Entering the world of work after University or college can often be a culture shock. It means having to be somewhere at a certain time, where previously you had far more flexibility.

Depending on the job it could mean adhering to a dress code.   And it also means fitting into an organisational hierarchy with a certain defined way of doing things.

Most graduates expect all that. However, what the latest version of our AVG Digital Diaries research called Digital Baggage suggests is that many don’t realise that they need to change the way they interact and share personal information online as well.

AVG Digital Diaries is an on-going study, which looks at how technology is having an impact on different life-stages.

Digital Baggage is our sixth Digital Diaries study and is the first one to look at adults in the 18 to 25-year-old bracket who are either looking for work, or are recently employed.

We asked 4400 18 to 25-year-olds in 11 countries across the world how they manage their digital footprints. The results should make many stop and think as much of what they are doing could be making it harder to get that job interview or could cause them problems in their current role.

In particular:

Less than half (43%) have done something as basic as an online audit to clear away potentially embarrassing content. That includes the pictures of you ‘over indulging’ at a party that can be easily found.

As we’ve illustrated in our accompanying video, any recruiter may find a different answer to the standard interview question “tell me about your hobbies” than the one you’ve given. For more watch the video below!

When at work, a quarter of young adults – a third in the USA – are actually Facebook friends with their boss.However, only 40% will vary their Facebook privacy settings to hide certain content from work colleagues who are also Facebook friends. That means any potentially embarrassing posts quickly become public knowledge, and some of your less charitable or mischievous colleagues may share them on.

Most worryingly, 1 out of 8 (12%) young adults have posted ‘abusive’ comments online about their boss following a bad day at work. Depending on the comment and the company’s disciplinary policy, that could in extreme circumstances result in dismissal.

To help young adults navigate their way around the online world of work, we’ve put together some suggestions in a downloadable PDF called: “How to be Facebook friends with your boss and keep your job‘.

This covers five different areas anyone in employment should be aware of – from ‘think before you post’ to ‘respect confidentiality’ and ‘be aware of your privacy settings.’

Our suggestions, which are available in the pdf above, show how simple common sense steps are often ignored. It can help anyone in the world of work protect their online reputations while at the same time allowing them to use social media to its full potential.

Crucially, we also give pointers on how being proactive in managing your digital footprint can actually enhance your future career.

How are you managing your Digital Footprint and have you or anyone you know ever fallen foul of posting something that’s got you in hot water at work? Let us know by joining in the conversation here or on our community Facebook page.

How to be Facebook friends with the boss and keep your job