The majority of people use social media to keep in touch with friends and family, post photos, share information, keep up with news or trends, or just fill some spare time. When it comes time to apply to your next job or internship, it’s important to take a look at your social media accounts.
There is a good chance an employer will search for a candidate’s public social media presence. They can be looking to see if you have a professional image or if your resume matches up. Be aware of what you have posted. If you think something would be uncomfortable to share with colleagues or your supervisor, it’s a good idea to delete it. You want to make sure your accounts help your job search and not harm it.
Here are some tips to help prepare your online presence for your job search:
- Go through old posts and photos looking for anything that may be inappropriate, controversial, or considered unprofessional. Never talk negatively about past and present employers online or share confidential information.
- Check your LinkedIn profile to make sure it lines up with the information you have on your resume. Details like dates and jobs should be consistent. LinkedIn is the most acceptable social media for professional use. Keep it up to date.
- Google yourself to see what others would see. It’s good to know what may show up.
- If you want to share personal information and photos with close friends and family, change or modify the privacy settings for an account used for that purpose.
Although bad content could harm your chances, social media can also have a positive effect and help your job search. You can use it to show your personality, creative content, and professional accomplishments.
Employers are looking for reasons to hire new employees. A good online presence can support your qualifications.
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