5 Steps to Clean Up Your Social Media Act

Just think, you are sitting in your interview for your dream job acing all the questions, and then they ask for the link to your Facebook. Your heart drops, and you think of those recent photos from that last fraternity party posted on your page. You start to see that job slowly fade away. Don’t let that be you. With 86% of potential employers looking at your social media profiles (even when you don’t provide them the link), it’s more important than ever to have a clean page that reflects the best version of you and your life. So here are 5 easy steps to clean up your social media profiles and snag that dream job.

1. Don’t post any intense political, religious, or controversial statuses, photos, etc. It’s just not a good idea.
2. Make sure you are using correct spelling and grammar in your postings. I know this sounds a bit strange, but statistics show that 54% of employers have extreme negative reactions to poor spelling and grammar on social media sites. This trumps the 46% that frown upon pictures of drinking and partying! So it’s really important and really easy to get right.
3. Don’t join or like any pages that may be insulting, offensive, or just plain vulgar. The New York Times reported that one employer said they withdrew a job offer from an applicant who had liked a page on Facebook called “This is America. I shouldn’t have to Press One for English.” I mean, come on. Just have some common sense, and you don’t want to look like a huge jerk to the Facebook public anyways.
4. Have your page reflect all the great things you do. “Like” or “join” the organizations, charities, and hobbies you like and are involved in. 80% of employers want to see you involved in professional organizations, and 66% like to see you volunteering or donating to charities.
5. The best thing you can really do is create two Facebook profiles-one for business and one for friends. By doing this, you don’t run the risk of anything getting seen by an employer before you can untag or hide it. Even then, almost everything posted on the Internet stays there and can be found again (creepy, right?).