This document provides advice for students on managing their online presence and digital identities when applying to colleges and jobs. It recommends that students clean up their social media profiles by adjusting privacy settings, removing inappropriate photos and posts, and using a professional email address. Students are advised to create a "personal brand" that presents them in a way that will attract rather than repel admissions officers and employers. The document outlines specific steps students can take to build their brand online through a blog or Twitter and engage positively on social media. It emphasizes only posting content they wouldn't mind their parents seeing and participating in online conferences to help advance their personal brand.

1. hustler420@yahoo.com
So, about that college
application?
Essential keys to the digital job
search
sxxycutie4eva@aol.com

2. Ask the Audience
• Would you send any of those
photos along with your college
application?
• Would you sign your name,
“Sexy 4 Eva”?
• What about for a job
application?

3. If you’re online…
• 20% of admissions counselors admit to
looking at candidates’ Facebook profiles
• More than that admit to Googling candidates
• Everyone sees your e-mail address

4. Does it matter?
• Emory University tour guides friend
students, and profiles affect admissions
decisions
• Admissions denied at Reed College because of
“disparaging blog posts”

5. Bottom line
• What you post isn’t private, and deleting it
doesn’t make it go away

6. But…
• You can use that to your advantage
• You can make your own online identity (called
a “personal brand”)

7. That’s what I did
• Now I’m a social media strategist at
OptimalResume.co
• I blogged and tweeted my way to a job

8. How does that apply to you?
• Create a personal brand that attracts, rather
than repels, college admissions offices

9. Step 1: Clean up
• Facebook privacy settings
• Clean profile picture
• Untag incriminating photos
• First.last@gmail.com
• Delete offensive blog posts
• What else?

10. Step 2: Create your “brand”
• How do you want to be known?
• Smart? Tech-savvy? Artsy?
• Want colleges to think, “That person will
contribute to our campus”

11. Step 3: Take your brand online
• Twitter
• website/blog
• What about Facebook?

12. What do you say?
• Write what interests you…within reason
• Follow the “Mom Rule” — If you wouldn’t
want your mom to see it, don’t post it

13. A chance to try it out!
• You can tweet from the conference
• Tweet about your experience here — what
you’re working on, who you’re meeting

14. Getting started
• Twitter handle – use firstlast (i.e. kellygiles)
• Bio – something smart
• Picture – a nice headshot, if you want one
• End your tweets with #ncsmi so you can track
the conversation

15. Last words
• Think before you post.

16. Questions?