BRANSON MIKELL
Staff Writer
Before embarking on a job search, one should take the time to look at his or her social media accounts such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Employers will more than likely search a potential employ- ee’s name on the most popular social media sites.
In today’s job market, whatever gets posted on the Internet will leave a digital footprint that stays there forever. This is why it’s important to use social media wisely.
Before posting anything, it’s important to consider this simple question, “if my grandma saw this, would she approve?” In other words, always think before posting something. Decide if the post is appropriate for a professional to view, because, if not, it probably shouldn’t be posted online.
Unfortunately, most people do the opposite by posting first and then thinking about whether or not it was a good idea, but by that time, it’s too late. Social media posts can be liked and shared by others, so even if the person who posted something inappropriate deleted the content, it doesn’t mean that it’s gone forever.
Employers want to see a person who is not only a professional in the workplace but is also a decent person in his or her personal life. Social media is a great way for employers to determine what kind of character and values a person has.
If someone is unsure about what an employer could find when searching on social media, he or she should search his or her name on the Internet to see what kind of results come up. This is a great way to be sure that anything with his or her name attached to it is clean and safe for any employer to see.
Social media checks are so common in today’s job market that many times a potential employee won’t even get called into an interview if the interviewer doesn’t like what they find on that person’s Google search or social media accounts.
In order to get the most out of social media, treat it like a personal brand. Social media can be used fto create a positive image. It can show employers what kind of person a potential employee is. Utilize accounts such as Facebook or Twitter to show off skills.
For example, a student posting the articles that they wrote for their school newspaper on their Twitter feed or posting pictures of volunteer work they partook in are great ideas for online posts. When used correctly, social media can be a great way to showcase any unique skills.
For some general advice, don’t post pic- tures or videos of excessive drinking, nudity, obscene language or any illegal activity. In most situations, those types of posts will automatically turn an employer away from a student as a potential employee.
Also, keep in mind that Google searching one’s name will show what his or her name brings up online. If something negative comes up, it would be best to find the source of it and attempt to take it down.
Ultimately, remember to treat the use of social media as a personal brand. It has become a vital part of the job searching experience, and with the ever-growing use of the Internet, it is essential to know how to properly use it.
