Looking for a new position - locking down social media?

[knufflebunny]

I’m not terribly active on social media - I️ have fb, but don’t put up much besides family pictures. No political anything.

Twitter - I️ follow some people, don’t tweet anything. Retweet occasionally.

Instagram - a few pics. Mostly I️ don’t bother with it.

Linked In - obviously I’m going to keep this current.

My fb is pretty locked down. I’m searchable, but if I’m looking for another job, maybe I️ shouldn’t be?

Would you adjust any of your social media if you were looking for a new job?

[Deleted]

Based on what you've said, I wouldn't worry about it. If you posted a lot of politically-charged stuff, or had a bunch of pictures of you dancing drunk on top of a table or something, then I'd be more concerned. You say your FB is pretty locked down -- does that mean your posts are only visible to friends, and not public? If that's the case, then I think you're probably good. But I also haven't searched for a new job in a few years, so I might not be as up-to-date on what employers look for (or what exactly you want to avoid) in social media stuff during job searches.

[y4m]

Open an anonymous browser and search your name (maybe name and location if it’s common). That’s the view employers will have. Ideally it seems authentic but boring. I️ probably wouldn’t change anything based on your description. Family pictures could potentially let them know if you have kids...but for me I️ don’t want to work anywhere that’s going to hold that against me.

[nsl]

What are you worried about a potential employer finding?

[sapphireblue]

When I have job searched I have tried to make sure that it is all buttoned down fairly well, but I have also deliberately made just a few of my Facebook posts public. Ones that I feel define me in a way that will give them a good idea of who I am (to a degree) and I feel like if they have a problem with the post it is not a place I want to work anyway.

[joy]

I removed my last name from my Facebook name and associated url. I go by my first and middle only. If you type in my full name to google, my Facebook doesn't come up. I've kept it that way for years now. It started as a job hunting thing but just became a forever thing.

I don't have the other social media sites but if I did, I would do the same and keep them separate from my full name on resume.

EDIT - I have LinkedIn under my real name. That's a professional social media and I use it as such.

Do I have anything to hide? No. But I also think I have a right to keep my social media as private as possible. I'm not inviting my potential employers into my home at first blush either. Let's all get to know each other first.

[alleinesein]

I go by my first and middle on fb. The email attached to my fb is not the one I use for job searches and it has nothing to do with my name.

Fortunately I have a Google ganger with the same first and last name and she pops up if you try to search for me.

[VillainV]

Nov 11, 2017 10:37:45 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Fortunately I have a Google ganger with the same first and last name and she pops up if you try to search for me.

I’ve never heard Google Ganger before! Is it obvious to people who google your name that she isn’t you? My sister has one (and she has a very unique name), but she’s a doctor and the other woman owns her own photography business in a different state, so it’s pretty obvious. I’d be scared if I had a google ganger with extreme political views, an arrest record, etc.....

[alleinesein]

Nov 11, 2017 10:46:50 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Nov 11, 2017 10:37:45 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Fortunately I have a Google ganger with the same first and last name and she pops up if you try to search for me.

I’ve never heard Google Ganger before! Is it obvious to people who google your name that she isn’t you? My sister has one (and she has a very unique name), but she’s a doctor and the other woman owns her own photography business in a different state, so it’s pretty obvious. I’d be scared if I had a google ganger with extreme political views, an arrest record, etc.....

Very obvious. The other me lives near Detroit and is a marathon runner. She is also my physical opposite so it is pretty obvious when her pic shows up that she isn't me.