“Do not post or write a comment that can be considered inflammatory, disrespectful, derogatory, controversial, or divisive. You know why? Because it will come back to haunt you.”
Chief Operating Officer at CUNA Caribbean Insurance, Wanda Bernard, had some words of advice for students of Bishop Anstey High School at the school’s Annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday.
She said it has become common practice for companies to screen their candidates’ social media profiles before any interview process, noting that ‘locked profiles’ would not help you.
“Many companies, including my company, we check social media profiles at the point of initial screening or during the background check. Now, even if your profile is locked, that doesn’t help you. A locked profile for us signals a red flag because it suggests to us that you may have something to hide.”
She also urged students to think before posting: “Any post that you post that can be deemed to be at variance with a company’s values or any of its policies will result in you not being considered for employment. And if you are already an employee, it can get you fired.”
Ms. Bernard also urged the students to practice some “restraint.”
“What I’m trying to get across to you, ladies, is please exercise the required judgement and restraint because in the 21st century and even beyond, proper judgement, or rather prudent judgement and restraint will be core requirements of an effective leader.”
She told students if they see a post they disagree with, the best thing to do is to “keep scrolling.”
The Awards Ceremony for Bishop Anstey High School took place at Queen’s Hall on Thursday morning.