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In today’s tech-centric job market, applying for a position is actually the second step to employment. Before you submit your application, you need to make sure you’re presentable to employers online. A single drunken tweet could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate, so you want to make sure your online presence is squeaky clean! We’ve compiled a checklist of Internet must-do’s for any collegiette on the job hunt.
1. Update your hardware
Before you start cleaning up your act online, you need to make sure your computer is in good condition. Chances are you haven’t updated it since you first purchased your laptop freshman year — or even earlier than that! However, while new and updated hardware is necessary, it can also be expensive. Luckily, Windows and Microsoft can lessen the burden with their new crowdsourcing campaign called Chip In. The campaign allows your friends and family to contribute toward your purchase of a new Windows 8 PC. In addition, Microsoft will also cover tax, shipping, and handling and give all students a 10 percent discount! Microsoft will also supply the first 10,000 students who fund their PC with Office 365 University, so if you’re still enrolled in school, you’ll definitely want to sign up soon. Take advantage of this sweet deal (offer ends September 1), because you need a reliable system to conduct a job search! Once your equipment is in check, you can finally begin the prep work.
2. Create a professional e-mail address
In the same way that being underdressed for an interview can hurt your chances of employment, e-mailing an employer from an unprofessional address can also be a turn-off. Though these first impressions may not reflect on how qualified you are for a position, they certainly don’t encourage employers to give you a shot. Don’t let something as simple as an e-mail address like “h0ttstuff2013@yahoo.com” hold you back from landing a job. Play it safe and designate a certain e-mail address for work-related communications. A college address may work while you are still in school, but you should make a new one when you enter the real world. If you need to create a new account, it’s quick and easy to sign up for an Outlook.com address. And, Outlook.com even integrates contacts and updates from all of your networks, so you can see the latest from LinkedIn right in your email.
Along with an acceptable domain name, your username must be simple and easy to remember — try variations of your first and last name with a short combination of numbers if needed. Though you may be tempted to make a witty username, your work e-mail is not the place to be creative. Plain is good, so save your clever ideas for another brainstorming session!
3. Clean up your social media
Twitter and Facebook make sharing details about our lives easy — maybe too easy. When you’re being considered for a job, there are aspects of your life your potential future employer doesn’t need to know, so maintaining control over your social media is crucial.
Read over old tweets to make sure everything is tasteful. Under your Facebook privacy settings, you can view your public profile (how your profile would appear to a stranger) and adjust the information to be suitable for an employer’s eyes. Heighten privacy for personal content and delete any compromising photos or posts (because not even your friends need to see that!). When in doubt about information online, make it private. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of anything you wouldn’t want your parents or grandparents to see. If you are actually Facebook friends with your parents, have them “test-drive” your profile (a lecture from your mom beats a rejection from an employer!). You can also use a tool like Socioclean to scan your social media profiles for inappropriate content.
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4. Update your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is one of the first places employers go to learn more about your background. Since your profile can be as extensive as you want, use it to include experiences you couldn’t fit on your résumé. A current and detailed profile tells employers that you value your professional career and have a respectable online presence. Be sure to connect with previous employers or internship supervisors who would give you a good recommendation, or friends and family who are connected to people you may want to work for. Don’t forget to take a few minutes to endorse skills and expertise among connections so they can return the favor!
5. Search for yourself online
Who knew being creepy could one day help your career? Perform a Google or Bing search on yourself, using both your full name and any nicknames, to see what pops up. You’ve been using the Internet for more than a decade, so it’s completely understandable if you’ve forgotten about the MySpace account you created in junior high. It’s not acceptable, however, for your pre-teen ramblings to be the first thing an employer reads about you.
Think you’ve cleaned up your Internet identity? Challenge a friend to find embarrassing information about you online. This will both entertain your friend and ensure your record is clean.
With these five tips, you’ll be one step closer to getting your dream job. Happy job hunting, collegiettes!
Want to enjoy #doingmore with Windows 8 and Office 365 University? Get on Twitter and tell us how you’re #doingmore this summer and be sure to tag @HerCampus and @Windows when you do for the chance to win a shiny brand new Acer Aspire S7 Ultrabook. Happy tweeting, collegiettes!