Keep it secret, keep it safe - Be careful what you share online.

Don’t let this be the face your future boss makes when they find your Facebook profile!

When you Google your name, what do you find? 

What is the most unsavory blog, post, or photo you’ve put out there? 

Do you say things on your “private” Facebook, Glassdoor, or Reddit accounts that are inconsistent with your LinkedIn presence? 

Employers do see what you post. According to Zippia, 92% of employers check the social media of candidates. Perhaps shockingly, 54% of employers eliminate candidates through social media checks alone (Flynn, 2023). 

For Glassdoor user Monica, whose full name was put on her Fishbowl (owned by Glassdoor) posts, she had to go through a lengthy process trying to remove her name from her posts. Her anonymity was lost on a platform that champions freedom of expression and information sharing among current and former employees at various companies. (Belanger, 2024). 

Don’t let your loud mouth online get you disqualified from a job! Consider social media cleaning in your spring cleaning - here are five ways to get started. 

1. Dawn shares a tip in her Udemy program, A Job Seeker’s Crash Course - use your “history” or memories page to see what you were doing one, two, or more years ago. Delete posts that no longer represent you well.  

2. However, do create and keep your social media accounts, like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Did you know one in five employers won’t interview a candidate who has no presence online? (Cotriss, 2023). In a digital era, an online presence is expected and can show the employer your written communication, commitment to your field, and online etiquette. 

3. Remove any rants about your past jobs. A study by the Harris Poll, which surveyed over 1,000 decision-makers in US companies, found 88% said posting inappropriate, racist, illegal, or proprietary information on social media is grounds for termination (Stoller, 2023). Employers don’t want to hire a candidate who was a trouble maker or gossip at their past jobs.  

4. Did you know you can set up a Google search notification for yourself? As soon as something is posted that shows up in search results of your name, you’ll get notified.You can take any action needed if something unsavory is associated with your name. 

5. Before you post, ask yourself: Might I regret this later? Should this go in my journal rather than the web? Even if this is a “private” profile, what would happen if this became public? (Because, it could.) 

It’s hard to completely remove your digital footprints. Be careful where you walk! 

Not sure if your online presence is on point? Check out our social media and online portfolio review service for job seekers.  

References

Belanger, A. (2024, Mar 19). Users ditch Glassdoor, stunned by site adding real names
without consent. Ars Orbital Transmission. arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/03/
glassdoor-adding-users-real-names-job-info-to-profiles-without-consent/?utm_
campaign=mb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew

Cotriss, D. (2023, Nov 20). Keep it clean: Social media screenings gain in popularity.
Business News Daily. www.businessnewsdaily.com/2377-social-media-
hiring.html 

Flynn, J. (2023, July 9). 15+ essential social media recruitment statistics [2023]: How
effective is social media recruiting? Zippia. zippia.com/advice/social-media-
recruitment-statistics/#:~:text=92%25%20of%20employers%20check%20social,
their%20social%20media%20feed%20alone. 

Stoller B. (2023,  Jan 11). 88% of hiring managers would consider firing workers for
content in personal social media posts. Express Employment Professionals.
www.expresspros.com/Newsroom/America-Employed/88-Percent-of-Hiring-
Managers-Would-Consider-Firing-Workers-for-Content-in-Personal-Social-Media-
Posts.aspx.