Everything you share on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram or Tumblr and everyone you associate yourself with through each of these channels forms your digital footprint.
A survey of graduate recruiters in Australia found that 43.8% of employers used social media activity to assess the personality, character and cultural fit of applicants and also to provide insight into the applicant’s networking skills.
You really should be mindful of your digital footprint everyday, but when you’re embarking on a job hunt (or are meeting employers at an event) it can help to do a little spring clean!
Where to start:
- Google yourself
The search results may be hard to change, but at least you know what you’re dealing with. - Connect
Your associations will say a lot about you, remove old connections you’re not comfortable with and connect with organisations and employers you want in your future! - Increase your privacy settings
Play it safe, make sure you can control what people see. - Perfect your profile pic
It doesn’t need to be a professional headshot, just make sure you’re comfortable with how you could be perceived based on the pic. - Update your email
If you’re contacting an employer via email, the first thing they’ll see is the email address. Try to avoid: [email protected] - Conduct a quick language audit
Anything you post will reflect your written communication skills, values and interpersonal skills – consider what your posts are saying about you.
