1. So what’s up with…
…and why do I care?

2. Some Numbers:
• 37-56% of employers admit to using social media
to research applicants
• Of those, 44% have seen an applicant bad-mouth
an employer on social media
• 65% want to know if you’d be a good fit
• 51% want to know if you use the space
professionally
• 45% have chosen not to hire someone because
of social media
From: Forbes and Wall Street Journal

3. Absolute Basics: First Impression
It’s not fair, but employers will judge you first
the same way your friends do– they’re going to
hop right to photos you’ve uploaded. This
means some of you will need to do a Facebook
scrub. And you’ll want to pick your photos
carefully.

4. Absolute Basics: First Impression
Note that this is a rhetorical process, so if you
look at MY Facebook, for example, you’ll see a
lot of “do as I say, not as I do.” But I’m not a
fresh graduate looking for a job; I’m a quirky
professor looking to remain quirky.
Still– here are some quick examples of good vs.
bad photos

5. Job Killer Pictures on Social Media
1. The “I drink a lot!” photo:
…or I hit the bong.

6. A photo like that will lose you a job.

7. Job Killer Pictures on Social Media
2. “I don’t dress profesh.

8. Imagine how an employer feels if
he/she knows what your abs look like
before they know your skillset.
Embarrassing.

9. Job Killer Pictures on Social Media
3. Lewd or politically charged memes.

10. If a 9/11 joke offends an employer, you
just memed out of the pool.

11. Job Killer Pictures on Social Media
4. Don’t try to be an “artist” with your portrait.

12. We get it. You don’t like pictures of
yourself. What are you hiding?

13. A good photo (or 2)

14. Topics to Avoid in best cases:
• Drinking and drug use
• TMI regarding relationships
• Politics
• Religion
• Sexuality
• Race
• Depression
• Any negative comments about coworkers,
teachers or bosses

15. The good stuff…
• Your work/your achievements
• Friends succeeding
• Engage in friendly small-talk
• Show what you KNOW
• Be publically helpful

16. The social media triangle
• Facebook= social to be social; consider
having a second account or REALLY limiting
everyone who isn’t your friend
• Twitter= use it for academic work and job
searching. Make a second account if your
friends tweet.
• LinkedIn= it’s for job searching. Don’t do
anything BUT job search/professional
networking there.

17. The profile
• LinkedIn’s profile basically directs you
where to go and what to say; so go
where it takes you and say it well.
• Don’t volunteer things it doesn’t ask for.
• Always think less personal, more
professional.
• When in doubt, omit

19. Your goal…
• Figure out the best rhetorical version of you
• Look over the limitations of the profile
template
• Arrange so that you fill in the template in a
way that puts the best you forward.
• When in doubt, again, omit. Less is better
than including things that will detract.

20. Login
• Pull up your LinkedIn profile.
• Read it, slowly and carefully.
• Think about who and what you see. Is
THIS who you want to be in the eyes of
potential employers?
• If so– you rock!
• If not– let’s talk about changes.

21. Pair up and offer critique
• Play the role of the employer.
• What sticks out to you?
• What do you want to know more about?
• Does this person’s identity seem
consistent?
• What would you ask the person in an
interview based on what you see here?

22. Thanks for coming!