Your digital footprint is often the first impression employers have of you. A quick Google search of your name reveals more than your resume ever could – so let's make sure it tells the right story about your professional potential.
1. Clean Up Your Social Media Profiles
The 5-minute social media audit:
Facebook cleanup checklist
- Remove or hide photos from schoolies, O-week, or nights out
- Delete posts with excessive swearing or controversial opinions
- Hide tagged photos where you look unprofessional
- Update privacy settings so only friends can see personal content
- Consider creating a professional Facebook page separate from personal
Instagram strategy
- Archive (don't delete) party photos – you might want them later
- Create highlights for professional content: "Projects," "Study," "Conferences"
- Use a consistent aesthetic for recent posts
- Write thoughtful captions that show your personality professionally
- Consider creating a separate Instagram account you can use to build your professional brand
- Consider switching to a business account for analytics
Twitter/X cleanup
- Delete tweets with controversial political opinions or complaints about uni
- Remove excessive slang or unprofessional language
- Pin a tweet that shows your professional interests
- Update your bio to reflect current goals
TikTok considerations
- Set account to private if content is purely personal
- Or pivot to professional content: study tips, career advice, industry insights
- Remove videos that could be misinterpreted by employers
Quick Privacy Settings Check
Google yourself first: See what employers will find when they search your name
Adjust visibility:
- Make personal accounts private or friends-only
- Ensure professional accounts are public and optimised
- Use different usernames for personal vs professional accounts
- Remove your full name from personal accounts if needed
2. Create Consistent Usernames Across Platforms
Choose one professional username format:
- FirstnameLastname: sarahchen, alexjohnson
- Firstname.Lastname: sarah.chen, alex.johnson
- FirstnameLastnameYear: sarahchen25, alexjohnson24
- FirstnameMiddleLastname: sarahkchen, alexmjohnson (if common name)
Secure your username across:
- LinkedIn (most important)
- Instagram (professional account)
- Twitter/X
- GitHub (for tech students)
- Personal website domain
- Professional email address
Username availability checklist: Use tools like Namechk.com or manually check each platform to ensure consistency across all professional accounts.
Pro tip: Even if you don't use all platforms now, secure your username to prevent others from taking it.
3. Professional Photos on a Student Budget
Here are some guidelines for taking the perfect profile photo at home.
Lighting is everything:
- Use natural light – sit facing a window
- Avoid harsh shadows or backlighting
- Golden hour (early morning/late afternoon) works best outdoors
- Use a white wall or neutral background
Outfit choices:
- Business casual: collared shirt, blazer, or neat jumper
- Avoid busy patterns, logos, or university merch
- Choose colours that complement your skin tone
- Ensure clothes are wrinkle-free and well-fitted
Photo composition:
- Frame from chest up, not too tight on face
- Look directly at camera with genuine smile
- Keep shoulders square to camera
- Take 20+ shots to get the perfect one
Free/cheap photo options:
- Ask a friend with a good phone camera
- Use university photography services (often free for students)
- Professional headshot days at career fairs
- Student photography societies often need practice subjects
- Use portrait mode on newer smartphones
Photo editing:
- Basic adjustments only: brightness, contrast, saturation
- Remove blemishes but keep it natural
- Apps like VSCO or Lightroom mobile (free versions)
- Avoid heavy filters or obvious editing
4. What to Include (and Exclude) from Professional Bios
LinkedIn Bio Structure (2-3 sentences)
Formula: Current status + Key skills/interests + Future goals + Call to action
Good example: "Marketing student at the University of Auckland passionate about sustainable brand strategies and data-driven campaigns. Experienced in social media management and consumer research through internships and coursework. Always interested in connecting with professionals in ethical marketing and sustainability."
Bad example: "Student who loves life and having fun! Studying marketing because it seemed interesting. Love my friends and family. Hit me up if you want to chat!"
Instagram Bio (Professional Account)
Include:
- Current degree and university
- Key interests or specialisation areas
- Location (city level)
- Contact information or link to LinkedIn
- Personality hint that shows professionalism
Example: "📚 Business Student @uoabusiness 🌱 Marketing Focus
📍 Auckland, NZ 📧 [email protected] ✨ Future-focused problem solver"
What to Exclude from All Bios
Avoid these red flags:
- Excessive personal information (relationship status, detailed location)
- Controversial political or religious statements
- Negative commentary about uni, work, or life
- Unprofessional language or excessive emojis
- Financial information or get-rich-quick schemes
- Anything you wouldn't say in a job interview
5. Optimise Your Email Address
Professional email format:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected] (if name is very common)
Avoid these email formats:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- University email for long-term professional use (you'll lose access after graduation)
Contact Information Placement
- Add your professional email to contact section
- Include city and state (not full address)
- Add portfolio website or relevant social media links
Instagram business profile
- Include your professional email address in your bio
- Use contact button feature
Email signature
Sarah Chen
Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) | University of Auckland
Expected Graduation: November 2025
M: 0400 123 456
E: [email protected]
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahchen
Portfolio Website (If Applicable)
Essential pages:
- About page with contact form
- Clear contact page with multiple options
- Professional social media links in footer
- Professional email prominently displayed
Quick Digital Footprint Checklist
Week 1: Audit and Clean
- Google yourself and note what appears
- Clean up Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
- Update privacy settings across all platforms
- Remove or archive unprofessional content
Week 2: Consistency
- Choose professional username format
- Secure username across all platforms
- Create professional email address
- Update contact information everywhere
Week 3: Professional Photos
- Take or commission professional headshots
- Update profile photos across all platforms
- Ensure consistency in professional image
Week 4: Content and Bios
- Write professional bios for each platform
- Ensure contact information is easily accessible
- Test all links and contact methods
- Google yourself again to see improvements
Red Flags Employers Actually Look For
Social media content that concerns employers:
- Evidence of excessive drinking or partying
- Discriminatory language or controversial political posts
- Complaints about previous employers, uni, or work
- Unprofessional photos or inappropriate content
- Poor grammar and spelling in public posts
Ongoing Maintenance
Monthly digital footprint check:
- Google yourself to see what's visible
- Review recent posts across all platforms
- Update professional information as needed
- Check that contact information is current
Before job applications:
- Deep clean all visible social media
- Update LinkedIn with latest achievements
- Ensure professional email is monitoring
- Test all contact methods work properly
Your digital footprint is your 24/7 professional representative. Employers will Google you – make sure they find someone they want to hire.
The goal isn't to create a fake online persona, but to present your authentic professional self consistently across all platforms. Clean up the content that doesn't serve your professional goals and amplify the content that showcases your skills and character.
This process takes time, but it's an investment in every future job application, networking conversation, and professional opportunity. A clean, consistent, and professional digital footprint removes barriers between you and your career goals.
Start this process now, before you desperately need it for job applications. Your future professional self will thank you for the groundwork you lay today.