Friend me, Tweet me, add me, hire me

“Networking is about building real relationships with real people. Social media is a supplement to traditional networking, not a replacement,” Macon said.

Paley also emphasized the importance of privacy. According to her, it is crucial for students to know that they are leaving a digital footprint visible to future employers. In this case social media can also hurt one’s efforts, if privacy is not closely monitored.

“A thoughtful tweet or an impressive LinkedIn recommendation won’t land you a job offer, but a tasteless Facebook post could cost you an opportunity in the blink of an eye,” Macon said.