What Do You Really Need to Scrub from Social Media in a Job Search?
If you’ve gone through the job search process at all in the last decade, someone has probably advised you to go through your social media accounts and get rid of anything that might be “incriminating.” Of course, everyone has their own definition and idea of what that might mean, so how do you know what really needs to be scrubbed and what’s okay to leave up?
I thought it would be helpful — and maybe even kind of fun — to put together a post that outlines which items you should remove from social media before you start your job search in order from most extreme to most mild. I hope this helps!
Fire Danger Extreme: The Worst of the Worst
First, let’s talk about the worst of the worst; the stuff that needs to go immediately. I would go so far as to say that this should be scrubbed even if you *aren’t* about to embark on a job search, and even *if* the posts are old. These are things that just shouldn’t be shared. Period.
These days, it’s not unheard of for someone to be let go because of controversial content that’s posted publicly online. Companies simply don’t want to be associated with anything that could hurt the brand, so spend some time going through older posts if you think there might be anything from this list on your profile:
Hate speech - any discrimination against someone’s race, gender, or religion, even if you intended your post as a joke, should be removed immediately.
Links to criminal behavior - any posts where you incriminate yourself in criminal behavior should obviously be removed. If you have a criminal record, it is much better to address it in an interview when you have a chance to explain the circumstances.
Sharing confidential information about an employer or job - this is a huge red flag to any potential employer and it shows that you aren’t a trustworthy person.
Fire Danger High: Tread Lightly
Next, we have the stuff that’s not so bad that it will get you fired, but it might give off enough red flags to a recruiter or hiring manager that they would choose another candidate over you in a job search. If you’re going after a dream opportunity, it wouldn’t hurt to scrub your profile of anything on this list, just to give yourself the best chance at getting that offer you want:
Negative content about a past or current job - this one is obvious, but recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to see you bashing or complaining about work.
Political opinions that could be considered divisive - we live in a politically divided time, so it’s best to keep political opinions off social media, especially if they’re “hot button” issues that might trigger an emotional response. Recruiters are humans, after all.
Drinking or drug use - we all have the right to let loose on our own time, but you don’t want to be posting a bunch of photos of you doing shots or using drugs, even if it is legal where you live. It just comes across as unprofessional.
Fire Danger Moderate: Better Safe Than Sorry
Finally, we have the “moderate” level stuff — the stuff that’s not really that bad, but still might sway the opinion of a more buttoned-up recruiter or hiring manager. If you’re thinking about going for a corporate role, especially a mid- to high-level corporate role, I would advise you to remove the following from your public-facing social media profiles:
Examples of poor communication or interpersonal skills - if you’re constantly getting into arguments with people online, calling people names, or showing a general lack of interpersonal skills, it can be a red flag to employers.
Excessive posts, especially during work hours - how often you post online is, of course, a personal preference. However, if you’re constantly sharing every little thought or update, it can be a red flag, especially if you’re doing it during work hours.
Unprofessional screen names - we’ve all had a questionable screen name or two in the past (especially if you were around in the AOL days) but you’re much better off just using your name. It’s more professional and shows you care about your personal brand.
As you read this, think about your own social media presence. If you were to find yourself looking for a new role, would your social media pages need to be scrubbed? If so, how much?
Of course, you want to be able to have a place to express yourself without worrying about whether or not it’s going to impact your career. But these days, anything you post online can come back to haunt you… even decades later. It is always important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of posting something that could be considered questionable, especially if you don’t have your profiles set to private. You just never know!
Do you want to learn more about building a professional brand that will actually work to build your reputation online for you? You can grab my freebie here!