Lost a $124k Job Because of Old Social Media Posts? Here’s How to Protect Your Career

Nearly 90% of Australians use social media, but few consider how their digital footprint might impact their career. Rebekah, a 34-year-old from Melbourne, learned this the hard way when old posts cost her a $124,000 job in the finance sector.

After three rounds of interviews, a manager told her she was the preferred candidate. Then HR called to say they'd gone a different direction. A colleague later revealed the hiring panel did a deep social media review and 'concerns had been raised' about her online presence.

Giuseppe Carabetta, associate professor of workplace and business law at UTS, says employers can legally refuse to hire or withdraw offers based on social media if it relates to legitimate concerns like conduct or reputation. However, it's illegal if based on protected attributes like race, sex, disability, or age.

Rebekah suspects unprofessional festival photos, political posts, and comments about an industry figure were the issues. She spent days scrubbing her profiles and paid for digital reputation management services to rebuild a professional online presence.

Carabetta advises all Australians to:

• Review employer's social media policy and code of conduct
• Be cautious with political commentary, jokes, or memes that could be seen as racist, sexist, or discriminatory
• Audit your online presence regularly and remove anything that could raise red flags
• Ask yourself: Would I be comfortable if this appeared on the front page of a newspaper with my employer's name?

Rebekah now has a job she loves and is careful about what she shares. Her rule: "Before I post anything, would I be comfortable if my employer, a future employer, or a client saw this?"