Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo – you name it, everyone is using them. Social networking sites have given us an excuse to tell the whole world who we are and what we are doing twenty-four seven through the wonderful World Wide Web. Facebook alone has around 200 million active users who constantly update their status, write wall posts and poke friends!

However, we have yet to realise how much such social networking platforms can affect our lives as we have slowly become obsessed with posting any information about ourselves on the Internet.

Grad Central have discovered that 1 in 5 British companies use Facebook throughout the job application process to find ‘digital dirt’ on potential employees. So for those graduates looking to start their climb up the career ladder may want to check out our special Social Networking Dos and Don’ts Guide to ensure employers are impressed with your attempts at being their perfect candidate:

DO guard your account
If you can’t help yourself, ensure your social networking profiles remain private so you can control who is able to gain access to it. That way if anything embarrassing pops up on your page, future employers won’t pick up on it at the interview stage.

DON’T have a mug shot
As tempting as it might be to upload a photo of you doing your best Facebook pose, it might not impress those who really matter. Be conscious of your appearance and keep it clean!

DO keep it professional
If you want work and play to remain separate, why not set up an account on a professional networking site such as Linked in. That way it will be easier to differentiate your professional and personal life.

DON’T explain every little detail
If you’re having a bad day, some of you might want to rant on about it online to whoever may be listening – especially if it involves a bad interview or even your lack of motivation to complete a university module. Avoid this at all costs and keep it offline.

DO it @ your own cost
With email accounts it’s wise to keep it sensible and something employers will recognise as being yours. Dodgy email addresses such as lazy_joe, hotlegs, prettylittleme, babyminx are just a few we have already come across and already these reflect badly on graduates as being immature and unprofessional, so if this is the case create a new email address purely for business only.

DON’T over impress your future employer
We have already come across plenty of individuals who have expressed their creativity online and in the real world, and maybe some have taken it that little step too far. One that has caught our eye that might not be too appropriate for an employer was this tag line:

“Carlsberg don’t make graduates but if they did……”

For more tips and advice on job hunting, why not visit Grad Central’s Twitter page or Facebook group for all the latest updates online.