Whether you’re a college student or well into your career, hopefully you’ve recognized that social media outlets can enhance your chances of being a top-notch job candidate. Social recruiting is at an all-time high. In 2011, 89 percent of U.S. companies used social networks to recruit employees, up from 83 percent in 2010. No matter what industry you’re looking to work in, it’s clear your social footprint matters to future employers.

There are plenty of articles that discuss how social media can hurt your job search, but I’m more interested in discussing how you can use the powers of social media for good. We’re living in a digital age, which means every industry—from investment banking to entertainment—is using social media and looking to see how employees are using these sites, too.  Here are five ways to show you’re social media-savvy and a serious job candidate.

 Many young professionals, college students and even high school seniors, have expressed confusion and uncertainty in how to use LinkedIn. LinkedIn can seem like a daunting social network and many say that they don't know where to start. Think of LinkedIn as the professional Facebook. You want to use it to make connections and nurture relationships with professional contacts such as classmates, professors, coworkers and supervisors. Below are tips for getting started with LinkedIn and harnessing its power.

When developing your personal brand, one thing that is also important to take into consideration is the promotion and marketing of that brand. Market your personal brand by growing your following on your digital channels and building your network of contacts.

When new users begin using social media platforms such as Twitter and Google+, the first thing they ask is “ What should I share on social media?” Once you get into the swing of things, etiquette goes out the window and next thing you know you are over-sharing. Below is a list of things you should not share on social media if you are interested in preserving your personal brand and attracting employers.

In 2011, 89% of employers googled a candidate's name. When someone googles your name, the search results speak volumes about who you are and what you do. Google your name now. What are the search results on the first page? You should have a Linkedin profile, Google plus profile, blog or website, Google authorship on articles you’ve written, pages you have been featured on, and a twitter profile. What is revealed on these pages brands you both personally and professionally. I have diligently been working on manipulating the search results that are shown for my name and you should too. Here are some key ways to take control of your google search results.

Of all the social networks, LinkedIn is the most important when it comes to presenting yourself professionally to potential employers and recruiters. Although it may seem tedious and awkward at first, investing time and energy into your LinkedIn profile as you would a job application, helps build your online presence among 175 million job seekers and professionals.  With recent changes in August, the social networking platform places more emphasis on the person than it ever has.  The profile picture is bigger, recommendations correlate to skills and the installation of a contact button takes engagement beyond the profile. Read below for tips on how to optimize your profile for the job search.

Personal branding is always top of mind for young professionals as they begin to embark on their careers. Finding a balance between your professional brand and social media can be difficult if you don't know where to start. Recently, I have observed many young professionals, especially seniors in college and recent grads, create new twitter accounts for professional use, while keeping their personal ones to communicate what they really want to say.  There are some pros and cons to this approach. On the positive side, you are able to keep your personal and professional interests completely separate. On the other hand however, you must be excellent with time management and make sure that your professional account is not neglected where it comes across as inauthentic.

I get it, personal social networking profiles should be places where you can share personal information, express yourself and be social with your friends and family. Unfortunately, thanks to the accessibility provided by the Internet, what was once private and personal is now public information. As a job candidate, over 80% of employers will search your name and look at your social profiles.  47% of recruiters react negatively to pictures that include alcohol and 54% see misspelling and poor grammar as a deal breaker. These are just some of the things that should be top of mind when posting to Twitter and Facebook. Below is a checklist to make sure that your nights out don’t reflect badly on your personal brand.

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