When people think of social media, they typically think of platforms where they share fun moments of their lives, watch entertaining videos, or even keep up with friends and family. However, a lot of people do not think of these things as items that can help them find jobs or even hurt them in obtaining employment. Employers use social media platforms to see their applicants and tend to get their first impressions from their profiles. Didn’t know that? Don’t worry, here are some tips and tricks to keep your profile professional and protect yourself online.
Why Social Media Matters in Hiring
When job searching, a lot of time your online presence is your first impression whether that be through an online application, what shows up in a google search, or your social media platforms. It is important to know what your online reputation is, so you know what your first impression is looking like if an employer or recruiter is looking at you online. One great way to get an idea of what your online reputation is like is simply by Googling yourself. Type in your first name, last name, and location; see what shows up. Do your social media accounts come up? Are there any articles about you? What images are the first ones that you see? Remember, just because you have deleted something or private, your account does not mean that it is gone.
Risky Content to Avoid Posting
Although it is your right to post whatever you want on your social media platforms, you want to be mindful of what you are posting that employers can potentially see. Even if you have a private profile or have deleted some items, this does not mean it is gone; it is only not seen on your end. Before you post, comment, or even join groups, you want to ask yourself if this is something you are okay with your professional network potentially seeing. When it comes to social media, you can only control what you do; but you always want to remember that others have means of capturing what you have said such as screenshotting items, and they can use that to your disadvantage. Here are some items that we advise you to avoid posting, commenting, or even messaging on your social media.
- Offensive language
- Bullying or harassment of others
- Illegal activity
- Inappropriate photos or videos
- Constant negative comments
- Public arguments
Remember, although you may have people you trust on your social accounts, there may be others whose reliability may differ. Don’t risk your future over a comment, message, or post.
How to Protect Yourself Online
Even if you are not one to publish any of the risky content items, you still want to make sure you are thinking about your accounts in a way to protect yourself. People see these channels as ways to share life updates and information, but some of that information can be dangerous to you.
First thing first, know your settings. A lot of the time (and I am guilty of this as well) when we receive the pop-up or email stating the terms of agreement or changes in the policies; we don’t always read through it all. This can be dangerous! With the changes that are happening with privacy, image use, and AI; you will want to be sure to be aware of your policy and settings on your accounts.
Knowing your settings not only allows you to be up to date on the changes that the platform is making but also helps protect you and your personal info. A great example is Meta’s recent change to Instagram and allowing AI to utilize your photos for reference unless you check not in your settings. Knowing that this toggle is there and choosing to untoggled it allows you to make the decision and protect yourself from potential ‘deep fake’ accounts which are accounts created to mimic you and act as if they are your account to access information but also can case an incorrect perspective on you.
The best thing to do to protect yourself is to be up to date on items and to think before you post. Think about what information you want to be accessible. Do not put up your phone number, email, birthday, location, or personal information that someone can use to pretend to be you. Additionally, think before reacting to something or posting something. A general rule of thumb that I personally have is to wait about an hour to think through what I want to post and if it may have a negative effect on my online perspective.
How to Utilize Your Account for Your Benefit While Job Searching
Now that you know the risks and things to keep an eye out for when online, let’s talk about the benefits of being on social media platforms that can be for your job search. Updating your profile or even creating a professional account can be a benefit to your job search! Creating these items can allow you to cater to what employers see while keeping your personal profiles private. Plus, having a strong online presence can make a candidate stand out from the others.
Highlighting positive items about your life can help amplify your professional online presence, allow others to bring opportunities to you, and help you network. Here are some positive content items that could be beneficial to post when it comes to your job search.
- Volunteer work
- Leadership roles/opportunities
- Academic achievements
- Extracurricular activities
- Professional interests
- Project highlights
Publishing these items turns your professional account into a mini portfolio that employers can come upon if they search for you.
How Can I Make a Professional Account?
Simple! It is just like creating a personal one but being more aware of what is being posted and separating your personal life from your professional one. You still want to consider and think about what you are okay with sharing; but this will be a public account that anyone can see.
To make a professional account, let’s walk through a few key items that can turn your account into a generalized account to one that shines with any employer starting with your profile picture.
Think of your profile picture as your first interaction. Employers will see your profile picture as one of the first interactions with you, so you want to make sure it is a good one and one that highlights your professionalism. To do so, make sure that you have a clear headshot that is straight on or a little to the side, your clothing is professional and clean, your background is clean and clear of distractions, and that you lighting is good. One great way to get examples of this is to look at different people in your field on LinkedIn!
Now that you have your profile picture, let’s move to the next interaction, your bio. Your bio should be a summary and out of yourself. This can include items such as whether you are student or what career pathway you are in, what your career interests are, what your skills/passions are, and some volunteer/leadership roles you have participated in. Essentially, think of the bio as your elevator speech.
Once you have these two items in place, the rest is easy. Focus on the quality content that shows the positive items that we discussed above, such as career goals, accomplishments, projects, certifications, community involvement, etc. Then take it a step further to comment and interact with other professionals/companies in your field. Remember, social media is a great place to make connections. Follow companies of interest, join professional groups, and engage respectfully with career-related content. You never know that engagement might lead you to your next career path. Be smart about your posts, highlight your strengths, and make connections!