Welcome to the Real World: The Fine Line of Self Promotion

[Life after college is hard. Like really hard. But it's not so hard that you should curl up in a ball and watch E! marathons all day long. Not only are we covering the experience from a first-hand perspective, but we're now covering it from a how-to-survive-it perspective. Every week, we're going to bringing the best advice to getting through your first post-grad year. Because sometimes, your grandmother's "just go to law school" advice just doesn't cut it.]

By Alexandra Gehringer

A picture says a thousand words. So what do 1,384 tagged photos on Facebook say? And the 102 you’ve posted to Twitter? And the 46 GPOYs you’ve got on your Tumblr? That’s a hell of a lot of talking before you’ve even opened your mouth to potential employers.

Whether you’re willing to believe it or not, your social networking sites are subject to review by anyone who has your resume. Now, before you cry and scream and tell me how long it took you to curate so many tasteful photographs of your cleavage, just listen. I’m not suggesting you quit Facebook. I’m not suggesting you quit blogging. I’m not suggesting you quit anything.

I’m trying to tell you how to take your (Internet) fame-whoring ways and put them to good use.

Think of the job you want. Is it corporate or creative? Will you be working on an older team or a younger team? How casual or formal is the office? What’s the tone of the company you’re aiming to join? Address these questions, then mirror your Internet presence based on your answers.

If you’re eyeing a spot at that new, hip fashion magazine, make sure your pictures, tastes and statuses reflect their youthful and trendy vibe. Should you be gunning to work at one of your town’s top law firms, lay off the nip slip photos and opt for a more polished look. Post evidence of yourself volunteering, bettering your mind and enjoying some wholesome fun with family and friends.

When in doubt over whether something is appropriate or not, ask yourself if grandma would approve. And I’m not talking about your cool, pot-smoking gran who lives in a nudist colony in New Mexico. Think more along the lines of Grandma Doris who loves Precious Moments collectibles and pudding cups.