Managing Your Digital Footprint
As a communication student, your digital presence isn't just a background check — it's a portfolio. The NACE Professionalism competency calls on students to understand the impact of their professional work image, and your social media is exactly that. Use this page to audit, clean up, and build an online presence that works for you.
Google Yourself
Search your full name, then your name + "University of Houston." Check Google Images too. Note anything you'd be uncomfortable explaining in an interview.
What you want to see: your LinkedIn, portfolio, and professional work. What you don't want to see: anything inflammatory, embarrassing, or inconsistent with how you want to be known.
Pro tip: Go to google.com/alerts and set up a notification for your name. You'll know any time you appear in new search results.
Platform Audit
Go through each platform and ask: If a hiring manager saw this today, would I still get the job?
LinkedIn — Should be fully public and polished. Current photo, updated headline, complete experience section. This is your most important professional platform.
Instagram — Review posts, reels, and tagged photos going back at least two years. Untag yourself from anything that doesn't reflect who you are professionally. Consider going private if your content isn't something you want employers to see.
X / Twitter — Review your post history. Delete anything inflammatory or offensive. Your bio and pinned post are the first things recruiters see — make them count or keep them neutral.
TikTok — Public videos are fair game for employers to find. A strong, intentional TikTok in your field can actually be an asset. Random or questionable content is a liability.
Facebook — Check your privacy settings and review tagged content.
Build a Professional Presence
After cleaning up or locking down your social profiles, you can now use your channels to tell a story.
Post about your field — share articles, projects, or industry news that shows you're engaged
Document your work — campaigns, stories, designs, events. Give people a reason to follow your growth
Engage with professionals you admire — a thoughtful comment can lead to a real connection
Stay consistent — your name, photo, and voice should feel like one person across all platforms