Ask HR: How Thoroughly Should Job Seekers Purge Their Social Media?

​SHRM President and Chief Executive Officer Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is answering HR questions as part of a series for USA Today.

Do you have an HR or work-related question you'd like him to answer? Submit it here. 

I am graduating in the spring and looking to start my professional career. Should I scrub my social media to remove embarrassing posts that prospective employers might see? —Kyla

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.: Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! What an exciting time in your life as you begin your career. You are right to consider your social media presence because employers most assuredly are.

Hiring managers are looking at your social media just as closely as your resume or cover letter. In fact, according to a recent survey, 71 percent of hiring decision-makers agree that social media is effective for screening applicants. And more than half have found content on a candidate's social media pages that ended up costing the person a potential job offer.

Cleaning up or "scrubbing" your online image does not mean you need to change everything about who you are. It just means you may need to be more intentional about how you post or what you share (and with whom). Here are some tips to help you project your best online self, without sacrificing your personality:

• Google yourself. Google is where most recruiters and hiring officers start if they want to find out who you are. You should search for your name, as well as any online aliases and e-mail addresses you have used over the years, to see what pops up. If a stranger searched for your name, who would the results say you are? That is the story you should focus on.
• Make your accounts private. Go to your settings and choose only "friends" to see your activity. But if you want to remain public, you may wish to hide or delete any inappropriate posts. You can always archive Instagram photos, save Snapchats to memories, hide content from your Facebook timeline or update your settings to limit visibility to other viewers.
• Add the right photos. Your profile picture is the first thing hiring managers see when they find you online. You do not need to get a professional headshot, but do make sure that your profile and cover photos are respectable and easily visible.
• Post industry-related news, quotes or articles. Post, share or retweet anything related to the industry you are in or want to be a part of. When a hiring manager sees that the mission of their company mirrors your own brand, they may be more likely to consider you for a position.
• Follow inspiring people and companies. Blogs, news sources and any other website you love count, too! Who you follow tells managers what you are passionate about, which leaders you admire and what trends you are up-to-date on.

I'll leave you with this: Simply make smart social media choices. Before you post something, consider whether it matches the online presence you wish to uphold. If a hiring manager brought it up in an interview, would you be able to comfortably explain why you posted it? Be intentional about your social media presence and it will be an asset in your career and life.

When building a resume, how far back should I document work history? Should I include experience not relevant to the field I'll be applying to? —Brianna

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.: Once you've begun a career, it can be challenging to decide what information to include in your resume and what to exclude.  And having an updated professional resume is a crucial part of distinguishing yourself from other applicants. 

It is a common practice to list the last 10-15 years of experience or up to five or six jobs, whichever allows you to stay within a one- or two-page resume length. If the position you're applying to requires a certain number of years of experience, then make sure to list this amount of experience and more, if possible. If you're looking for an entry-level position, then including any jobs to show you have experience may be relevant, even if those jobs were performed when you were younger.

Should you choose to include non-relevant work experience, first reflect on when and how to include this experience as it aligns with the position to which you're applying. After studying the position description, look for any connections you can make. You may have a mastery of valuable skills like problem-solving, customer service or communications that translate well.  Include any work experience related to those competencies. But keep your descriptions brief, and focus on the transferable skills and results. 

Look at your resume from the perspective of a hiring manager. Does it tell the story of how your career has prepared you for the job you seek? Is each bit of information valuable? Hiring managers see numerous resumes, so make every page, line and word count. Sometimes less is more. However, if an experience is relevant, make sure it is clear why. Be straightforward, complete and concise.

I wish you the best of luck in your job search!