Millions of college graduates getting ready to embark upon the real world this year will find they are fighting for positions within an increasingly competitive job market.  New suits, polished resumes, determination, optimism, and persistence can make all the difference in making it to the second interview.

Getting through the first interview, however, will prove to be the challenge.

Despite questions of legality, more organizations are now using Social Media as a way to discover more information about an individual, engage background checks, and hire new interns and employees. Colleges and employment firms are strongly recommending recent graduates to take advantage of social media websites such as LinkedIn to enhance their job search. Back in January 2010, Switched.com reported that 86 percent of Human Resource departments surveyed in the United States said a “good online reputation can have a positive impact on a candidate’s chances.”

As powerful as these tools are, though, in helping employers find you, these networks can also work against you. In the same article from Switched.com:

• 70 percent of Human Resource departments surveyed in the United States admitted to rejecting a job applicant because of his or her Internet behavior.
• 60 percent of surfers admit to being concerned that their online behavior may affect their professional or personal lives.
• Only 15 percent of them, though, actually take these potential repercussions into consideration when posting content.

A search beginning with Google and ending with Facebook from a prospective employer could mean the difference between a callback and rejection, or even getting that first interview.

According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project surveys, 86% of Millennials (18-24 year olds) use social media networks to connect with friends and family, so it’s only natural that personal details in which this group has shared within their networks may re-surface when potential employers are pre-screening applicants.

On average 96 percent of high school and college students use Facebook and 84 percent use YouTube, based on a 2010 study released by UNH Whitehorse School of Business (PDF). Imagine the type of information these students are posting on their websites:

• Pictures and videos from Spring Break where not only the owner has access to them along with 1,000 of their ‘closest’ friends.
• Personal details and opinions about friends, politics, or other topics that could be misinterpreted if taken out of context.
• Unfavorable opinions about a job interview that could get back to a potential employer.
• Birth dates, travel plans, phone numbers, email addresses, and the like are all pieces of personal information that identity thieves can easily use to piece together an identity to be used for financial gain and personal ruin.

College students need to take a step back and look seriously at their social media profile before reaching out to prospective employers. They should ask themselves if they are comfortable sharing their social profile, as it exists today—not with just their friends and family—but also with potential employers and, quite possibly, the entire world. What do these pictures tell complete strangers curious about them as representatives of their corporate image? What do your updates on Twitter say about your work ethics? How much of what you are sharing through audio, video, and commentary are you truly comfortable with?

Here are a few rules of thumb for young adults getting ready to enter the workforce:

• Conduct a thorough search of your online identity by Googling your name.
• Review all social networks you are enrolled in for personal references. Also check inactive accounts that may not have been cancelled. It’s nearly impossible to remove every comment that has been posted about you, but starting over with a fresh new profile and shutting down old accounts might be your best option.
• Remove incriminating pictures, videos, and unfavorable comments posted on Facebook, blogs, Twitter, and other social networks.
• For unwanted photos on Facebook hosted by others, use the “Remove Tag” feature to remove your name from it. Remember that you can be notified by Facebook when you have been tagged in a photograph. Find this setting by going to My Account > Notifications and scrolling down to the “Photos” section.

We live in a society that is enamored with technology and all the conveniences it has to offer; however, with convenience also comes risk, and consumers of all ages and demographics need to ask themselves three important questions before sharing any personal information:

1. Who needs to know?
2. Why do they need to know?
3. How is this information being protected?

With education comes vigilance, with vigilance comes empowerment and we encourage every consumer, especially upcoming college graduates, to be vigilant when it comes to protecting their unique identities.

Related posts:

1. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Social Media Profile (Part I)
2. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Profile (Part III)
3. Footprints to a College Graduate’s Credit Profile (Part II)
4. When a Stranger Comes Calling: Why Social Networking Could Be Fueling a New Era of Digital Burglars
5. The IDGuardian Podcast: Episode #010 — Social Media Safety Tips