Do you update Twitter a lot? If you answered yes (or perhaps you just update a few times a day?), do you update Twitter while at work? If you answered yes to that question, the hot microblogging site could end up costing you your job. You may be documenting your day in 140 characters or less, but the site has really become a burden to employers due to people either sharing far too much (i.e. I got a new job offer, and it’s amazing) or simply being extremely unproductive while you should be working.

Of course, there’s always the Tweets that end up looking very unprofessional anyway like about how awful your hangover is or a “legendary” one night stand. If your Twitter is open for everyone to read, please don’t Tweet this.

People have lost job offers as well as jobs they currently have due to sharing too much information on the site. This just proves, while you may think that no one really reads your Tweets, someone might end up reading it all.

Alexandra Levit, author of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College warns about Twitter usage, “Always assume that there are work people looking at your posts.”

Here are some of her tips to social-networking that may end up helping you keep your job (this includes you, Facebook power-user!)

Keep your politics private.
Ah. Politicking on the internet where everyone can see exactly how you feel about each politician can end up making you alienated from your boss and other co workers. It may seem innocent when you talk about favorite political platforms, but you may end up insulting the wrong person.

Never dish about work (i.e. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all)
This is particularly important if you often talk about how much you dislike your work. I’m not sure it’s as bad if you’re saying good things about how much you love what you do. I have a friend on Facebook who constantly updates about what he does, but he always has great things to say.

Update only at lunch.
Yea, status updates are time stamped and your boss and coworkers can definitely tell exactly when you’re updating your status, so try to leave the pressing issues until lunch (but remember to follow the second rule).