Details: Created: Wednesday, 22 April 2015 11:15; Published: Wednesday, 22 April 2015 11:15; Written by Natalie

Think that potential employers won't check your social media profiles? Think again!!

I have to admit, that I was once a little ignorant to the importance of a relatively professional social media portfolio. But as more and more businesses use social media like linked in, twitter, facebook and instagram, it's not an unusual thing for a company to check out potential staff online - before interviewing. Your public image is important! I, like most recruiters, will use social media to sound out potentially suitable candidates as part of my screening process.

Whilst you might think that it’s harmless having a profile photo of you with a traffic cone on your head, or surrounded in beer cans, - or sat in a shopping trolley – you could be losing yourself an interview. Social media is at its peak with a whopping 2 billion people using facebook each day.

Employers are recruiting differently and relying on social media to give an insight into a candidate’s potential suitability to their business and team. It’s important to have a relatively professional social media portfolio where possible. Check your settings – make sure your photo’s are private. Keep in mind that when it comes to facebook, your cover photo and profile photo are public – anyone that cares to look you up can see what it is that you are up to/build a picture of what you might be like. That harmless tipsy tweet sent after a few too many? Might not be so harmless if your profile is public. Of course this doesn't mean that every potential employer is looking to hire a boring corporate clone - you can still show your personality and have fun with social media, but know where to draw the line when it comes to your public images.

With a wide range of candidates to choose from, a little thing like negative social media might be what lets you down…..