Site helps clean up Facebook profiles

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It looks like a promising year for University of Texas at Austin graduates. Neil Johnson of the University of Texas Liberal Arts Career Services, says the job market seems more positive. There has been more recruiting on campus and through the university’s internal job database.

As the students venture out into the job market, their online personas will get the spotlight. It’s something UT senior Jeanette Dehay says she’s prepared for. She’s already well into her job search and is aware of how her online profiles can affect her chances of landing that her dream job.

"I’ve had a couple interviews so far this month and they’re both very exciting,” said Dehay. “They did mention things about upholding the company’s standards."

In preparation for those kinds of comments, Dehay says she’s kept a close eye on her social networking sites: Twitter and Facebook .

“I definitely take advantage of the privacy features but I’m also aware that sometimes things get out that you don’t want them to,” said Dehay. “So, I’ve been making an effort in the last year since I’m graduating to regulate what I put on my Facebook and my Twitter.”

That's a step in the right direction, according to Johnson. He says students should think about their “brand” online.

“They really want to be thinking about themselves online,” said Johnson. “Just like on your resume and cover letter using the same header, when you’re online having the same professional photo whether you’re on Twitter or on Facebook, or any form of social media, really kind of establishing yourself online.”

That could mean cleaning up what’s been posted online by you or your friends.

Reppler is a new website, launched April 5, that could help. It’s a tool that scans your Facebook profile for content, privacy and security issues that may give a poor impression. It’s different from other similar sites because it’s free, though advanced features are in the works that will cost you.

So far, Reppler’s founder, Vlad Gorelik, says they’ve seen a “nice response” and that they plan an expansion to include Twitter and LinkedIn.

Not all companies, though, put a lot of emphasis on an applicant’s online profile. Some, like Indeed , only consider social media profiles if they relate to the position the job-seeker applied for. Indeed is a technology company recruiting UT students at a career fair Wednesday.

“For us, we’re not going online and looking how many pictures that they have on their Facebook account that are inappropriate because that’s not our culture but obviously if that’s applicable to the job they’re applying for with us then that could be important,” said Jolynn Cunningham, university relations manager for Indeed.