It wasn’t long ago when social media was simply a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Overtime, it evolved into much more – even into professional environments. These days, it’s everywhere!

Recruiters and hiring managers are now using social media as a way to source and gain a three-dimensional prospective on potential candidates. Despite the growing use of social media in the job market, it is not likely that sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube will completely replace the traditional resume – at least not in the near future. It is still important to maintain a positive and robust presence on these sites though. Otherwise, your published personal life could hurt your chances of getting a job.

4 Ways to Build a Professional Presence on Social Media

Use these four tips to establish a social media presence that is sure to impress any hiring manager:

1. Audit Your Personal Content

Take stock of the photos, status updates, messages and any other content you have made publicly available online. It is fine to have a personal and professional presence on social media, but set strict privacy settings to limit who can see your personal content. Delete anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with your boss (or future boss) seeing.

2. Choose a Professional Profile Photo

While you might look great in that beach photo taken on vacation, you will not be taken seriously if you choose this as your profile image. Use a professional head shot. If you do not have a professionally taken picture, fake it by asking someone to take a picture of you dressed professionally while standing in front of a white wall. Crop it into a head shot and upload it to your profile!

3. Brand Yourself

Brand yourself via your online image. Think of your online presence as an extension of your resume. Ensure anything that can be found about you, shows you as you would portray yourself during an interview. Profiles do not need to be identical (recruiters and hiring managers understand the difference between Facebook and LinkedIn) but keep your message consistent across platforms.

4. Post Industry-Relevant Content

Follow industry leaders and share updates applicable to your industry. This will show you are passionate about your field in and out of the office. If you can find the time to maintain a blog, start one and regularly write on topics important to professionals in your line of work (and don’t forget to share them with your social network). This will look great to potential employers and could help position you as an industry expert.

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