Social media and the workplace

Social media has continued to grow as technology evolves. It is now a force to be reckoned with - which can be an asset and a hindrance in the workplace.

Image received from: https://econsultancy.com/what-is-social-media-here-are-34-definitions/

I truly believe social media is an incredible asset when used properly. I have friends who make a living promoting through social media... but there are also horror stories where people have lost their jobs through a wrong post on social media. 

A lot of my classmates in #MHST601 have brought up stories about people who have lost their jobs due to social media posts, but I think it's also important to draw importance to how quickly one mistake can ruin a career due to social media. This happens much more frequently in Hollywood of course (think Billy Bush), but stories are still plastered on social media about professionals who did something that made them lose their jobs. This then goes viral and can ruin that persons chance at ever redeeming themselves in their field. I think it's vital to keep this in consideration when it comes to sharing news stories on social media. 

I feel I have always been a professional, and now working in a medical profession I feel it is even more important to keep true to myself. As long as I do this, I can ensure I never post or share anything that could jeopardize my career or relationships. When I completed a social media audit (googling myself, looking back on recent posts, etc.) I was pleased that nothing under my name nothing alarming is present. This reassures me that if any potential managers or recruiters (or anyone really) were to look me up they would not be instantly disappointed because of a social media post. 

Now that I am enrolled in this course and intend on pursuing a Masters education, my LinkedIn profile is a bit more important to me for networking purposes. Before this point, I had not spent too much time on it but will be updating it over the next few months as one of my goals. This is a professional social media presence that I agree with as it allows you to network, as well as research and view articles of relevance. 

Overall I believe all professionals should hold themselves to the highest standards, especially with social media.