When I talk with job seekers in our career transition programs, one question comes up again and again: “Does my social media really matter when I’m job hunting?” The short answer is yes — more than most people realise.
Your online presence has become part of your CV. Employers and recruiters don’t just look at your application; they look at how your digital footprint lines up with your professional story. Done well, social media can reinforce your strengths and open doors. Done poorly, it can raise red flags that quietly take you off the shortlist.
In my work as an HR leader and now career transition specialist, I’ve seen both sides — the candidate who lands an interview because their LinkedIn profile tells a compelling, consistent story, and the candidate who misses out because an old post undermined their professional image.
This isn’t about being perfect online. It’s about exercising judgement, being intentional, and making sure what’s public helps rather than hinders you.
What to Post (and What Not To)
Think of your social media as your professional shopfront:
Good to post:
- Real achievements and certifications
- Projects you’ve contributed to
- Volunteering or community involvement
- Thoughtful industry commentary
- Evidence of learning — short courses, books, events
Best to avoid:
- Disparaging remarks about employers, clients or colleagues
- Private workplace material or confidential information
- Risky jokes that can be taken out of context
- Content that undermines safety, respect or inclusion
The test is simple: would you be happy for a future employer to read this out loud in an interview?
The Myth of Deleted Posts
One of the most common misconceptions I hear is: “I’ll just delete it if it’s a problem.”
Here’s the reality: even if you delete a post, it may live on through screenshots, reshares, cached pages or public archiving tools like the Wayback Machine. Deletion reduces visibility, but it’s no guarantee of erasure.
The safest mindset is to post as if a future employer will see it — because they might.
Can Employers Use Social Media to Make Decisions?
In Australia, employers can review information that is publicly available online. That means a quick check of LinkedIn, or even a Google search of your name, is entirely lawful.
What they cannot do is make decisions based on protected attributes such as gender, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation. Anti-discrimination and privacy laws still apply.
The grey area is cultural fit. Employers may not say it out loud, but they often use social media as a sense-check for judgement and values. This is why a professional, consistent presence can give you an edge.
Candidate Checklist: Social Media and Job Search
Use this quick tool to sanity-check your online presence:
- Audit your footprint: Google yourself and see what a recruiter would find.
- Clean up: Hide or delete old posts that don’t reflect who you are now.
- Update profiles: Make sure LinkedIn matches your CV and tells a consistent story.
- Add positives: Share at least two posts that highlight your skills, learning or values.
- Check privacy settings: Lock down personal accounts, but assume anything public is permanent.
- Get a sense check: Ask a trusted friend to scroll your feed and give you honest feedback.
- Think future-focused: Post as if your next boss or client will read it.
Platform-by-Platform Guide
- Keep it professional, aligned with your CV
- Share achievements, skills, learning and industry insights
- Use a clear, professional photo
- Engage constructively with peers and leaders
- Treat it as personal, but set privacy controls carefully
- Avoid public rants, risky humour or posts that could be misinterpreted
- Keep anything public neutral or positive — volunteering, hobbies, community involvement
- Often personal, but remember employers may still look
- Ensure public content reflects you in a balanced way
- Be mindful that photos tell as much of a story as words
Final Thoughts
Social media is no longer separate from the job search — it’s part of the package. Employers are looking for consistency, professionalism and values that align with their workplace.
At Career Money Life, we integrate this into our career transition programs because it’s one of the simplest, most powerful ways candidates can set themselves apart. Social media won’t land you the job on its own, but it can tip the scales in your favour.
Remember: social media is now part of your CV. Curate it, make it consistent, and let it show the best of who you are. Done right, it becomes an asset, not a liability.
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