Social Media Affects Employment
Social media refers to a mode of interaction between different people in different places virtually. The interaction is enabled by internet with digital natives being the most affected. Social media can be through face book, tweeter, linked in and many other forms (Burrow & Jim 56). Face book has over 85 million users globally while linked in has over 25 million users. Face book and tweeter are viewed, as an informal mode of communication while linked in is vastly formal. Social sites give a wide range of people from different backgrounds. They can be used to get a job today from company sites. However, social media can also be used in hiring and firing of employees (Burrow & Jim 24). Human Resource personnel in various companies have admitted to using social media to learn about prospective employees’ background. Other HR personnel have also confessed to checking employees’ status to learn what they think about the organization. However, if effectively used social media may be a door of opportunities for people and businesses (Burrow & Jim 24).
Today many employers conduct checks on a person’s personal life, background on social sites before they can employ. Whether this is done intentional or not potential employers will Google a person before employment (Mandiberg 34). They do this to ascertain a person’s background and what they represent. Job seekers who fail to clear their social media pages may find themselves on the wrong side. Failure to clean up social pages may result in few chances of employment. Social media are providing an easy way for HR to determine a person’s character (Mandiberg 34). In order for a person to get a clean bill in social media, they should clean up their web pages. People should also resist the urge to write personal or embarrassing things on their pages. It is also noteworthy for one to post anything useful on building their career.
It is not all gloom for social site users as these sites can be used to get a good job or to market one self and get employment. Companies also use social media to market themselves (Wankel Marovich, and Stanaityte 110). People in sales are expected to use these social networks to market company products or service. Social media also enhance customer care. People working in public relations are expected to be in the lookout for any damaging news or views. Social sites today are used by customers, to address their concerns and experiences in a company (Wankel Marovich, and Stanaityte 110). This concerns need to be addressed by the public relation, what PR people post on the site has repercussions. A poor response by PR may result to poor business, embarrassment and finally lose of job to the person posting. On the other hand, a good post from PR will result to good business, satisfied customer and a positive outlook of the company. Successful posts could also lead to a promotion of employee in the company. Social media may affect a person’s career both positively and negatively.
Linked in and Tweeter could be particularly useful for job seekers whether new or just looking for greener pastures (Wollan Smith, and Zhou 200). A person looking for employment could link themselves with companies they are interested in working. The links will expose them to a wide market. Potential employers will be able to view their portfolio and possibly offer them employment. Opening a tweeter account and getting people who are influential in a person’s career field could result in employment. Social media offers interaction with so many people that getting a dream job becomes a reality extremely fast (Wollan, Smith, and Zhou 200). Organizations could be faced with high turnovers as individuals get better offers in a matter of seconds. The employees do not even have to seem as if they are looking for a job. They will do this comfortably during their working hours. Other companies complain of employees using company time on social media. Employees may face discipline action if found to use company time for social media. The employer will just have to contact IT for employees browsing history. Social media if used effectively could mean a change in employment policies.
Social media has clearly affected employment. Employers are obliged by law to ensure safety of their employers (Burrow & Jim30). Employees may post defamatory remarks about their colleagues thinking they are invisible while in truth they are not. Social site is so casual that employees might be tempted to post anything about the organization. This could be private to a company and may lead to severe problems. Information shared could not have been shared in formal meetings (Burrow & Jim 30). Employers leaving employment may move with all contacts. Business may suffer loss of clients to this person. Policies are crucial in work places that guide employees on usage of social networks. The company policies could include what employees can share on social media in regards to the company. The policy should also look at what employees are up loading to ensure they do not get the company in trouble with the government (Burrow & Jim 30). Some employees will use social media for cyber bullying. This may affect the morale of the victim and their performance at work. Social media has changed employment from what it was to what it is today. New policies need to be included regarding its use in companies.
Conclusion
Social media are recently expressing the issue of professionalism and private life. Currently there are no laws that protect users of social media. Employers are able to track and keep tabs on employees they are considering to hire. Individuals have to draw a line on what they post on their walls on social media. People must remember that whatever they update on their social sites will remain. Employees ought to think first before they post anything on social media. There are people who have been able to get lucrative jobs through social media. Organizations today look up potential employers websites before they can employee them. Several cases have been reported of employees who have been fired because of the posts they place on social media. Caution is necessary for anyone on social media unless they are using anonymous names. Employers especially could benefit from social media by having someone monitor people’s comments on the organization. The person will also be responsible for maintaining good company relations. Social media are responsible for creating employment and denying opportunities to others.
Works citied
Burrow, Jim, and Jim Bosiljevac. Marketing. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning,
2012. Print.
Mandiberg, Michael. The Social Media Reader. New York: New York University Press, 2012.
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Wankel, Charles, Matthew Marovich, and Jurate Stanaityte. Cutting-edge Social Media
Approaches to Business Education: Teaching with Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Second
Life, and Blogs. Charlotte, N.C: Information Age Pub, 2010. Print
Wollan, Robert, Nick Smith, and Catherine Zhou. The Social Media Management Handbook:
Everything You Need to Know to Get Social Media Working in Your Business. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2010. Internet resource.
