Putting Reenacting on Your Social Media

For the past few years workers have been warned to be careful of what you post in your social media. People have been denied or fired from jobs because of what they posted. Some employers even ask for Facebook passwords and are searching the internet for information on a job candidate as part of a background check.

As a reenactor, a large portion of my social media presence consists of pictures of me fencing, firing guns and wearing clothes that are not seen in the workplace every day. To an HR person I could be considered strange, unemployable or maybe even fireable?

If you are pursuing a career in acting, pictures of you “acting” in “costume” might help, but for the rest of us…

When it comes to being a medieval reenactor I can exercise my P.R. skills and put a positive spin on it. Who doesn’t love the idea of a chivalrous age where knights battle for honor and glory?

But pirates? What bank would hire someone who portrays a thief? It doesn’t matter if I am at a food bank donating items or visiting a children’s hospital. HR will notice the weapons and probably won’t move past that.

Reenactors are looked upon as being “strange” and being strange is not a selling point when you are looking for a job. Especially today when strange equals dangerous.

And what HR person is going to look at pictures of a fencer or a heavy weapons fighter and not think they’ll cost a fortune in health care because of injuries and resulting days off?

It’s a tough call about whether to make mention on your resume or social media about being a reenactor. You do gain marketable skills: from the use of social media, to negotiating prices for what you get paid, organizing an event, doing public relations, the list is endless.

As for me, my social media is full of me time travelling between the middle ages and the golden age or piracy. Being a reenactor is a big part of who I am. I’ve been on TV and in the newspapers and I’ve met coworkers at festivals, so there is no sense in hiding it.

I have enough experience in the workforce to know that if a company wants to fire you they’ll come up with any excuse whether you’re a reenactor or not. Some goes with hiring. That’s why I keep posting about my reenacting activities.