Tips to Make Sure Social Media is Better for Job Search

Tips to Make Sure Social Media is Better for Job Search Even before you walk in for an interview, you can assume that the recruiter has seen your face. There are pictures of you online â€"  and we’re not just talking about the professional one on your LinkedIn profile. The beauty of social media is that it allows us to connect with family members and friends. We can share countless funny stories and silly pictures, which our loved ones are sure to give a virtual thumbs-up. But what will employers think of them? Without an explanation, does some of your social media activity seem a little…unprofessional? If you think the answer to the last question is “yes,” then listen closely â€"  these are our best tips for sprucing up your social media presence before a big interview. They might even help you get that interview in the first place! In General A few tips apply across all social media: Rewrite your bio: When’s the last time you’ve updated your bio on your Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? A lot could have changed since the last time you wrote your elevator pitch, so start by having a look at what’s there now. If it’s no longer representative of your skills, goals and accomplishments, take time to rewrite that summary. Swap out your profile picture: Brush the dust off of an old headshot too. Before your interview, upload a new, professional pic that shows what you look like now. Not only will a classy photo increase the chances that you’ll get a face-to-face, but it’ll help the interviewer recognize who you are when you arrive for your appointment. Pick a better banner: Finally, evaluate the banner image on your social media site(s) to round out your very general refresh. You can add a rectangular, decorative picture on LinkedIn that shows off something you’ve accomplished or speaks to your expertise in your field. As for Facebook and Twitter, make sure the image you have doesn’t say too much about you outside of work â€"  keep in mind that potential employers will undoubtedly look at your profile and evaluate these images as well. On Facebook Facebook is a huge one, and you need to keep the following in mind: Recheck your privacy settings: If you haven’t heard, Facebook had to publicly apologize for a data breach â€"  your profile may have been affected. So it’d be good practice to evaluate your page’s privacy settings to see just what you’re sharing with apps as well as with strangers who happen upon your profile. The more personal information you keep private, the better. That way, you can let your in-person impression be the first one you make on employers who might check out your Facebook page before they meet you. Delete unnecessary apps, pages and pictures: Let’s face it â€"  we all used Facebook differently in college. We used silly apps like Farmville to pass the time, and we “liked” funny pages and groups. Even if these types of things no longer entertain us or manage to catch our attention, they’ll undoubtedly give pause to a recruiter, who might see them as potential holes in your professionalism. The same goes for over-the-top pictures of you or images that show you engaging in unsavory extracurriculars. Always err on the side of caution by either deleting unprofessional pics or hiding them so that they’re visible only to you. On Twitter When it comes to your