Pamela Chan, Editorial/BCFamily.ca
“A 2018 study by Jobvite indicates more than 90 percent of recruiters research a candidate on social media before inviting them to interview. With a whopping 47 percent of them saying they screen out candidates who post about politics.” (Inc.com)
Should you keep discussions about politicians and politics out of your online discussions? Human resources advisors say that you should. But will you ignore this advice even if there is a negative impact on your ability to get or keep a job, or client if you are self-employed?
Since I was raised in a Foreign Service family, my inclination is to try to avoid sharing my critiques of political parties and politicians on all social media platforms. This is what I do most of the time; however, I will advocate strongly for causes. For example, for two years I’ve advocated for strong safety protocols in #BCEd schools during the pandemic. I believe that a safe working and learning environment is a reasonable expectation. I took the same approach when I was a teacher in the classroom.
These are prickly and divisive times in British Columbia and Canada. If your reach is broad enough, you will have professional contacts, clients and supporters from all demographics. They are people who represent all political perspectives. And if you are hanging off Canada’s west coast like I am – far from the Toronto-Montreal corridor of power – you know that Vancouver is a one horse town. At most, you are one degree of separation from someone else in the business world.
You’ve worked hard to get where you are, while you built your professional and personal reputation over the years.
Will your social media strategy be aligned with and support – or weaken- your professional reputation? You can comment about this posting on the BCFamily.ca Facebook page. Your contribution matters so don’t be shy!