The 3 Biggest Social Media Snafus That Can Cost You the Job

By Robin Madell

"Better safe than sorry" is the motto job seekers and employees alike should adopt when it comes to posting on social media. "Many underestimate the reach of social media," says David Hoffeld, CEO of Hoffeld Group. "Social media is search-engine friendly, and many wrongly assume that when they post something, only those they are connected with will see it. In today's world, employers, co-workers and potential customers and future employers are searching online to learn more about you."

Hoffeld adds that this enhanced exposure is the "new normal," so being careless about what types of content you post can cost you a job. Making mistakes on social media isn't uncommon. According to a new report from Nexgate Proofpoint, the average Fortune 100 firm now has 320 social media accounts, with an average of 213,539 commenters (including followers) and more than 1,159 employees making more than 500,000 posts to these accounts. The research shows that the average firm had 69 unmoderated compliance validations over the past year, with employees responsible for 12 of these violations.

Devin Redmond, vice president and general manager of Nexgate Proofpoint, notes that employees are now regularly balancing professional and personal social media identities – and they're wrong to believe a line exists between the two.