Investigate Yourself
1. Take inventory of what can be found online about you. As job search site Monster suggests, just Google yourself and see what comes back. (It's a basic tip, but one that a surprising number of Facebook users simply forget to do.) Speaking of Facebook, be honest - is your profile filled with pictures from dorm parties from freshman year, endless photo albums of you and your friends having a little too much fun, and other things you wouldn't want a future employer to see? Time to master those Facebook privacy settings you always meant to check out.
2. Look through your profile and mark items as private, or un-tag yourself in pictures you don't want to be seen.
3. Remove others' ability to tag you in photos. In fact, you can review posts and photos you're tagged in before they get posted to your Timeline by selecting that option in your privacy settings.
4. Sign up for Google Alerts so you know when something new has been posted about you online.
5. Quit Facebook groups that would look bad to an employer. Sorry, Thirsty Thursday Drinking Buddies. And watch what you post moving forward. Sport and games are fine; colorful opinions that might be read the wrong way are another.
Bury the Bad
One way to get rid of the things you're not so proud of is to create new, positive content that appears in search results. Sign up for Google+, LinkedIn if you're not already and create a professional profile.
Create Positive Profiles
Used correctly, Facebook is an amazing tool for any job seeker.
1. Allow "everyone" to view your Work and Education, About You, and your contact info. This makes it easier for people to find you if they are looking on Facebook.
2. Find, visit, and "like" Facebook fan pages for any company that interests you. Interact there. The companies you want to work for are building careers pages, too. Join their communities. Ask good questions.
3. Use Facebook updates to show what you know. You likely don't have a whole lot of work experience, but research your field online and share links to articles in your status updates. Start sharing ideas. Your contacts will begin to think of you as a go-to resource on that topic, and will think of you if they learn about jobs.
For more tips check out Get a Haircut! Social Media Grooming for Recent Grads (and everyone else)
Check out Tips on Facebook Privacy at www.facebook.com/about/privacy
