Social media much? Your posts may hurt your career!

Some of you are going to get angry with me for this post.  That's ok.  This blog is just my opinion, so you can form your own and comment below, I would love to hear from you.

I have seen a lot on social media links especially Facebook over the past couple years and thought I would chime in with my 2 cents.  Be careful about your social media posts.  We have a tendency to combine work friends, family and personal friends on our posts and this is a dangerous thing.  Why?

All of us have our own opinions on religion and politics and just certain people in general.  Some of us are very vocal about it on social media.  I see posts about gossip, bashing of certain groups, people, races, sexual preference, whatever.  We also post wonderful photos of ourselves or others in some of the most unusual circumstances. We have the right to our opinion and our beliefs because this is America.  We have freedom of speech, right?  Yes, but please don't do it.  The world and how we all relate to it has changed.

People are going to form an opinion about you  based on what you post.  If you post something for a close friend or family member and a potential employer sees it and gets offended (photo or different viewpoint than yours) they are probably not going to hire you.  If you are a constant downer, always negative or hateful, its the same thing.  People want to see positive happy neutral stuff.  Nope - that's not the reality of life, but it IS the truth of the world of social media.  You are putting yourself out there - change the way you post. If you want to stay hire-able in your field, refrain from posting the other stuff.  Send a private message to someone, email them or pick up the phone.

We used to just add people to Facebook and other sites that we knew well, and that understood us well, but now many of us use it for networking and don't really know everyone on our social networks all that well.

I have my personal religious and political beliefs just like you do, but I never EVER post anything about them. I keep most of my posts happy and upbeat.  The negative stuff?  I just don't post it most of the time and if I do, its for a very limited time, and its just usually stuff about having a bad day or something.

Here is what happens.  You apply for a job, or a gig or whatever and that person looks at your social media posts and sees something negative you have posted where they have a different opinion or it just hits them the wrong way - guess what?  You don't get the job.  People will also form opinions about you that may not be fair, but they will.  I have looked at some of my friends posts and ended up "hiding them from my feed" because I didn't want to see the posts.  Or maybe they post 100 times a day - noone wants to see that either.

I am not saying you have to pretend your from Pleasantville, or be a total drone, but just think twice before you post.  Ask yourself, " Is it ok for everyone I want to do business with to see this?"

If you still want to do it, here is my suggestion, because I do this:  For Facebook, put everyone in "categories".  When you post, you can choose who (what category) sees the posts.  So, when I post photos of my cats, or family stuff, etc. many times I will post it to "Friends" or "Family", EXCEPT "Film Friends"  Or if I don't want to bore my family with my IMDb and blog posts, I will make the post view-able to "Film Friends" only.  This way, you can control who sees what, and you can see talk and post as freely as you like without the risk of losing work or offending the wrong people.

I did a little research, and I am not the only one with this opinion.  A few links I found with more info:

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9240493/What_Facebook_posts_will_keep_you_from_getting_hired

http://company.findlaw.com/press-center/2013/tips-for-managing-your-career-on-social-media.html

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20131011152603-2434720-world-s-greatest-social-media-advice

Just my 2 cents - keep it classy and lets all get working together!

PS - I deleted my Twitter account recently, so I left it off the below links this time.  Just TOO much social media for one gal!  :)

https://www.facebook.com/DebbieJenningsActor

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4824944/

http://debbiejennings.biz/

 

Tucson has the right idea

Read their post:

10 REASONS ARIZONA NEEDS A NEW FILM INCENTIVE

http://www.visittucson.org/marketing/tucson-film-office/film-tax-credit/

Check your ego at the door...and get more work!

I am going to sound like your mother for this post, but once in a while I will run across someone with a huge ego in this business, and I feel its time I addressed it.  People with huge ego's have a hard time getting work, but they don't understand it because they believe themselves to be so awesome.  People block them and delete them, but they believe its just jealousy. They shine brighter than the brightest star and are just misunderstood. Right? (sigh, no)  

I recently worked with someone like this.  I was embarrassed for them the entire time on set. I was disappointed.  I really expected more from this person.  I know the production company will never hire them again.  Just little things they did all day were very annoying....to everyone, cast and crew.  I never name names, but truly folks, humility is your friend.  If I have a bad experience with someone on set, do you think I will ever recommend them to a producer or casting agent?  Nope!  I won't air anyone's dirty laundry, but I will recommend someone else.  Be professional and get hired time and time again.  Be nice and be real!  Be thankful and grateful and happy and play well with others.  They will want you back time and time again.

Can you be excited about your work and accomplishments?  Yes!  Should you pump up your career on social networking sites? Of course!  Just check yourself (before you wreck yourself).  What I am talking about here is people who talk about how awesome they are.  People who get angry that other people got roles because they are so much better.  Its all about peoples true mindset and how they address others in public.  Its all about them and never about anyone else.  Most of the time it involves backstabbing others and just general unprofessional behavior.

None of us are "all that" and all of us can be replaced, so why do so many people in this industry have huge ego's?  Its one thing to be excited about what we are doing but its entirely another to act like we are better than others.  Newsflash:  The world does not revolve around you.  Centuries will come and go and billions will not know your name.  Its time you put yourself in perspective.  

Be EXCITED about your work and work really hard, but also build up others in the process.  Don't tear others down at your expense.  Karma baby - the higher you regard yourself, the less the world will think of you.  If you have a huge ego on set and are constantly a distraction, you will not get re-hired by that production company, and its a small community, word spreads.  Be humble, be grateful, be HIRED!

If your reading this, your ego is probably just fine.  If you had an ego problem, you wouldn't bother with my blog.  I appreciate the fact that you are reading it - thank you!

Have something to add?  Share it!  Have fun and I will see you on set!

https://www.facebook.com/DebbieJenningsActor

https://twitter.com/ActressDeb

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4824944/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

http://debbiejennings.biz/