Can Old Posts on Social Media Hurt Your Job Hunt?

Your personal social media profile and job search are two separate aspects of your life, right? Wrong. As Houston headhunters, Murray Resources knows that in today’s world of recruiting, social media plays a big part in hiring. In fact, according to a Jobvite survey, 92% of recruiters use social media to find high-quality candidates.

What’s more is that even when you have accounts set to private, nothing really is ever so on the Internet. A friend could share your comments or an image, and it could easily wind up in the hands of a hiring manager.

So if you have some concern about past social media posts, what should you do? Here are some tips to put to use:

Google yourself.

This is the first step many recruiters will take, so it’s important for you to see what they will find. Once you know what comes up, you’ll better be able to assess where you need to focus your efforts.

Take down inappropriate content.

If you have some incriminating photos online or mean-spirited or offensive comments on your profiles, take them down. Make sure that whatever you leave on your profile is saying something positive about you.

Ask friends to un-tag you.

If there’s content that reflects poorly on you, but a friend posted it and tagged you in it, ask them to take it down or to un-tag you. In most cases, they’ll comply, so it’s worth the effort.

Be mindful about what you post.

In the future, be careful about what you post. It’s tempting to go on a rant about someone you don’t like, but this simply makes you look immature. So post wisely. Also, don’t ever post any content that could be construed as offensive or profane.

As leading Houston headhunters, we know the last thing you want is to be rejected for your dream job based on something silly you posted three years ago. But it happens every day since so many recruiters and hiring managers vet candidates online and in their social media profiles. Follow the tips above to help ensure it doesn’t happen to you.

Need more help with your job hunt?

Let the Houston headhunters at Murray Resources assist you. We can become your go-to partner in your job search success, whether you need help with your resume and interviews or connecting with great-fit opportunities in a broad range of industries. Contact us today to learn more or get started.