We are living in a digital age. This is not shocking news to anyone at this point, it is simply reality. We have an online presence regardless of whether or not we are avid social media users. Even those who work hard to live their lives free of technology are not exempt from having others publish, share, or comment about them online. The question is: how does this affect your job search?

According to a recent Canadian study, 93% of employers screen potential job candidates online before deciding to interview or hire them. If an employer were to Google your name right now, what would they see? Take a minute to do this yourself. What comes up? If you were an employer, what impression would you get from the results?

This is not meant to scare anyone, we all simply need to be aware that our digital footprint exists and is, for the most part, permanent. Everything that is published, posted, and linked to you or about you online remains as part of this footprint. People are going to use the information they find about you online in order to make decisions and judgments about you, possibly without ever having met you. This is something we all need to think about, especially when handing out resumes. Some of this can be controlled, such as what you post personally, what you decide should be linked to your name, which sites you choose to visit and who you share your information with. Some of what may appear about you is not in your control. What others say, post, and link to your name may not match the online persona you are hoping to create.

Here’s how to clean up your digital footprint:

1. Delete what you can that may come across to others as inappropriate or that does not fit with the impression you are hoping to make on others. Think about your future goals: in five years from will you want your boss coming across that video posted about you from last weekend? You may need to ask for help from friends or website administrators to help remove content from the past that is no longer relevant to yourself today.

2. Create positive content about yourself. Polish up your social media profiles. Share positive stories, events, actions, and pictures. Create your own blog or website – Blogger and Weebly are two excellent, user-friendly and free platforms you can use to share your interests, passions, and personality. Try to make it so that if someone Googles you, not only are they for sure going to find you, but they are going to get a good snapshot of who you are.

3. If you aren’t already using LinkedIn, get on it. It is easy. It looks intimidating, especially for those without much work experience or who are unclear about what career path they want to take. But here is the thing: if an employer searches your name in Google your LinkedIn profile will appear before Facebook does. It is how LinkedIn works, as they have prime Search Engine Optimization. Having a LinkedIn profile enables you to create positive online content for yourself and allows employers to see you in a professional light before a personal one.

Not sure what to put on your LinkedIn profile? Begin with a nice clear picture of yourself – a head shot is best but definitely not a selfie! Get someone to take a nice picture of you smiling, with no one else in the picture. Then write something about yourself, like a resume but you can be a little more creative about it. If you don’t have any work experience, talk about special projects you have done in school, any individual accomplishments or positive things in which you have participated. Share some of your goals and interests. Connect to groups that explore these interests – even if you don’t want to engage in those groups, they will be listed on your profile and show, to anyone who is interested in looking, what kinds of things you like to think about. You can also use LinkedIn to your advantage when applying for a specific company, because many organizations maintain a presence there. Check out their page to get a feel for their organizational values, and maybe even find out the name of the HR person to whom you should be addressing when writing your cover letter.

Everything you post, share, and create online should, for the most part, be positive. Keep in mind that everything posted to cyberspace becomes part of the public domain. Think about the impression you want to make on anyone looking you up, now and in the future, and don’t be afraid to make it a positive one.

Meghan Reid is the Social Media Assistant for Youth Employment Services (Manitoba), which provides free and inclusive employment services to Manitoba youth aged 16-29.