Written by Lauren Bushell, Jobs Expert at totaljobs

Don't fall into any of the below traps

Don't fall into any of the below traps

If you’re looking for a new job, you need to be more careful online than you might think! Totaljobs’ latest research has revealed that three quarters of interviewers are now checking a candidate’s social media profiles before interviews.

Here are a few things you should think twice about before uploading to social media if you’re job hunting:

Negative comments about a former employer

However grim you found your previous employer (and we’re sure you may have a few stories), if you’re looking to attract a new one, you’re more likely to achieve this by keeping those thoughts private.

Express any negative feelings towards your old employer offline to ensure you don’t damage your career prospects.

Incriminating confessions

If you are bending your workplace rules (yes, we saw you leaving early Friday to go to the pub!), be careful about bragging about it online.  An interviewer looking back at your tweets won’t be impressed if you’ve confessed online – and it could damage your reputation in the workplace.

Impressing an employer is much more important than impressing your friends.

Posts written ‘under the influence’

Most things seem like a much better idea after a glass of wine, we’ve all been there, but try to keep this away from your social media ahead of a job hunt or interview.

Potential employers want to see your true personality, not necessarily your inner party animal that comes out after a few drinks.

Revealing selfies

In the age of the selfie, even more guidance is needed when uploading them to your profile(s). The best policy for job hunters is to keep it PG, so you don’t give an interviewer, or potentially your future boss, the wrong impression.

They will want someone who can represent their brand and will keep that in mind when considering you.

Online rants

Keep your moans to a minimum when it comes to social media, as whining online can translate negatively with interviewers who will be looking to hire positive and enthusiastic candidates.

Criticising brands

Be careful not to bash other brands too severely when looking for new jobs. You never know who you might come into contact with and the last thing you want is to lose out on a job you really want, based on your comments about one of their clients!

Political views

Politics are always up for debate, but try to keep your social media pages impartial when job hunting. It’s a passionate subject, and be wary that your interviewer may have differing opinions on hot topics. By appearing neutral on your social media, this avoids the topic entirely and will not influence interviewers either way.

Controversial opinions

Being able to share your opinions is an asset at work, but anything too controversial might get you noticed for all the wrong reasons.

Employers will have probably checked out your online content, so make sure your online persona also reflects your professional self.

Anything too personal

Your personal life is your private time, but anything posted online is open to wider scrutiny.

Don’t give an interviewer the chance to reject you, by simply leaving too much of yourself on social media without any privacy settings activated.

Relationship updates

Whilst your friends and family may be happy to be bombarded with your relationship updates, future employers might be less impressed. It’s a good idea to keep check on the privacy of online PDA.

Surprisingly, totaljobs research also found that only a third of candidates expect their social media to be screened.

By taking note of our tips, hopefully this will ensure you’re better prepared for your next interview and won’t be caught off-guard online.

If in doubt, this is a good test: if you wouldn’t want your parents seeing it, you probably don’t want an employer seeing it either!