Does your social media presence affect your job prospects?

Don’t let photos of your drunken exploits or ill-judged online comments get in the way of landing your dream job. You’d be surprised how much your online presence can say about you.

By Sophie Cole

Let’s be honest: we’ve probably all done a few things that we’d rather forget. But in this age of social media, evidence may well be lurking somewhere on the internet in the form of embarrassing photos, questionable posts or comments from the past.

In most cases, these souvenirs of our weaker moments won’t be too problematic. Perhaps they’re bleary-eyed snaps after a sweaty night out or throwbacks to the awkward haircuts of our teenage years. We may wish these cringey moments could be forgotten forever, but they’re harmless enough.

But for some people, their social media outpourings are harder to forgive. Maybe they’re ignorant comments about race, gender or other sensitive subjects, posted without thinking. Perhaps they’re angry rants about work, inappropriate jokes or boasts about a lifestyle that we’d sooner disown.

Whatever the weakness, by broadcasting it on social media, it has potentially been put in the public domain. And there it can stay, just waiting to be discovered.

Social media has become an important part of everyday life, and it’s no surprise that employers and recruiters may come across candidates’ online profiles during the recruitment process. While checking personal social media should not be treated as a routine part of every recruitment decision, a candidate’s public online presence can sometimes attract attention.

After all, first impressions count, and the impression you create online can be just as important as the one you make face to face.

So, the question for would-be employees is: how can you avoid slipping up on social media? It’s all a question of being social media savvy.

Give your social media a spring clean

It’s always wise to scan your social media before beginning any job hunt. Make sure you go back to the earliest possible posts and remove any silly, childish or just plain offensive comments, pictures or content from your pages.

Recruiters and potential employers don’t need to see pictures of you with three bottles of wine inside you. Similarly, what you found funny at 13 probably isn’t so amusing now, so make sure you’re thorough with your social media checks.

Pay particular attention to posts that could be considered discriminatory, aggressive or offensive. Even if an insensitive comment was made years ago, it may still create an impression you wouldn’t want a potential employer to have of you.

It’s also worth checking what other people have tagged you in. You might have cleaned up your own profile, but embarrassing photographs or comments shared by friends could still be visible.

Remember, deleting a post doesn’t necessarily mean it disappears from the internet forever, so it’s better to think carefully before posting in the first place.

Don’t disappear completely

With so many ways to slip up, it might seem easier just to delete all of your online profiles. But having no social media presence isn’t necessarily the answer either.

There is nothing wrong with keeping your personal life private, and you certainly don’t need to be active on every social media platform to land a job. However, having a professional online presence can be useful when looking for work.

A well-managed LinkedIn profile, for example, will let employers and recruiters learn a bit more about you, your experience and your skills. It also gives you an opportunity to highlight your achievements, professional interests and career ambitions.

It’s perfectly acceptable to keep your personal social media protected. In fact, it’s good to keep your work and private life separate. Check your privacy settings regularly and think about who can see your posts, photographs and personal information.

Just remember that privacy settings can change, and anything shared publicly could potentially be seen by people outside your immediate circle.

Think before you post

Finally, it’s always wise to keep your thoughts about your job off social media. Even if you’ve had the day from hell, resist the temptation to rant about it online.

Posting negative comments about your current or past employer is a huge no-no. It can make you seem as though you aren’t committed to your job, leading a potential employer to wonder whether you’ll bring the same attitude into their company.

The same goes for colleagues, managers and customers. Sharing private workplace information, making personal attacks or publishing confidential details can all create an impression you’d rather avoid.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and social media is a great place to share thoughts and ideas. But there’s a difference between expressing an opinion and posting something that could damage your professional reputation.

If you’re feeling frustrated, it’s probably best to put your phone down and step away from social media for a while. What seems like a perfectly reasonable rant at the time might not look quite so clever the following morning!

Make social media work for you

Social media isn’t all bad news when it comes to finding work. Used sensibly, it can be a fantastic tool for discovering job opportunities, researching companies, making professional connections and keeping up to date with developments in your chosen industry.

Follow companies you’re interested in, engage with relevant industry discussions and use professional platforms to showcase your knowledge and experience.

You never know who might come across your profile or what opportunities might arise from a positive online interaction.

Ultimately, it’s all about being aware of the digital footprint you leave behind. Before posting anything, ask yourself whether you’d be happy for a potential employer, colleague or manager to see it.

If the answer is no, it might be worth thinking twice!

So, before you start applying for your next job, take a few minutes to give your social media profiles a once-over. A little preparation could make all the difference when it comes to making the right first impression.

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