5 Ways Your Digital Footprint Can Affect Your Chances of Getting a Job after College

Many people's social media accounts are a form of expression, giving their friends and family a chance to celebrate their wins and mourn their losses. It’s a branding tool for others, creating content and sharing ideas with their followers. 

And then some tend to blur the boundaries and post whatever thoughts come into their minds or the weekend’s frat party that was “off the chains.” College students and high school seniors usually fall into this category. 

An embarrassing incident may have happened several years ago. You’ve forgotten about that expletive-laden post. In your defense, you were inebriated. A Facebook notification pops up, sharing the memory with you and 500 of your “friends.”

It’s just another stark reminder that the internet never forgets. All the crazy things you did when you were young will forever be preserved on the World Wide Web.

Never mind it was your freshman year in college. Once a potential employer sees video evidence of you acting a fool, your job search process becomes limited.

First Impressions Last, Even Online

College graduates often want to know how to increase the odds of getting a job after college. Creating an excellent resume and starting an internship is advisable but most college graduates neglect scrubbing their digital footprint before entering the job market. Using tools like the Rezi resume builder can help craft a polished, ATS-friendly resume that highlights your strengths, but employers may still look beyond your application. A quick online search of your name might reveal old social media posts or outdated profiles that don’t reflect your professionalism. Taking the time to clean up your digital presence ensures that your resume—and not a questionable tweet from years ago—leaves the strongest impression.

Social media screening has become an industry-wide practice. Nearly 55% of employers surveyed in a Harris Poll say they’ve found content that caused them not to hire a candidate.

Any social media activity, from liking to sharing to commenting that puts you in a questionable light could dampen your chances of making the interview stage for your dream job.

Before applying for any job, hiring experts suggest auditing your social media accounts like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. These are the three main platforms that recruiters check, Matt Erhard, managing partner of Summit Search Group, told Business News Daily.

 If you’re active on Instagram, be mindful of who you follow and how you interact with their content.

Remove any sensitive and discriminatory information from your public accounts. To protect your privacy and maintain boundaries, turn your personal social media handles to private. Whichever account you post on, always remember to use your discretion.

Potential Red Flags for Recruiters

Paul Paek, an attorney who specializes in employment law warns against posting content strongly aligned with a particular political view. 

Most employers encourage a cohesive working environment and if they feel you could upset the equilibrium, it could scupper your chances. The same applies to sexual or discriminatory content. 

Keep in mind that your online presence gives some inkling into your personal life which to some employers could be a reflection of your work ethic.

And never complain about a previous employer, even if you waited tables at Taco Bell for a day. These types of messages and posts are very easily flagged, even before job interviews.

Treat Your Social Media Like Your Online Brand

Companies are now being proactive and headhunting candidates on social media platforms, explained Matti Laukkarinen, a doctoral researcher at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

That’s why it’s important to be strategic in managing your online presence, she revealed to Harvard Business Review. Her advice to job seekers is to think like a social media manager. Your LinkedIn profile should be:

• Engaging
• Professional
• Resonate with potential employers

Be careful to strike a balance between experience and skills. Use the platform’s capabilities to expand your reach and grow your connections in your job search.

Do Not Delete Your Profile

It may sound tempting; just delete everything and start from scratch. Erasing your online persona may keep your future boss from seeing that drunken post, but it could also backfire.

That same Harris Poll we mentioned earlier found that one out of five hiring managers said they wouldn’t call a candidate for an interview if they couldn’t find them online. Also, the lack of online information on recent college graduates shows they’re likely hiding something.

And here’s the catch. You think you’ve deleted your profile but a simple Google search can still produce some results.

If you’re determined to erase your online presence, ZDNet suggested you request Google to remove limited information from search results if you’re based in the U.S. The Google Accounts page has settings that can remove you from the digital ecosystem, but only to a certain degree.

Going forward, be mindful of everything you post, like or share on social media. It could be the deciding factor in whether you get your first job or not.  Take career advice from others, be it from a career coach, job search expert or college alumni.