For anyone looking for new job opportunities, you should be aware of how social media can help you (or hurt you) in your job search. Our world today is much different than it was 10 years ago. With social media being a HUGE presence in our society, sites like LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook and Twitter allow employers to get a preview of who you are outside of the parameters of your resume or interview. These sites also give job seekers the opportunity to learn about different companies they might be interested in pursuing, make connections with current and former employees and be able to view job postings. If you decide to share content on social media publicly, you should make sure it’s working to your advantage. While I’m sure you use Facebook for your personal use, you should refrain from posting pictures of that keg stand you did in college 5 years ago. Remember, anything you post can be accessed by potential employers. If you have anything that could be viewed by an employer as unprofessional, you should take it down (ex: provocative or inappropriate photos and/or information posted on your profile and evidence of drinking or drug use). Being active on social media isn’t the only strategy for landing a job but it is definitely becoming increasingly important. If you’re on LinkedIn, you want to make sure you’re keeping your profile current, and having great recommendations will make you stand out. Make sure the information you provide regarding jobs or accomplishments are consistent throughout all of your social media outlets. If an employer checks you out on one outlet, they may also check you out on another, so you should make sure your material is pretty much the same. Share content that will highlight your accomplishments and qualifications in a positive way. You should also make sure anything you write is spelled correctly so you’re not displaying poor communication skills. Companies could be browsing your social media profiles to evaluate your character and personality and some could even base their hiring decision on what they discover. They could be looking to gain some insight into your specific qualifications or they may want to see how you present yourself professionally or if you’ll mesh with their company culture so be careful with what you post. Based on what you’d find on your social media platforms…would you hire you? Leanne Scarola - Senior Technical Recruiter