Your digital reputation is how you present yourself online. What’s yours?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever searched your name on the internet. Who hasn’t checked to see what others will find when searching your name? The images, likes, comments, social media profiles that come up are what define your digital reputation.

Today having a “clean” online reputation is a nonnegotiable. But having a strong digital reputation is more than just deleting your college party photos from Facebook. It’s a way to build one’s career and to be more attractive to companies and recruiters.

According an SHRM Foundation report, titled “Talent Acquisition: A Guide to Understanding and Managing the Recruitment Process”, the search for candidates through social networks and search engines has increased considerably in recent years. In fact, more than half of HR managers looked for a candidate’s name through a search engine and at least 80% use an online channel in their selection work. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, are the three most consulted. HR managers use social media and search results to fact check CVs for potential candidates as well as to help widen the candidate pool and find profiles that fit the role they’re trying to fill.

Learn how to use social media to build your personal brand.

If you’re in the process of looking for a new job, it’s important to take a close look at your digital identity and make sure that it fits the kind of job or company you’re targeting in your search. And this goes without saying but delete any questionable content you may have posted – as old Tweets can come back to haunt you. Not sure where to start? Here are some steps to strengthen your digital reputation:

Check the privacy settings of your social accounts

Does the idea of sifting through old embarrassing Facebook photos seem like a daunting task? Check your privacy settings on all your social media accounts so that no one can see your profile without sending you a request first. You can also control whether or not search engines suggest your profile in search results.

Choose your profile photos carefully

Because regardless of your privacy settings, people can still easily find your profile photo. Especially on LinkedIn, try to choose a photo that is professional. If you can, invest in a professional headshot. Save your mirror selfies for your private Instagram page.

Here are more secrets for success on LinkedIn.

Post personal videos on YouTube with caution

Just like social media photos, videos will also come up from a Google search and therefore become public domain. That doesn’t mean you have to censor yourself or that you cannot upload the video of that beach party or that unforgettable holiday with your friends. Just make sure to check your privacy settings and choose a username that isn’t associated with your first and last name.

Remember your online reputation offline

You can’t control what other people post on social media. Maybe you will go to a party or attend an event where photographers are always around the corner to take pictures, which will end up on social channels. You don’t need to hide from the camera, but try to avoid being caught in any embarrassing situations that may compromise your digital identity.