14 Sep Boost Your Social Media Profile: How Your Digital Footprint Impacts Your Job Search
Your digital footprint can have a big impact on your job search. In today’s digital age, your online presence is just as important as your resume and cover letter. That’s because an overwhelming majority of employers use social media to find candidates.
It is also true, unfortunately, that some companies exceed the bounds of responsible searching. As a candidate, it’s not your responsibility to police the behavior of these unscrupulous employers, but proactive management of your online presence IS important. Knowing how to be found and what appropriate information to share are keys to job advancement. But what exactly is a digital footprint, and what can you do to make sure it’s working in your favor on your social media profile?
What Is a Digital Footprint?
Your digital footprint is the trail of data you leave online. Every time you do something on the World Wide Web, you’re creating a new piece of data that might be collected and stored. This data can be used to track your online activity, build a profile of your interests, and even make predictions about your behavior. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of your digital footprint and take steps to polish it and, of course, protect it.
Tips to Polish Your Digital Footprint for Job Searches
- Clean up your social media profiles. Take a close look at all of your profiles and remove anything that is dated, inappropriate or unprofessional. This includes photos, posts, comments, and even likes.
- Use a professional email address. Many of us have the same email address we had as teenagers when clever and cute were our standards. Your adult email address should reflect your adult persona and not cater to your old interests and hobbies.
- Be mindful of the tone of your online commentary. Practice the same rules of conduct as you would for an interview: Avoid making negative comments about your current or former employers, colleagues, or customers.
- Create a strong LinkedIn profile and think creatively about other platforms you might use to promote yourself. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with potential employers and showcase your skills and experience. Make sure your profile is up-to-date and includes a professional headshot. Also, LinkedIn isn’t the only career networking platform you should cultivate, however. Depending on your profession, you should build and polish a strong digital presence on multiple social sites. (For example: Instagram is a great platform for marketing and creative fields.)
Focus on building a strong digital presence on the social platforms that best cater to your career goals and interests, and use them to showcase your strengths and skills as well as for networking opportunities. However, if you do consider using a digital footprint checker, make sure you do adequate research and find one that is reputable.
For more help with landing the job you want, connect with TalentFront. We are a resourceful and responsive recruiting firm with clients in nonprofit, technology, government contracting, and start-ups. We work with professionals at all stages of their careers. So, reach out and see what we can do for you today!
