Every professional is a company within themselves.

Any kind of company, large or small, has to do PR for themselves. Whether they’re interacting with customers or networking with other companies, they need to appear as their most professional selves at all times. It’s the same for individual people; your name and face is a brand in itself, and if you want to get the most out of your career, that brand needs to be absolutely immaculate.

Now, don’t let me be the one to tell you what you can and cannot put on your social media, but you might want to cogitate on this: during the hiring process, it’s not uncommon for recruiters to do a rudimentary search of their prospective employee. This means scoping out your social media and any associated sites or blogs. While it is admittedly kind of unfair, you have to remember that when you put stuff out on the internet like that, it’s for everyone to see. If it’s something you don’t want people to see, don’t put it up. Even if they don’t catch it now, trust me, they’ll catch it later.

Speaking of sites and blogs, if you run a personal blog, either as a platform for your personal portfolio or just to shoot the breeze, you should endeavor to have that blog looking as nice as possible. Make sure it’s properly formatted and free of spelling and grammatical errors, and check to ensure that none of your links are dead. In addition to helping you make a good impression, a well-assembled blog or site can double as evidence of your computer skills.

A name is a brand, and brands require constant upkeep. If anything’s got your name on it, make sure it’s the absolute best it can be. If you still want to post your favorite memes and hot takes online, just make a separate social media account without your name. Boom, problem solved.