By now, you have probably heard that social media is important for the job search and can sometimes serve as a potential employer’s first impression of you. If you are on the job hunt, it is important to have clean social media profiles so that you aren’t disqualified before the employer ever meets you. Below are 3 easy fixes for cleaning up your social media profiles and creating consistent branding. Remember that good online branding requires maintenance, so check up on these items regularly for best results.
Fix #1: Check your Privacy Settings
On Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media profiles you may have, double check your privacy settings. This fix will eliminate a lot of potential issues. If you want some of your posts to stay public, make sure that the posts which are visible to anyone are appropriate. On Facebook, use the “View As” feature to see what your profile looks like to the public, and adjust accordingly.
Fix #2: Create a Consistent Bio and Photo for Every Profile
The next information that is public on your social media networks is your bio and profile photo. Make sure that both are appropriate and professional. Remember that how you portray yourself online shapes the employer’s perspective of you. If you are consistently tweeting about your industry and have a relevant bio, then the employer will be clued in right away that you stay on top of your field. Your bio and photo should reflect the image you want to portray.
Fix #3: Google Your Name
Google your name as it appears on your resume. Are you on the first page at all? Is it professional information? Make sure nothing you don’t want seen shows up in the first few pages of Google, as well as in the image search. If something unsavory is in the results, there are a few ways to change it. First, if possible, try to get it taken down. Next, be sure you are active on profiles that are more professional, like LinkedIn, Twitter, or even a blog, to drive those pages higher in your search results. If there is something really problematic or difficult to remove, consider hiring a professional reputation manager.
These are just a few simple tasks you can do to clean up your online image. Personal branding and social media strategy is a large topic, but these actions will help you get started in the right direction.
If you\’re looking to get a strong foothold in your online professional presence, consider using the Online Social Media Plan available from Masterwork Resumes – we\’ll thoroughly research your online presence and make recommendations on how to improve it!