Investigate yourself like any good hiring manager would prior to applying for jobs. Take a few moments and google your name. Try it again, with the city and state included. Now, if you have been married in the last few years, try it again with your married name. Try it again, 5 different ways from Sunday because your new prospective employer will certainly be doing this, trust me. Not because they want to find dirt on you, but because they want to know who you really are.
When you apply for a job, the people at that company want to determine if you are the person they are looking for, in terms of job skills but also personality fit, and yes, they also want to know if you are a responsible human in your off time too, and this is sometimes a way they can do this.
There is no one right answer as to what is acceptable or not acceptable online now, and it can vary greatly based on your occupation of choice. What is socially acceptable for a person applying for an interim pastor or a 3rd-grade teaching position, for example, is under different scrutiny as someone applying for a position as a cocktail waitress or an art student in a coop. The later individuals will be praised for their wide grasp of colorful language, socially provocative, & liberal political beliefs, and scathing brushes against standardized religion, but not so, the first pair.
While it may be unfair, it is common practice, so be forewarned. If you want to work in corporate America and even more conservative areas of employment, then you may want to do a couple of things prior to submitting your resume.
“Investigate yourself” and do what I call a social “self-audit”. If you find anything that might be considered questionable, either delete the item from your account or delete the account altogether, if that is easier, or you might simply hide/suspend the item or account while going through the interview process. Then move on to the next social media account or item you find along your investigation trail attached to your identity. You can typically unhide those items once people get to know you at a job, and/or you get a better idea of the company you are interviewing for and their comfort level later.
In today’s digital world, your online profile literally is your identity so a company or a person can and will judge you based on what they find. And so, it is your responsibility to ensure that the information speaking for you is telling the story you want to be told about you. If not, then, this might be a good time to make some minor adjustments.
Dress for Success Triangle offers career tools to women at no cost. Meet with a career and image coach to prepare for your next interview by requesting an appointment here.
Ann Correll is CEO of Ann Correll Enterprises, LLC