Why too many cats can spoil your PR career prospects

We recently had a candidate who almost missed out on a plum role because his Instagram feed had too many pictures of cats.  Yes, it’s kind of funny but is it unfair?  Or is it reasonable when you consider how PRs need to work social media channels on behalf of clients, and their behaviour could reflect not just on their employer but their client’s brand?

Employers now routinely check the social media presence of potential candidates and there are certain things that set the alarm bells ringing. Here are five things you might want to avoid posting on your Twitter, Instagram or Facebook (and yes, these are real Tweets…!).

1. I wish I could be unconscious until I get off work every day. I hate my full time job. My life improves every time I leave that place

No matter how justified, hate-filled invective about your job / boss / colleagues / ex makes you look like an unstable sad case who needs help – not attractive to a prospective employer.  Find somewhere else to vent.

2. I’ve been either drunk or hungover since, like, 2007

Hahaha.  LOL. Not.  Implying you’re a booze-hound might be funny when you’re 21, but you’re a grown-up now and no-one wants to hire someone who regularly turns up to work hungover.

3. (Anything sexist, racist, homophobic or offensive and yes, that includes slagging off women’s football)

Remember Paris Brown, the youth commissioner who had to resign her post after six days because of offensive tweets she had sent before she got the job?  That could be YOU.

4. I love the smell of coffee

I love breathing but I wouldn’t tweet about it.  Beware of the overshare. No-one cares what you had for breakfast.  Or lunch. Or whether you just bought a coffee.  Seriously, dude, it just makes you look narcissistic and dull.

5. Why doesn’t anyone appreciate the good things Justin Bieber does?

Don’t care if you’re a fan, you’re too old for One Direction, Justin Bieber, The Wanted and Miley bloody Cyrus.  Keep it to yourself.  Same goes for endless pictures of your cats / dogs / pigeons / smug organic vegetables you’ve grown yourself.  It’s all in the edit.  Be ruthless.

It’s not so much the fact that it makes you look ignorant, boring, annoying or alcohol-dependent, it’s that you work in communications – so if you don’t understand the impact of your words and pictures on how people perceive you, why on earth would anyone in PR hire you? Our candidate got the job in the end so this tale has a happy ending.  Make sure yours does too – think before you Tweet!

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