Recruitment 411: Minding Your Social Media Ps & Qs

There are rules of etiquette for every social situation, from dining to business meetings – and even dining during business meetings. Most of these rules have been around for a while and they are just an accepted part of social interaction.

There is a whole other set of rules and guidelines that falls under the umbrella of communications etiquette. To that end, there’s one aspect of our communications culture which is still fairly new. Consequently, the rules of etiquette in this area are still being developed and evaluated. If you haven’t guessed by now, I am referring to social media.

I was discussing this topic with a coworker. While we agree while the rules are constantly evolving, certain things have become accepted etiquette among social media connoisseurs.

• When someone mentions you in a tweet on Twitter, we always thank them for the mention.
• If someone posts something on our Facebook page, we respond – or at the very least, we like their post, so they know we read it.
• This next one can be tough: If someone ignores your friend request, accept their decision and move on. Social media sometimes requires a thick skin.

Here’s another one to consider. This piece of social media etiquette has us stumped: If someone recommends you on LinkedIn, are you obligated to recommend them in return?

Recruitment 411 is the official blog of the IRS Recruitment Office.