This tool was designed to help graduates and other job seekers research their digital footprint; it uses search engines to data mine personal information which you might not want employers to see.

Examples of UK universities using the tool

Use this tool to

Find and delete old social profiles
Lock down social media profiles (make invisible unless they know you)
Find which social profiles you’re lacking (don’t have a LinkedIin profile yet?)
Research/plan questions to ask your interviewer
Research/plan areas of similar interest and/or experience

Multi Purpose – Research Your Interviewer

It may also be used to help candidates research interviewers’ details. You can then use this information to your advantage during your interview:

Where are they from?
Which university did they attend?
What are their hobbies?

Ask questions you know they’ll be interested in (based on your research) and show that you’re interested in them too.

People hire people they like, have things in common with and feel that they can work with professionally. It’s not just about your academic record and experience!

Download

To use this tool please download the following Excel Workbook. If you do not have Microsoft Excel you can still use the tool using Open Office. If you have a Google account then you can also use Google Drive by making a copy of this Google sheet of the tool.

Compatibility – After feedback, it would seem that this tool only works in later versions of Excel. I have tested it in version 2010 and 2013 so I can confirm that it works in both of these. If you are having problems with Excel or Open Office I suggest using the Google Sheets version of the tool.

Download as MS Excel – Social Profile Checking Tool v1.01

Page last updated 6th November 2016