Tips for Grads: Cleaning up your digital footprint
Career Development
It’s important to put your best foot forward — along with your best digital footprint — when navigating the job market. Whether or not you’re actively looking for a job, examine your digital footprint at least once a year and, if need be, clean it up. Here are some steps to get you started:
Google yourself: Between 45 and 60 percent of employers look at job candidates’ social media profiles, and they often start with Google. Search for variations of your name, as well as your email addresses. Flag any results that might make an employer doubt your judgment or your ability to thrive in the workplace.
Check your privacy settings on social media and beyond: It’s difficult for employers to see your Facebook and Instagram photos and conversations if you limit access to just a small group of people. But selecting Facebook’s “friends only” setting or switching your Instagram profile to private isn’t always a guarantee of privacy. If you’re ever unsure if something would deter a potential employer, delete it.
Remove or bury digital dirt: Remove anything that might jeopardize your professional reputation, which might even include asking a website’s owner to do so if necessary. If you’re unable to remove a potentially negative piece of content about yourself, you may be able to nudge it toward the bottom of your search results list by creating positive content about yourself.
The best policy is thinking carefully before posting. There’s no reason to suppress your personality, but always ask yourself if another person might take your message the wrong way. After all, a misunderstanding shouldn’t stand in the way of a great job.
