You may not have considered it before, but if you are having trouble landing an interview, your social media profiles could be to blame.

Today, prospective employers, hiring managers, and recruiters often use social media to identify viable candidates. They may also check your profiles to verify things you have said or to find out more about you before your interview.

According to a study conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Career Builder, a full 70 percent of employers use social media as part of their vetting process. Of those, 57 percent have discovered reasons not to hire a candidate, based on things they found on their social profiles.

And before you run out and delete your social profiles altogether, almost half of all respondents say that if they could not find the candidate online, they probably wouldn’t contact them at all.

What do your social profiles say about you?

Social media can help or harm your job search

If you are in the midst of a job search and trying to present a professional image, your social profiles could either help or hurt your chances of getting what you want.

Here are some examples of the types of posts that would cause an employer to pass on you altogether:

• Inappropriate, lewd, or provocative photos
• Posts about using drugs, drinking, or excessive behavior
• Racist comments, photos, or activities
• Discriminatory remarks related to gender, religion, or age
• Any connection to criminal behavior
• Overly argumentative or aggressive behavior
• Bad-mouthing a current or past employer
• Publishing confidential information about a coworker or previous employer
• Speaking ill of a coworker
• Misleading work experience or outright lies
• Poor communication skills
• Too-frequent or obsessive posts
• Unprofessional screen name

When Social Media Helps

If your social profiles are professional, respectful, and represent an authentic version of yourself, they can be very helpful.

Keep your social profiles up-to-date and keep your public posts respectful, and your social media could actually help you land a job.

Here are some examples of positive social media content – at least in the context of getting hired:

• Your profile verifies your background and qualifications
• It shows your creativity and range of interests
• Your profile conveys a professional image
• You articulate your thoughts effectively
• Your profile shows awards, accolades, endorsements, and milestones
• You interact with companies or influences in your field or have interacted with the company in question

Take Control of Your Online Presence

To ensure you are not on the receiving end of an unfortunate social media discovery, be sure to police your online persona. Keep your professional profiles up-to-date and always put your best foot forward.

Do a periodic search to see what others are seeing, and do your best to clean up anything that could be perceived as unfavorable. Delete old profiles you do not use anymore and always be mindful of what you post and where you are tagged. No matter how long ago it may have been, these things have a way of resurfacing.

Are you looking for your next career challenge? With offices in Dallas and Houston, Professional Alternatives is ready to help. Reach out today to get started.