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Your Digital Footprint: How Social Media Affects Job Opportunities

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Posting on social media has become second nature for many. From fun ‘day-in-the-life’ content to potentially controversial opinions, the urge to share personal thoughts and experiences on digital platforms can blur the line between private and public information. Regardless of privacy settings, every post creates a digital footprint. Your online presence isn’t just for fun—social media affects job opportunities and career advancement.

Evaluating resumes and cover letters is just the start. Human Resources and hiring managers alike take a close look at a candidate’s online presence. Social media can serve as an extension of your professional brand, but if it is not managed carefully, it can just as easily become a major red flag. Learn how to elevate yourself online and what could tank your professional reputation.

Monitoring Your Digital Footprint

Your digital footprint is a collection of information about you that exists online. This includes social media posts, photos, comments, and reviews, but also goes much deeper.

To check your online presence, search your name and location on various search engines and review the first five pages of results.

The most common search results include:

  • Active social media profiles
  • Inactive social media profiles
  • Employer profiles and articles
  • Volunteer organizations
  • People and contact searches
  • Criminal dockets
  • Media mentions

While not all of the information shown may be about you, it’s important to know what information is linked to a search query using your basic information. Doing so will help you manage your online presence and get ahead of any issues.

How Social Media is Used in the Hiring Process

Employers are relying on social media more than ever to screen potential candidates. In fact, 70% of employers say that they rigorously review candidates’ digital footprints before making a hiring decision, highlighting just how important a clean and professional online presence has become.

Recruitment

Social media is regularly used as a recruitment tool. On LinkedIn, recruiters use filters and keywords to find talented candidates that align with open roles.

Networking

Facebook and Reddit are great platforms for networking as both platforms offer niche community membership and engagement features. While Reddit users typically join the platform anonymously, it can serve as a starting point to meet new people in professional groups.

Screening

For many hiring managers, social media offers insight beyond what a resume or cover letter can provide. A candidate’s social interactions are often considered to be indicative of their character.

For example, complaints about employers may be deemed unprofessional but thoughtful commenting habits may speak on your ability to manage conflict and communicate new information.

Robyn Oakley, a finance and accounting recruiter at Top Stack explains, “Social media gives us a peek at how someone shows up in the world—how they handle disagreement, celebrate others, or respond to challenges. A polished resume is great, but a thoughtful online presence tells us who you are when no one’s watching.”

With advancements in AI, there are now screening tools built specifically for employers to screen a candidate based on their digital footprint. Even if you did a clean sweep of your profiles, keep in mind that anything posted online can be screenshotted and shared.

The Impact of Your Social Media on Job Opportunities

Having an online presence can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to your career. Used wisely, social media can be a powerful tool to propel your career forward. If used incorrectly, though, it can serve as a major roadblock to advancement.

“I’ve seen candidates get fast-tracked for interviews just because their LinkedIn post about a project caught the hiring manager’s eye,” tells Sandi Brown, Senior Recruiting Manager at Top Stack,
“And I’ve also seen great resumes tossed aside after one quick scroll through a messy Instagram. Your social media tells a story. Make sure it’s the one you want employers to read.”

The Upside of a Strong Online Presence

Having a well-curated, up-to-date, and professional presence on platforms like LinkedIn can greatly enhance your candidacy.  Employers will look at these profiles to get a sense of your work experience, industry engagement and personal brand. Regularly sharing industry content and innovative thought-leadership can work in your favor.

Even if you’re not job searching, maintaining a strong social presence will help with networking and establishing a healthy personal brand.

The Downside of Being Unfiltered Online

A Career Builder study found that the top four reasons for not hiring someone due to their social media presence were:

  • Provocative or inappropriate content (39%)
  • Information about drinking or doing drugs (38%)
  • Discriminatory comments (32%)
  • Bad-mouthing a previous company or fellow employee (30%)

While it’s normal to feel stressed or frustrated, airing grievances on social media can have lasting consequences. Discussing workplace frustrations can damage future opportunities as employers may not think you’ll be a good fit with their company culture.

Brown continues, “We all have tough days at work, but when candidates vent online, it raises red flags. If they’re quick to broadcast drama now, what will they do when things get tough at their new job? Employers are looking for professionalism, especially even under pressure.”

Managing Your Social Media for Career Advancement

Having a strong online presence will help set you apart from the competition. Your online presence should reflect the professional image you want to share. Expectations will vary depending on the industry and role, so it’s important to know your audience.

For example, if you’re applying for a social media marketing role, employers may expect to see an active, engaging, and creative online presence showcasing your content creation skills. For legal or most corporate positions, a more reserved and professional digital footprint is typically preferred.

As a rule of thumb: if you even have to consider whether the post is appropriate and could cost you a job, just don’t post it at all.

Content to Share

Job seekers should optimize their LinkedIn profiles and leverage this platform to promote their expertise and experience:

  • Portfolio, Projects and Milestones: Promotions, certifications, completed projects serve as fantastic content.
  • Soft Skills in Action: Show off your teamwork and communication by giving team shoutouts, mentorship moments, conflict resolution stories.
  • Thought Leadership and Industry News: Commenting on trends, resharing articles with insights shows that you’re engaged, informed, and curious.
  • Volunteering and Community Involvement: Employers love well-rounded candidates. Consider posting photos from non-profit work or fundraising events.

Content to Avoid

Even if your profiles are private, it’s best to avoid certain content online to establish your professionalism.

  • Negative Comments About Past Employments: Even if you have evidence of truth, this type of commentary comes off as unprofessional.
  • Inappropriate or Incriminating Content: Photos or videos indicating excessive alcohol use or references to illegal substances are major red flags for employers.
  • Unprofessional Behavior: Having a social media feed full of profanity or partying may raise concerns. Even humor can be subjective.
  • Oversharing: Ranting about personal and professional issues may signal immaturity.
  • Controversial Debates: You’re allowed your views—but employers may fear cultural misalignment so tread carefully.

The Big Picture

You may be thinking about deleting all social profiles for convenience at this point. While that’s certainly the easiest way to avoid issues, it’s also a major missed opportunity. Maintaining at least a LinkedIn profile will allow recruiters to find you and verify your experience. If they can’t find you, they may move on to candidates who are easier to research and feel more “visible” and engaged in their field.

Your digital footprint is an extension of your personal brand—make sure it represents you in the best possible light. Being mindful of the personal information you share, your tone of voice, and overall online demeanor will ensure that you’re well-respected and viewed positively by friends, colleagues and employers.

Getting An Outside Opinion

Sometimes we’re too close to our own content to see it clearly. That’s why getting a second opinion on your online and offline presence is so valuable. Ask a trusted friend, mentor, or even a recruiter to review your LinkedIn profile, public social media accounts, and resume. They can help you spot red flags you may have missed and highlight strengths you didn’t realize you were underselling.

Recruiter, Robyn Oakley explains, “When candidates come to me for feedback, I always tell them to think of me as an advisor in the job search. My goal isn’t just to place them in a role, it’s to help them show up as their best self, both online and off.”

A good recruiter sees hundreds of candidate profiles and knows exactly what hiring managers look for. They can provide feedback on how you’re presenting yourself, both digitally and in person, and offer tips to align your personal brand with your professional goals.

Oakley adds, “Sometimes I suggest that they tighten up a LinkedIn profile, rework how they talk about an experience, or I help them audit their digital presence to make sure it reflects the professionalism I know that they can bring to the table.”

Don’t let your digital footprint hold you back from landing your next big opportunity. Contact us to partner with a recruiter for a quick profile review and create a job search strategy.