When we’re feeling a little stressed or irritated at work, it can be tempting to vent your frustration in any way possible.

The advent of the internet, particularly social media sites, has made it easier than ever for us to air our grievances, but is that necessarily such a good idea. It’s likely that your boss and any prospective future employers can see what you’re doing online, much to your detriment!

Making sure you’re careful with what you say and do online can ensure that you’re not in hot water with the management or damaging your chances of getting a great new job. As many employers screen social media before they interview candidates, it’s important to make sure that all your accounts are clean and free from anything which badly reflects on you. A survey by Ladbrokes Bingo showed that 4% of UK adults had damaged their careers as a result of their online actions.

Here are four tips that you should follow if anxious that your online habits may count against you if trying to keep a job or get a new one:

Think before you post

When on a social media site or blog, you might want to check what you’ve done before posting. This can help to prevent any mistakes such as that made by the former Coronation Street actor Chris Fountain. Try not to be offensive (racist, sexist, homophobic, disablist), as this can really make you look bad in the eyes of employers. Make sure you’re not offending any individual colleagues too.

Check your privacy settings

This is possible on the majority of social media sites. Doing this means that you can feel a little more secure in letting your friends or followers know how things are at work or what your views may be on a major news story. On Facebook, you can decide who can and cannot see your posts, but bosses may ask for your password in interviews, amazingly.

Un-tag yourself from embarrassing photos

You might have been on a big night out with some friends, and they have decided to post some of the most (and least) memorable pictures from it. Although they can be funny, if they shed you in a bad light, colleagues or managers could seize upon it and use that image against you. Un-tagging yourself from those pictures is possible on Facebook, and in doing so, there’s no damage done!

Honesty is the best policy

Being honest is imperative if trying to come across as genuine to employers. Ensure that you don’t use social media sites while off sick, and try to tell the truth on all your profiles. This will make your CV seem consistent, and will help to shed you in a positive light, handy when trying to get a promotion or better job.