Youth Incorporated Magazine

There used to be a time when finding a job required a newspaper and you needed to go through the “Wanted” column to see available job offers. Those days are long gone, and today’s digital world heavily relies on technology and the internet for job seeking. Although, we fail to remember that it works the other way around too. Just like we google everything about the companies we’re applying to, employers also google their applicants; which is why it is important to keep track of your digital footprint.

Your digital footprint is your online reputation. You need to make sure that you’ve put your best foot forward and that if someone were to google you, they would see all the relevant information. This doesn’t mean that you just remove all the negative things from your online footprint. Making sure that there is nothing bad about you online is one thing, but you also need to ensure that you utilize this opportunity to impress potential employers. How can you do that?

If you are a freelancer or someone in the creative field, you should look at the possibility of creating a landing page. You can use free platforms that can help you make a website and curate a collection that showcases all your relevant traits. Write a summary about who you are, and include your experience as a freelancer along with the projects that you’ve worked on. Make sure you compile all of this in a visually appealing way. On this website, you could even include an FAQ section, where you answer questions that employers may have when they see your profile and are interested in your work. 

Another thing you can do to improve your digital footprint is create a blog and use it as a space to express your opinions and ideas. Employers often look for these qualities during an interview, and this is a way to show them what you think about the things going on around the world. If not a blog, you could use your LinkedIn page to write small blogs.

Use social media to your advantage. Think of social media as Networking 2.0. The great thing about building and leveraging your online persona is that it gives employers a more comprehensive picture of you as a candidate. How can you stand out here? It is recommended to focus your efforts on one or two channels where you can share your work and accomplishments. Once you’ve chosen your channel, get involved and visible as soon as possible. Make sure that the content you share is your best work and that it will provide value to others. This will help you start to build a following, which can make it easier for recruiters to find you (and see you as a desirable candidate). It is obvious that these things take time and a lot of effort, however, it is definitely worth it in the long run. 

We live in a world where people are bound to form opinions based on someone’s digital footprint. We’re used to moving faster than ever, posting something takes less than a second and it is important that we pause and use these things to our advantage. Google yourself right now. What would an employer see if they searched for you today? If you don’t like the results, don’t panic. Optimizing your digital footprint can take time and effort, but it is an important part of creating the best first impression possible.