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Social Media 101: how to clean up your social media for job interviews

25 Jul 2024

Social media has changed the world. At the tap of a screen, we can connect with our loved ones, share updates of our lives and engage trends, news and culture in an instant. 

According to Kepios, as of October 2022 there were 4.74 billion social media users  across the globe - that’s 59% of the world’s population 🤯 !

It’s no secret that social media is now ubiquitous, and in todays’ digital era, whatever is published on the internet can be found in a few simple clicks. 

A recent survey shows an average of 70% of employers check candidates' social media profiles, so it’s important to ensure your online activity truly reflects your personal values, and doesn’t take you out of the running for the job! 

Don’t: Abandon your values (or create a bad first impression!)

Social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn offer a window into who you are as a person. You want to make sure that you're posting things that show you the way you want to be seen.

This isn’t to say you shouldn’t post about what you believe in. If there are social issues, political standpoint, personal issues, economic beliefs you hold dear, you should feel confident in posting them. However you should think about the platforms you’re posting on and determine if that’s the right place.  

If you tend to post on social media during the heat of the moment, or get into online debates, it’s worth taking a beat, as you may say something you regret later on down the line.

Do: Consider whether your posts reflect how you want to be seen

Being mindful of what you post doesn’t mean you’re not showing your true personality. If you look back on social media and find any posts or comments where you’ve complained about a previous or current job, it may be worth removing them. This doesn’t mean you’re not staying true to who you are, and you may still stand by your opinions, but this is highly likely to deter hiring managers away. 

The same goes when it comes to commenting on social profiles. A quick Google search of your TikTok handle can pull up all of the comments you’ve left on the video app. And in an age where it is easy to jump on a trend or say things without thinking about the consequences because it's over the phone, you may comment something you don’t even mean. 

When commenting on social media posts, take a moment and think ‘Would I say this in person?’ If the answer is ‘no’ then maybe it’s easier to close the app 🧘.

Do: Use social media to your advantage 

Social media is a great way to show off your hobbies, interests and who you are as a person. When hiring managers understand who you are, they’ll know whether you’re a good fit personality wise for the business (don’t forget, this works both ways!). This will help persuade hiring managers that you’re a great fit for the role.

Posting on LinkedIn is also a great way to show off your passion and skills for the industry. You can use your CV to create the basis of your profile, while looking for a job and learning what’s new in various sectors. Using a LinkedIn profile is a great way to network with people in the industry, giving you more opportunities to gain a job.

Remember, you can use your social channels to showcase how you want prospective employers to see you. If you’ve got a couple of questionable photos that your friends have lovingly tagged you in (or even a few embarrassing baby photos that your parents have uploaded), you could decide to untag yourself! 

Don’t: Forget to make your social media accounts private

Making your profiles private means anyone who isn’t a personal connection can only see your profile picture and biography. This prevents non-connections from being able to view everything you post as well as what you’re tagged in and prospective employers aren’t able to make hiring decisions based on social media posts. However, as you grow your connections you may add your work colleagues as friends and they will have sight of your channels, so private or not, it’s always best to be mindful when posting.