The Do’s and Don’ts that College Students Should Know About Social Media
College students need to consider that social media can be misused, and missteps can be costly, because anything uploaded or posted to the web will forever be there in some form or another. Not only can trouble come from social media while you’re still in school, but Internet mischief can follow beyond college years.
How can employers judge based on the posting of college events that I attended and who my friends are? Jobs do judge you easily and readily, especially in a tough job market. According to Career Builder, a leader in the employment industry, 86% of employers are checking social networks even before they grant an interview.
In this article I will list a few tips on how to keep your personality alive in your online presence and not scare away potential employers.
- Do: Limit the amount of personal information that you upload online.
Do not post information that includes your address or even information about your class schedule. Also be sure that your friends do not post information about you that could impair your safety in any way.
- Don’t: Make your online presence all about you.
You can make your presence known by being interactive. Share relevant articles and videos. Make thoughtful comments when you can. Retweet interesting and meaningful posts from people you follow.
- Do: Google yourself.
Knowing what’s on the Internet when people look for you is very important.
- Don’t: Post questionable photos of yourself anywhere on the Internet.
College students who wants jobs need to think about the pictures of themselves that are online. Studies from CareerBuilder.com found that more than half of the respondents cited inappropriate photos, and 44 percent reported the postings of drug- or drinking-related content as reasons for turning down a job applicant.
- Do: Post your accomplishments
If you’re a volunteer, or participate in community activities be sure to write about it online. Post so that Google will pick it up.
- Don’t post negative status updates or tweets.
Sometimes, it’s hard to be positive, because life/school can be challenging. But don’t let that come out in your status updates.
Social media can be a source of instantaneous connection. Like any powerful tool, social media must be used carefully.
