Urban Dictionary defines “digital dirt” as:

A negative online reputation; something negative connected to your name online that others can easily find: i.e. drunken pictures, extreme rants on message boards, complaints from exes, talking smack about your boss — extreme digital dirt is a digital deal-breaker.

Dr. Regina Waters, chair of Drury’s Communication Department, explains it simply: “Everyone creates digital footprints that can be retraced by potential employers. … These footprints are important to have, but when you take a step, think about how others may view what type of post or content it is.”

Whether you’re in the process of searching for a job or internship, or would just like to better recognize digital dirt, Waters give her give best tips to leave a professional digital trail.

1. Be passionate

Says Waters:

“Blogs are a best-kept secret. … It’s a way you can showcase your writing, passions, and interests. … They show that you’re not only interested in something, but you’re willing to go the extra step in learning with other people in a niche community.”

Waters explains that this is a characteristic that employers value. She has seen many of her students come through the department and quickly realize the importance of maintaining a personal blog. 

“It really is a way to brand yourself around your quirky interest. And not everyone has to share your quirky interests; someone else just may be fascinated that you put the effort into talking about it and sharing it.”

2. Be positive

No one likes following the Debbie-downers of Twittersphere — most important, employers. According to Time magazine, 93 percent of employers will review a candidate’s social profile before making a hiring decision.

Waters tells students who are online to review about two weeks of their posts:

“It’s as easy as finding a professional mentor and asking them, ‘Do you mind if we meet for coffee and pull up my social media?’ If you don’t like the feedback you’re getting, then you have a chance to change that, start reflecting, and recognizing some of those negative posts.”

3. Learn cautious transparency

Don’t overestimate privacy on social-media sites; it’s better to assume anything you post may be found, says Waters.

“It’s really important for students to be transparent … to be authentic, to be themselves … but also realize they’re in a fishbowl … and you have to put some constraints on it.”

4. Post the right headlines

We’ve all learned that things can go viral quickly and posts can be shared to eyes that you never really intended seeing.

“The thing we need to remember is that it’s a web … the level of visibility and scrutiny that can happen out there, that’s what’s important,” Waters says. “Students just have to assume that if you type it, you have to imagine it as a headline.”