Online Social Networking and Job Searching: Make Sure Online Activities Don't Hinder Your Job Search

Are you active online, in terms of social networking? Are you also looking for a new job? If so, you might have heard the many warnings that circulate online stating you need to be careful because online social networking and job searching don't always make the perfect combination. Yes it is true that some job seekers have lost out on job opportunities because of what they posted online. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your online social networking and job searching can coexist.

Set All Profiles to Private: If your Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter is mostly used for fun and chatting with friends and family, it is a wise idea to make your profiles private. Essentially, no one can view these pages unless they are approved by you. In the meantime, do not accept any friend requests from anyone whom you do not personally know. This way you do not have to worry about the embarrassing story from your friend's birthday party they talked about on your Facebook wall being seen by a prospective employer because it is set to private; they cannot see it.

Inform Others: Lets say you are a main user of Facebook and you want to leave your profile set so that everyone can view it. After all, your Facebook page is professional, focuses on your hobbies, job experience, and more. But wait! What if a friend or family member comes along and leaves a comment on your wall, and ruins it all? If you are close with your Facebook friends, send them a message letting them know that you are job searching; therefore, please be careful what they write. If you are close with these individuals, they will understand.

Cleanup Your Pages: If you are known for having some raunchy pictures or jokes on your social networking pages, remove them. You can constantly monitor your accounts to ensure prospective employers will see nothing bad. You are able to remove postings from your Facebook wall, unfollow someone on Twitter, and so forth. It is best to set your profiles to private, but you can also rely on careful and constant monitoring.

So there you have it! You got some helpful tips on how to make sure your love for online social networking and job searching can coexist together. Also, remember that you do not have to be afraid of social networking when looking for a job. In fact, it is actually wise job search and networking tool when properly used.