When it comes time to search for a new job, you have to keep in mind that any prospective employer will be looking at your public profile, and that includes through social media. These days, it’s pretty much a guarantee, actually. They’ll be looking at things like your listed professional background, your personal social and political commentary, your photos, even your tone of voice and “friend” associations.
All of this means that you need to maintain awareness and employer-proof your profiles, now, before you send out the first application. So, to help ensure your social media pages don’t raise any red flags, here’s what you should do:
Make your Instagram profile private if you do not wish an employer to see.
Make your timelines “employer-friendly” by making posts private.
Make sure “timeline review” is enabled on Facebook.
Make sure all of your photos are set to “Friends Only” or “Only Me.”
Delete any and all controversial posts from your pages, even those that are dated.
Delete and untag yourself from any photos that could be seen as unprofessional, and ask others to untag you from those that may be questionable.
Make only relevant, thoughtful content available for public viewing on your profiles. Things like industry news and other interesting, related articles are most appropriate for any potential employer to see.
Update your work history on all social sites, especially LinkedIn and Facebook.
If you want to find and keep your job, always remember that what you share on social media has the power to make or break your position. So, keep your reputation safe by taking appropriate measures, now, and reevaluate how you use your social platforms.