\u200b\u201cSmile!\u201d your friend says, as she snaps a picture of you, beer in hand. Before you know it, it\u2019s posted on Facebook, you\u2019re tagged in it, and it\u2019s received dozens of likes and comments. You instantly make it your profile picture. The next morning, as you get ready for your job interview, you suddenly remember that picture. Your choice to post it, which seemed so harmless the night before, now causes a surge of panic as you realize it could cost you a job. <\/p>\n
Aside from the fact that going for drinks the night before a big job interview is not<\/i> a great idea, there\u2019s a lot to be learned from this anonymous job seeker\u2019s \u201cAha! moment\u201d (thanks, Oprah<\/a>). Whether it\u2019s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Quora, YouTube, Medium, Twitter, or any number of other professional and social media platforms, if you\u2019re serious about getting a job (or even keeping the one you have), it\u2019s a smart idea to conduct a \u201csocial media checklist\u201d of sorts. After all, an estimated 70 percent of employers are researching candidates\u2019 social media accounts<\/a>, and 57 percent are finding content that keeps them from hiring candidates. Sobering, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t to say that social media doesn\u2019t have its benefits. Networking, keeping on top of industry events, and getting your unique voice and expertise out into the world can be key to finding your next job and building your professional brand\u2014and using social media to catch up with family and friends can keep you sane in the process.<\/p>\n When it comes to your professional reputation and job prospects, however, it\u2019s important to take a hard look at where your social media activities are benefiting you, and where they may be causing you harm.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget where you have a social footprint online, especially when you may have abandoned some of the accounts long ago (oh hey, MySpace). Unfortunately, the Internet never forgets, so Google algorithms may still be leading potential employer searches of you to your old soul-baring Tumblr, or your Instagram account filled with cringe-worthy college moments.<\/p>\n Here are a few tips to get you started:<\/p>\n Make a list of all the places you\u2019re sure you have an account, then add the places you think you<\/p>\n might <\/i>have one (Wikipedia can come in handy for this<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Google your own name, as well as potential usernames you\u2019ve used in the past, and see what kind of results pop up.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Search the word \u201caccount\u201d and \u201cusername\u201d in your email inbox to see if any old gems appear. You may be surprised by what you find\u2014and you may decide you have a few lingering accounts to delete.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n After taking a full account of where you exist online, it\u2019s time to clean house.<\/p>\n Log in to accounts you have decided to deactivate or delete, and remove personal data wherever possible.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Completely close accounts where you have the ability to do so.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Disconnect accounts so that you\u2019re not using single sign-on methods<\/a>. We now know, for example, that third-party tracking scripts have the ability to get information<\/a> from Facebook\u2019s API without users ever knowing.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The popular saying isn\u2019t<\/i>\u201cquantity over quality\u201d\u2014and for good reason.By only maintaining an online presence where you get the most value, you\u2019re setting yourself up for success by cutting out a lot of distraction and unnecessary content in your life (and, ahem, making more time to send all those job applications! Love, Mom<\/i>). And by employing the \u201cless is more\u201d concept, you\u2019re able to spend the necessary time and attention on making yourself shine on the platforms you choose to use.<\/p>\n Heavy use of social media has also been linked to anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Jelena Kecmanovic, adjunct professor of psychology at Georgetown University, writes about ways that people can protect themselves from the dangers of social media<\/a>. Her tips include approaching it mindfully, limiting usage, and employing \u201cdetox\u201d periods. Seems like common-sense advice, right? <\/p>\n Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism<\/i>,says the key to technology<\/a> is to \u201cuse it to support your goals and values, rather than letting it use you.\u201d Social media platforms are designed to be as addictive to users as possible, he argues, and this can be quite detrimental to our lives and our mental health. Instead of giving all of our attention\u2014and data\u2014to social media platforms, we can make the choice to be more selective in our social media use.<\/p>\n In short, streamlining your use of social media appears to be good for both your professional life and your mental health. Watch Newport\u2019s TED Talk about social media here.<\/a><\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve determined where you don\u2019t <\/i>want to be, take some time to optimize the social accounts you are <\/i>on. Think of it as a \u201cperformance upgrade\u201d or tune-up for your online life. Start by taking a professional picture<\/a>, or choose one you already have that represents you well.<\/p>\n Look at your accounts through a potential employer\u2019s eyes and ask:<\/p>\n What would they see?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n How are you presenting yourself?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Would you <\/i>hire you? <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If the answer to any of these questions makes you want to hide in a dark, Internet-less corner, it\u2019s time to put on your \u201chiring manager hat\u201d and edit your profiles through the perspective of someone who holds your hiring fate in their hands. Clean up old content you don\u2019t want hanging around, and write a new bio you can modify for your various accounts. The key is to strike the right balance of professionalism and personality.<\/p>\n For the accounts you\u2019re actively using, start seeking out professional groups in your field to which you can contribute. You can find industry-specific groups and curated lists on many sites, including ones you\u2019re likely already on, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Think outside the proverbial box, and make the tools you\u2019re using work to your benefit. If you\u2019re a creative professional, for example, you can use Instagram hashtags to show off your work or ideas and turn your profile into a mini-portfolio.<\/a> Follow relevant industry hashtags on Twitter, and start participating in live industry chats. Not only will you learn and network, but you\u2019ll also fill your Twitter feed with your interesting thoughts and feedback.<\/p>\n1. Make an exhaustive inventory of your social media accounts.<\/h2>\n
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2. Do a complete sweep.<\/h2>\n
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3. Choose your social media presence wisely. <\/h2>\n
4. Hit the reset button.<\/h2>\n
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