Do you have embarrassing photos on Facebook? Before employers see, delete them or at least make your profile private. This “online identity optimization,” which means purging social media profiles, is an important first step for candidates striving to make a positive impression, says Myers.
“As soon as an employer establishes an interest in you as a candidate, the first thing they are going to do is look you up on LinkedIn and Facebook. The second thing they are going to do is Google you,” says Myers.
LinkedIn and Facebook are the most commonly used social networking sites. “LinkedIn is the greatest job-search tool available today, when you are looking at an organization where you don’t know anyone and want to link with them to establish relationships,” says Ms. Attridge. A LinkedIn profile can be just as crucial as a résumé. Other useful sites that are also geared towards professional social networking include Koda.com, Plaxo.com, and Jobster.com.
