Did you know that what you do online could determine your future? That\u2019s because employers and universities often look at your \u201cdigital footprint\u201d when deciding whether to give you an opportunity, or not.<\/p>\n
Your digital footprint includes everything you say and do online, including casual \u201clikes\u201d, fun photos, and comments, as well as the information you intentionally post to promote yourself, such as online resumes and professional profiles. This is why you should take some time to manage your online reputation.<\/p>\n
A recent study by CareerBuilder<\/a> found that 70% of employers use search engines and social media to screen candidates. What\u2019s more, 54% of employers surveyed said that they reconsidered candidates after getting a bad impression of them online.<\/p>\n This situation should be especially concerning for younger adults who are entering the job market for the first time, after years of carefree posting.<\/p>\n And if you think that once you have a job you can forget about looking after your digital footprint, think again. Employers also said that they check employees\u2019 online presence when considering promotions.<\/p>\n Even colleges and universities rely on social media checks to get a better sense of applicants, according to a recent survey<\/a> of admissions officers.<\/p>\n Of course, having a negative online presence is one problem, but having no presence at all is an even bigger red flag, so don\u2019t start deleting profiles and accounts, or making everything \u201cprivate\u201d.<\/p>\n Over half of employers surveyed said that they are less likely to interview a candidate with no visible presence online. In this age, everyone is expected to have a digital footprint\u2014it\u2019s what that footprint says about you that matters the most.<\/p>\n So, how do you make sure that your digital footprint gives a good impression of you?<\/p>\n