{"id":315,"date":"2013-05-09T21:56:41","date_gmt":"2013-05-09T21:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scqa.hult.edu\/en\/news\/hult-labs\/2013\/may\/job-hunting-manage-your-cyber-reputation-and-flaunt-your-stuff\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T11:07:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:07:37","slug":"job-hunting-dont-forget-to-manage-your-cyber-reputation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hult.edu\/blog\/job-hunting-dont-forget-to-manage-your-cyber-reputation\/","title":{"rendered":"Job Hunting? Don\u2019t Forget to Manage Your Cyber Reputation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The process of looking for a job is not what it was a few years ago, and you can be sure that it will change again, perhaps even more remarkably, in another few short years.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest reasons for the recent changes in job hunting is that social media is playing a bigger role \u2013 one that will only increase over time. The dos and don\u2019ts of using social media, however, aren\u2019t always straightforward because they can change right alongside rapidly evolving technology. But there are a few good tips to be aware of, not likely to change anytime soon, and although they might seem like common sense \u2013 well, they are! And they\u2019re useful to know if you are currently on a job safari, or to save for later when you are.<\/p>\n

Our first recommendation may seem obvious, but it can\u2019t be stressed enough: your personal and professional social media contributions (Facebook posts, Tweets, Instagram photos, etc.) can rapidly squelch your chances at great job opportunities if you\u2019re not careful<\/a>. There are plenty of variations of a particularly relevant adage going around, such as \u201cDon\u2019t post anything you wouldn\u2019t put on the front page of a newspaper,\u201d or \u201cDon\u2019t post anything you wouldn\u2019t want your sweet mother or dear old grandmother to see.\u201d You get the idea. If you wince when thinking of the aforementioned seeing something, refrain from posting it. In the same vein, that Facebook profile picture of you doing a keg stand 10 years ago (or just last weekend) may not matter to some employers, but could be a very big deal for some. Sure, it\u2019s a memorable picture \u2013 but for prospective employers, it\u2019s memorable for all the wrong reasons.<\/p>\n

Our next recommendation is that you utilize social media tools with rigor. They provide you with a farther reach than you could ever have physically, and they allow you to spread the good word of your skills and professional successes, strengthen your network, and contact potential employers who may not even know that they want you. But there\u2019s a caveat: you need to think carefully and deliberately about how you communicate your professional experience and skills to potential employers (either on a static profile page, or in an introductory email) when they are short on time and you aren\u2019t there in person to add context. The social media tools you use are your electronic proxy.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a hypothetical scenario to get you thinking in the mode of promoting yourself via social media. Imagine you have the chance to apply for your dream job by advertising your resume highlights with a billboard in Times Square for 72 hours, with just 200 words, one picture, and any format you wish. How would you design your billboard so that the hiring manager for your dream position stops dead in her tracks after viewing it to call you right away with a job offer \u2013 or at the very least an interview? What are the words you would choose? What is the visual that you would display? What great things about you and your skill set do you want the world (or at least the good people Manhattan) to know about you?<\/p>\n

OK, now look at the social media tools you use for your job hunt the same way. And just like the billboard word limit, there are always parameters, making the words and visuals you choose absolutely vital to the whole process of virtually \u201cputting your best foot forward.\u201d Here\u2019s where Kimberly Maul\u2019s article, \u201c6 Reasons Why Social Media Isn\u2019t Helping Your Job Search<\/a>\u201d comes in handy. She outlines some very helpful \u201cno-no\u2019s\u201d that could stand in the way of extolling your skill set to a potential employer. While we recommend reading the article in its entirety, we\u2019ve conveniently listed some highlights below.<\/p>\n