Ways to clean up social media:
- Google yourself at least once a month and delete as many inappropriate photos or negative status updates.
- Change your privacy settings where necessary.
- Share interesting content that is relevant to the desired industry.
- Keep informed with the latest industry news.
- Follow individuals and companies related to the preferred field.
- Untag yourself from inappropriate Facebook statuses or pictures.
- Post a professional portfolio and contribute to articles on websites.
- Rate your online presence at brandyourself.com.
The Ball State Career Center offers Intern-Ready, a program developed by employers. Students can successfully compete for internships by learning key skills like self-awareness, professionalism and interviewing. The Ball State Career Center is located in Lucina Hall.
As the Nov 1. deadline to apply for many internship positions quickly approaches, the Ball State Career Center is offering students a variety of tips and resources to land a job.
One series of tips, recently explained in a social media workshop hosted by Eilis Wasserman, assistant director career coach, teaches students the understanding of what employers can do before even scheduling an interview with a potential employee.
One of the most important things students need to realize is that their online presence on social media plays a large role in the application and hiring process, Wasserman said.
“The number one job search strategy is networking,” she said. “That is one of the reasons you really want to think about your online presence.”
Sixty percent of employers today use social networking sites to research job candidates, up from 52 percent last year, according to CareerBuilder, an online career-finding website.
Additionally, 69 percent of employers have rejected candidates based on a negative social media presence.
Wasserman said some students are more aware than others as employers search social media.
“In my experience, many students are not aware to the extent employers may be looking at their accounts and how minimal infractions could lead to significant consequences in the job search,” she said. “Employers are looking you up before you walk through that door for an interview.”
Courtney Martin, junior family and consumer sciences education major, said she recently started cracking down on her social media presence.
“I went through the past several months and deleted anything I thought might be inappropriate,” Martin said. “I just submitted my student teacher application. I don’t want anything on my social media to possibly reduce my chances of student teaching anywhere.”
Wasserman said employers look for various things on social media, but all look for professional presence, passion and skills in relation to the desired industry or field.
“One’s social media activity can reveal a lot about their character and integrity as an employee,” Wasserman said.
Emily Skelton, junior psychology major, said she would show her Instagram page to employers, but Facebook could be used against her.
“My political expression on Facebook is very dominant, so I hope they wouldn’t use that information as a tool,” Skelton said. “When you are being reviewed by one person, it’s hard to take away bias.”
Even though social media can create a negative impact on job candidates, platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are known for creating connections and landing jobs.
Sixty-eight percent of employers have hired candidates based on their positive social media presence. Thirty-eight percent of employers have hired for positive impression of personality.
Annaleise Loxton, a freshman directing and telecommunications major, said she was raised in an age where she was self-conscious enough to know what is and is not appropriate.
“Social media doesn’t necessarily define a person, but you can find out a lot about someone from it,” Loxton said. “I know plenty of people that will post crazy pictures that I can totally tell one day an employer will go through and won’t hire them.”
Austin Sventeckis, exercise science major, said he understands why employers use social media as research tool and reflected on his personal accounts.
“They are looking for red flags,” said Sventeckis. “I keep it clean. It’s simple to keep it clean.”
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