Many, many individuals overshare these days, and the very same photos that you considered would be fun to share with friends on Instagram can actually stop you from finding work. So what should you do? You should clean up your online presence before you begin looking for a new job. Let’s initiate with Instagram, the most visual form of social sharing.

Your profile is private so you’re fine right? Wrong! Your photos are never private. There are websites that rip all photos from public and private Instagram accounts and make them conveniently visible to the public. There are also ways to track Instagram accounts through Facebook, which mostly uses your real name. All of those private photos could be used to hold you back from getting a job.

Even if all you post is pictures of you and your baby, you might be telling the interviewer something about your life that could bias them against you. As soon as possible, make certain that you clean out your Instagram account with the following tips:

• Consider Deleting Everything

You might need to consider deleting your account and/or every single unprofessional photo you ever took. Inquire yourself: did sharing a photo of you doing something stupid assist you in any way? These photos can be fun to share in the moment, but most people do not require updates on your good times, and a few weeks later they are just tools people can use to learn way too much about your personal life. Delete everything you are willing to delete.

• Change Name/Make Private

What you will not delete you should try to hide. Make certain your Instagram name is not your real name, remove your real name from the account, and consider changing the location and turning your profile image into something else (such as a flower or an animal) so that if someone does find the private account, they have no reason to think it is you and continue searching.

• Edit for Spelling and Grammar

Everything you say and do develops an impression. For the photos you are keeping, edit your spelling and grammar to make it appear more professional. If an interviewer does find a photo of you, at the very least you want them to read it and feel you are intelligent.

• See What is Out There

Search for your Instagram name on Google and in tags. For instance, if you had an Instagram @EverydayInterviewTips, then do Google search for different terms, such as “Instagram @everydayinterviewtips.” This will permit you to see what shows up if people search for you. If you find that you are tagged in a photo that is unflattering, you can inquire the person to remove it.

• Prevent Adding Strangers

Once your Instagram is private, you are probably still going to have people adding you. Deny them unless you know who they are. The more people that you add without looking the more likely a future interviewer is there.

At last, Watch What You Post

The culture of sharing revealing photos, unflattering photos, and unprofessional photos is an issue that actually does affect the job interview process. Clean up your profile and be careful.