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The impact your digital footprint could have on your career

• June 07, 2023

A digital footprint refers to the trail of data each person leaves behind when using the internet. It can include the websites you visit to the emails you send or your passwords and social media posts. Every website you visit, pop-up ad you click on and social media post you make contribute to your digital footprint so it’s impossible to use the internet without leaving a trail – it all contributes to your digital footprint, even if you apply for a job online and enter your national insurance number, you’re adding to the print.

 
You can have both an active digital footprint and a passive digital footprint, your active digital footprint includes personal data you voluntarily share online. Things like – accepting a cookie on a new website, signing up for a newsletter or posting on social media. On the other hand, passive digital footprints include personal data that companies collect without your knowledge through things like third party cookies and tracking scripts.

Digital footprints have such significance not just due to standing between you and your dream career, they last – once data becomes public such as an Instagram post, you have little to no control over its use by others. Secondly, a person's digital reputation which now just as crucial as their offline reputation, can be determined by their digital footprint as content posted can easily be misinterpreted or manipulated, potentially causing unintended offence. Cybercriminals can even exploit people's digital footprints for phishing or identity theft purposes. So considering these factors, it becomes crucial to be mindful of the digital footprint we create. Many individuals actively manage their digital footprints by exercising caution in their online activities to control the data collected in the first place.
 
Employers, agencies, and recruiters carry out something called ‘social media screening’ which is looking through a potential candidate's social media profiles to help them find out whether they’re suitable for the role. But if there’s inappropriate content that could suggest otherwise online, that could potentially be jeopardising future career prospects. According to CareerBuilder, 2018 70% of employers conduct social media screening, meaning it’s more important than ever to review your social media profiles before applying for your dream job.

 
Trying to delete your entire digital footprint completely is a complex task, but it’s not impossible. To start you off, here are a few steps you can take though to minimise its impact and manage your online presence. By going over all your online accounts and profiles – remove all unnecessary and outdated information so therefore it accurately reflects your current professional identity whilst reducing the risk of sharing any misleading information that might put off any recruiters of hiring managers. (It’s also equally important to be cautious about any future content you plan on posting and whether it reflects your professional brand.)

Additionally, consider using online reputation management services or tools to monitor your digital presence and address any unwanted information that may appear online. By actively managing and curating your digital footprint, you take control of your online identity and present a positive and professional image to potential employers. Finally, don't forget to review and adjust your privacy settings on all platforms to limit the visibility of your personal information, further safeguarding your digital presence.