Applicants, Rethink That Tweet

By this point, it should come as no surprise that companies and recruiters often review an applicant’s social media presence before making a job offer. If this phenomenon is news to you, then read this article that cuts to the chase about the importance of a clean web presence. Put simply, social media can be a liability for a job seeker.

But did you know this liability extends to students? The New York Times recently reported that college admissions committees often check social media when considering applicants. The article focuses on undergraduates, but its lesson is relevant to all applicants, including those for jobs and professional and graduate schools. The advice of controlling your online presence is even more significant now that Facebook has changed its privacy settings. These changes have made users with even the most rigid privacy settings more searchable.

The takeaway point? Even if you spend countless hours perfecting your application materials, careless social media posts can sabotage your educational and career aspirations. Don’t sabotage yourself; tweet with care!