Facebook for Students: Build Your Online Reputation

Nowadays, Facebook is pretty much constantly open on everyone’s screens whether at work, home or in the university library. Just browsing through photographs, posting status updates, commenting, sharing or checking what your ex is up to (we've all been there...), Facebook is used by one and all. (In our recent survey of students worldwide, more than 75% of students in every region said they use it ‘all the time’! Get the stats here.)

Facebook is a great place to keep up with friends around the world, post photographs from the night before (including some we don’t want to remember!) and comment about the news or the latest viral YouTube video.

But amongst all the fun and games – and the challenge of keeping up with your news feed – it’s easy to forget that the image we portray of ourselves on Facebook is what everyone else gets to see: not just our friends, but often potential employers. Here are few tips on managing your online reputation on Facebook to ensure you can still have as much fun while also maintaining your image for the professional world.

Which are the most popular social networks for students? Find out with the (free!) Students’ Online Usage Report >

1) Profile image

All kinds of studies have shown that images get the most interaction, especially faces. When you are a child the main source of attraction in a book are the pictures, and this fascination is something we don’t seem to outgrow. Having a photograph that shows you can be useful/important in all kinds of situations. Maybe a long-lost friend is trying to get in touch, you left your passport at a bar and a good Samaritan is trying to track you down... But more to the point, it can improve your online reputation as well – meaning the photo should preferably not be of you looking cross-eyed due to the influence of alcohol, or anything else you wouldn’t be comfortable showing at a job interview!

2) Information

The ‘About’ section is your opportunity to sum up who you are, covering everything from taste in music to political views. Be succinct – elaborating too much won’t keep a reader’s attention. And be sensible; remember this represents your identity in the online space. Make it interesting, and include your hobbies/ interests so people can see that you have more to your personality. Including all the languages you can speak is also a good idea, as a prospective employer might view that as an added advantage. Always keep all your information in this section up-to-date, including work, location and, education. Elements like religion can be more personal thing, if you want to share it that is up to you.

3) Comments

The ability to comment and share opinions on news articles and all kinds of social/political/cultural issues is all part of the beauty of the online world we live in. We are all passionate about something or the other, which is great – just remember to balance your own freedom of expression with remembering about maintaining your online reputation. If you voice extremist views on certain topics, people might be cautious and less likely to interact with you – including both friends and potential employers/professional contacts. So comment to your heart’s content but always bear in mind how you might come across to a stranger!

4) Photographs

Most of us will have a few photographs with us tagged looking rather, well, rather different than we would when approaching a job interview – maybe it’s fancy dress, a silly facial expression, or the end of a night out partying. This is (for better or worse) all part of the Facebook experience, and mostly all good fun – photos are great for capturing memories. Putting up photographs of your holidays and adventures can be a great way to add to your online image; friends, family, employers and colleagues will all enjoy seeing what you do in your spare time. Just be sensible, and if necessary, keep some photos just for yourself and close friends only.

On the whole building your online reputation is not just about the things you shouldn’t do but also the things you should to show off who you are, especially as the lines between private and professional  are constantly changing whether offline or online!

Which are the most popular social networks for students? What are the most common reasons for using social media? Which region uses Facebook most? Find out with the Students’ Online Usage Report >