looking for a job, enter your name in Google and see what appears. Recruiters do that too. In addition to LinkedIn, they can find your accounts on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. If they appear – they will probably click them.
How to protect yourself? Set the privacy of your profiles – although this is not always enough. You can also modify your data – for example, use only the name and second name instead of the name. Another trick is a small change in the spelling of the surname – I know a person who instead of “in” in “using a double” V “.
Remember, however: if someone breaks through the privacy settings, they can still see what you like and who you observe.
Before you publish something, ask yourself: “Is it a good way to show yourself? Or maybe it's better to send it to your friends?” Think twice before clicking “publish”.
