Graduation might seem far off, but it’s time to start thinking about applying for jobs.
According to CareerBuilder, 70% of employers check out social media accounts before making hiring decisions. And 54% of hiring managers found content on social media that caused them not to hire a candidate.
We tend to view our social media accounts are personal, so it feels a little intrusive when we find out strangers are creeping on our pages. So what should you do?
- Check your privacy settings. See what others can see. Adjust your privacy settings or remove any questionable content
- Post a nice user pic of yourself.
- Don’t publicly posting anything embarrassing or negative.
No matter how fun your evening was, avoid posting wild partying pictures! - Don’t share pictures of yourself intoxicated.
- Don’t post about illegal drug use (you might think you’re using a really clever code that no one can crack, but you aren’t. Trust me).
- Avoid posting publicly about family or relationship drama.
- Don’t complain about your current job. This is how people get fired.
- Don’t post anything racist. This is also how people get fired.
- Publicly share things you want a future employer to see. Loving your internship? Post about it. Read a great article relevant to your field? Share it.
- Keep it clean. Use good punctuation and grammar. Avoid curse words.
- Keep your profile up-to-date. Update your location when you move. Update your school when you enroll.
- Have a social media presence. Don’t erase your digital footprint entirely. Almost half of employers said they wouldn’t call someone for an interview if they can’t find them online. Set up a LinkedIn profile so employers have something to find.
Why did employers say that they didn’t offer someone a job based on their social media presence?
Those reasons included the candidate:
- Posting provocative or inappropriate photographs, videos or information – 39%
- Posting information about them drinking or using drugs – 38%
Is this a cool picture? Sure. Is it appropriate if you’re applying for a job? Maybe not. - Making discriminatory comments related to race, gender, or religion – 32%
- Bad-mouthing their previous company or fellow employee – 30%
- Lying about qualifications – 27%
- Having poor communication skills – 27%
- Posting about criminal behavior – 26%
- Sharing confidential information from previous employers – 23%
- Using an unprofessional screen name – 22%
- Posting too frequently – 17%
