In this day of social media, there is a point – at least for a serious job seeker – when too much information will certainly reduce your chances of getting an interview, promotion or the employment opportunity you seek.

While we all enjoy posting our photos and what we’re doing on Facebook, it pays to remember that one day employers may very well be searching that database before they decide to call you in for an interview.

Respecting Social Media

If you think photos of you getting wasted on a Friday night are funny, it won’t be to a hiring manager. If you rant and rave about a particularly touchy subject, a hiring manager will worry that you’ll do the same on the job.

Even if you behave yourself on Facebook, you may leave a trail of crumbs on various websites where you’ve left comments. For some, it’s sport to let loose with unacceptable comments as long as it’s being done from the safety of a computer keyboard. However, if your email address is tracked by a potential employer and they see anything disturbing in your comments, you can kiss that job opportunity good-bye.

In public, we all monitor our responses, never thinking to reveal our deepest thoughts or prejudices. It’s prudent to behave the same way online.

Sanitize Your Online Presence Before You Apply

Before you apply for a position, check your Facebook and other social media pages and clean them up. A mentor from my past once told me, “Don’t write anything down that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the New York Times.” Great advice. Revisit those sites where you left comments. If you can be identified via your email address, then change it on your resume before you apply for a position.

We’ve all acted foolishly…it’s human nature. But when your livelihood depends upon you behaving in a professional manner, you better make certain an employer can’t find anything negative about you on the net.