How to clean up your social media

Photo credit: Social Sweepster

Social media can be a great tool in your job search, but it can also damage your career if not used responsibly. In an earlier post, I discussed how a reporter got fired for writing a blog post that mocked her job. But even something as simple as a picture or a comment could cost you your job or prevent you from getting a job.

Even if you’re careful about what you place on social media, it’s possible that your friends could post photos that make you appear irresponsible or unprofessional. It’s also possible that you might’ve posted some vulgar or offensive comment a while ago that you forgot about but is still lingering somewhere on your page.

This New York Times article describes some services that could help you if you’re worried that your social media profiles are hurting your professional reputation. These services — Social Sweepster, Simple Wash, and Socially Clean — go through your social media profiles and help you find and remove unflattering content.

Social Sweepster was actually created by a recent graduate. Unlike Simple Wash and Socially Clean, which only analyze text, Social Sweepster analyzes pictures and text for objectionable content. So those photos of you partying on Spring Break or doing keg stands at a frat house will no longer be a threat to your career.