Recently, social media and networking became absolutely huge. In 2006, Myspace was reportedly receiving more traffic than search engine giants, Google, who are currently the most viewed website in the world. Since Facebook's inception in 2004, it has grown to become the second most popular site worldwide (behind Google), amassing over 800 million users of all ages.

Smartphones are advertised as being social media compatible, Apple's latest update for the iPhone boasted system-wide Twitter integration, a film was based around Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg, and television programmes highlight the appropriate tweeting hashtag to encourage trending. It's hard to ignore these statistics, especially if you're running a business, which is why employers are starting to take a look at your online profiles as well as your application form.

Your online presence

There's no denying that social networking is a fantastic and revolutionary way to keep in touch with your friends and family members, as well as consuming videos, images and site links from all over the Web. It's not unusual for a whole family to have Facebook profiles, including the grandparents, and it's this accessibility that makes keeping your online presence clean such a big issue. Bear in mind that your mates may have a higher tolerance for your virtual bad behaviour, but an employer is a thousand times more likely to be put off by the way you carry yourself online. Key negatives that employers point out when viewing a candidate's social networking profile include:

• Excessive foul language
• Drug references
• Offensive/inappropriate photos
• Extremist views (racism, sexism, etc)
• Links to unsuitable websites/articles
• Evidence of criminal activity
• Lying about qualifications
• Evidence of excessive alcohol abuse
• Membership of silly/offensive pages or groups
• Immature email addresses
• Excessive use of shorthand/abbreviated text
• Negative statements about school/work
• Sharing confidential information

Looking at these main points, you can see that it's easy to avoid these online faux pas as long as you're careful about what you're posting and who can see it. By being conservative about the content you're sharing, you can avoid offending curious recruiters, or anybody else for that matter.

Managing your privacy settings

Be aware that everything you post online is visible in some way. Whether you're uploading your holiday snaps, writing a personal blog or simply reviewing a YouTube video, it's possible to trace that information back to you. Which means a potential employer can do this too. If you've signed up to a social network, it's crucial that you've correctly configured your privacy settings to ensure that only your friends are able to see what you're posting. Sites, such as Facebook, constantly update how privacy is handled so it's worth checking back regularly to see that everything private is kept that way.

Networks often have a 'View As…' feature which allows you to take a look at your profile from the perspective of a non-friend or person on your friend list. Use this feature frequently to ensure that everything you want concealed is hidden from public view. You can even go as far as hiding your profile from search engines and the site's search utilities, meaning that nobody will know that you're on there unless you specifically give them the details.

Another handy feature, for those with lewd friends, is the option to keep your wall private so that's it's only visible to you. If you don't trust your mates to keep the content clean, or if you're sick of removing inappropriate posts, it's probably worth hiding your wall, at least until your job hunt is over.

Facebook also recently introduced a feature that allows you retroactively mark all of your activity as hidden from public view if you hadn't done so at the time. This is an extremely useful tool for any members who had previously posted content publicly but have had a change of heart since then.

Friend lists

Most networks nowadays allow you to sort your friends into separate lists, giving you the additional option to hide certain content from whichever lists you choose. Google+ features heavily around friend 'circles', making the sorting process much easier. Facebook also recently introduced this feature, defaulting to sorting by networks. These lists can easily save from an online misstep if you use them efficiently. By filtering which content your close friends, schoolmates, family and colleagues are exposed to, you can ensure that your mum will never see those photos of your recent night out, and neither will a prospective employer.

Profile clean-up

If you're guilty of some less-than-reputable behaviour online, there are three routes you can go down:

1) Edit your privacy settings so that nobody other than friends can see your profile

2) Delete/deactivate your profile completely

3) Tidy up anything that may be deemed inappropriate, unprofessional or offensive.

If, for some reason, you're determined to keep your profile open for the world to see, your best bet would be to trawl through your posts and profile info and remove anything which is inaccurate, misrepresentative or outright offensive. Remember that you're looking for things that an employer would see in a negative light so any photos of you drunk (especially if you're underage), statuses filled with swear words, rude jokes, 'hilarious' personal info and silly email addresses must go!

It's simple to change the email address that your profile is associated with and acquiring an account with a reputable free service, such as Gmail, only takes a minute or so. Try to make the address as professional as possible, such as FirstName.LastName@gmail.com or something similar. An employer isn't going to think much of a young adult who still uses xxiluvgirlsaloudxx@hotmail.com as their main contact address. Most providers allow you to import your contacts and mail from one account to another, making the switch as quick and painless as possible.

It's not all doom and gloom

You may think that it's a bit extreme to completely alter your online personal profiles just for the sake of job-hunting but, if done correctly, sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ can actually help you with your search. Most companies have some sort of online presence which can help you snoop out privileged information about the business and what sort of approach they have to social media.

LinkedIn is a social network based around business and companies. Your profile is essentially a virtual CV, filled with your education info, work history and any relevant skills you care to mention. This is also a great tool to connect with any prospective employers, have a look at who works for that company you just applied for or for simply trying to get your name out there. It's possible to receive notifications when a company you're interested in has any vacancies and bookmark any positions which catch your eye.

LinkedIn also features Twitter integration, allowing you to showcase your 'human side', by tweeting links to articles, photos or other content which you have an opinion on. This can make you seem better-rounded to employers, who are more likely to connect with somebody who seems like a person, rather than a robot.

Top tips for using social media whilst job-hunting

• Post status updates stating that you're looking for a job. If somebody sees that you're job-hunting, they may be able to help you by pointing a certain vacancy or by putting in a few good words around their place of work.
• Search for company names on networks. It's likely that you'll find current employees for that business or even a recruiter. By simply sending a private message, it shows that you have used your own initiative to get your name out there, which may help you in the near future.
• Use relevant hashtags on Twitter, such as #needajob and #hireme, to get noticed by hopeful recruiters and employers. Remember to make sure that your Twitter profile has been given the professional makeover before you do this, however.
• Don't pester or harass employees for assistance or information as this could definitely backfire on you. If a person can't or won't help you, simply move on as they could just as easily prevent you from being considered.
• Keep a look out for any employment-based events. Companies often hold free-to-attend fairs and learning days which would benefit you greatly. By becoming a member of a company's fanpage or group, you'll be kept aware of any upcoming local events.
• If you've got any pictures of you in smart attire (from your prom or a wedding), pick one of these for your profile picture as it'll still be visible to non-friends. Though it may be hilarious, you in a Buzz Lightyear costume does not send a great message to browsing recruiters.
• Become a fan of pages relevant to your desired line of work. For example, if you fancy a job in journalism, search for pages dedicated to writing articles. You can get chatting with other like-minded hopefuls on the page's wall and start some basic networking.
• Avoid negativity. If you keep your profile positive and hold back on the aggression and pessimism, it sends an encouraging message to any employer viewing it. Your online profile gives an overview of what you're really like and constant complaining could hurt your chances of finding a job.

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