Commenting On Social Sites

No matter what, when you hear good news, the best thing that you can do is affirm to your friend that you share in their good news. "Congratulations" is always appropriate for an addition to a family, a wedding announcement, engagement, promotion or some wonderful happy piece of good news.

When posting an affirmation of the good news, one comment is enough. Don't litter a social page with your babble of posting over and over again. This is that persons' moment. Let them bask in the glow.

Don't post derogatory or inflammatory statements. I once asked a pal of mine why a mutual friend was no longer on their page. Their response? "I got tired of inane comments such as "So jealous" when something good happened in my life, and similar crappy sentiments such as "That figures" when something bad happened in my life. Plus, they were posting on every single thing that I wrote about. If we were together that much in real life, I would ask for some space.

Comment, but don't overdo it.

"Can I add you to my social network?"

It's a common question these days. When you let someone into your social networks, you are giving them a lot more than a glimpse into your life. You possibly let them see who you hang out with, where you are, what you are doing, and some of your interests.
A wise idea is that if you have a social network site, have one that is public for work, and another one that is private for your personal life.

Don't friend your work profile to your personal and vice versa. Keep them separate. If your friends find your work profile, send them over to your personal page.

I would also advice not placing a photo of yourself in the 'public profile' section on your personal page, further, make it private, so that only people who you know will be able to find it. A dear friends' social profiles are all in the name of her deceased aunt. Those in the know find it sweet, more importantly, employers don't find it.

Employers do screen peoples' social networks. They glean information that allows them to make decisions. Do you really want your employer to see photos of you on vacation, doing things that are not work related? Some people don't care, but to have a competitive edge, it is something that you should take the time to consider. Even worse is if you have comments by others referencing non professional items or if you have made non professional comments on the pages of others.

Recently, I was watching a court case where the texts of two young girls were allowed into court as a timeline for something. It was devastating because the phones and phone records were subpoenaed so that the information could not be changed or manipulated by either side.

Another instance, a note that was passed in class was used to destroy a friendship. Once something is written and removed from your control, it can sometimes have a life of its' own.

We now live in an age where a message can be literally around the world in seconds. Too late to take it back. Before you post something that could be hurtful to you or someone else, think about it. There is no reason to make a sarcastic comment to a friend, but especially never one in writing.

When I was on a job interview recently, a woman strode into the office where I was interviewing, interrupting my interview. "I just got your email. Your horrible email. How dare you not hire me!" She bellowed, causing me and the woman interviewing me to jump.

The interviewer explained that they were not happy with some things, but that they could talk it over later. The woman cursed at her and spat on the ground before walking out. After she was gone, the interviewer looked at me, shrugging her shoulders.

Finally, the HR woman said to me "Facebook. We looked at her Facebook. She made terrible comments about our company and many other things. We did not feel she was a good fit. I see we were right." Our interview continued, but my mind was reeling. What was on my social networks? What silly jokes and comments had my friends and I made? What changes did I need to make? That evening, I changed many settings on my social networks, and I think that it was for the best. I no longer wonder or worry about my work situation or my personal situation. They are separate. As they should be.

Of course, at work parties, you should be responsible, not lose control, don't overindulge, and watch your mouth.

What happens when someone else puts up photos or statements without your consent? Send them a message and ask nicely for them to take it down. A friend posted a photo of me that said "Here's X, Sun DRUNK AGAIN". I was sunburned on a bed. I called them and explained I was looking for a job, and that their comment was not helpful. They removed the comment and the photo. A good friend will do that for you. A bad friend needs to be removed from your contacts. Change your social network settings so that you must approve tags and comments to take care of a lot of problems. Ask friends to be mindful of what they post since you are working or looking for a job.