You’ve heard all the cringe-worthy horror stories. A
sorority sister whose psychotic email was leaked online; an employee who posted
a profanity-ridden Facebook status about her boss, forgetting she had added him
as a friend. Our lives are increasingly public because of social media, and it
is easy to overexpose yourself, making your career path much rockier than it
needs to be.
Transitioning to a presentable and relevant online presence
is often an ominous task for college students about to enter the workforce. It
is especially important for students, like myself, who find themselves in PR
internships, a field that makes social media prowess a top priority. It is
important to present yourself as an intelligent, active social media user, free
of self-indulgent, embarrassing, or potentially illegal posts.
The first step to clean up your act online is to do a quick
Google search of yourself. You want to make sure what people see when they
search for you is appropriate and a good representation of who you are. You don’t
want friends, family members, or potential employers to be able to find the
American Idol blog you had in fifth grade…
Next, start posting content with actual value on your social
media accounts. That means nixing those pointless “what I’m having for dinner”
tweets, and deleting pictures of you bonging beers at a frat party. Engage in
interesting conversations, share though-provoking articles, and share insights
that people might find funny, relatable, or valuable. To borrow a phrase from
Bill O’Reilly, “keep it pithy.”
The best way to keep your online presence in line is to work
under the mantra that less is more. I have decided that a few years before I
graduate is a good time to build on this; to make sure my social media is
purged of questionable content and full of valuable posts. That way, when I’m
on the hunt for a job after graduation, I have had time to build a strong,
reputable online presence!
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