Alex Kniess

When looking for a job, it's absolutely valuable to have a presence online and to naturally share a fresh stream of content. But you should be careful of over-sharing and retweeting just to expand your online footprint.

As I went through college and entered into the industry, I met many people. Some became great friends and great connections, while others I severely neglected, and they eventually faded away. Along the way, I've made many mistakes when maintaining and growing my network. As a result, I've gleaned some simple tips for avoiding some of the major pitfalls.

I did a lot of things during my time at the University of Oregon. The best and most fun things I did had absolutely nothing to do with getting a job. But if I had to distill just five things that did contribute to getting a job, it would be these.

I feel sorry for everyone entering the workforce who is younger than myself. If I had been able to tweet and stalk people on Facebook in middle school, I'm not sure anyone would want to hire me. I would have left a digital trail wrought with misguided views, ill-informed statements and failed romantic relationships. I'm sure anyone else who has ever grown up would have done the same. So now that hiring managers are Googling as part of the screening process and everyone's life glows hot under the focused lens of their magnifying glass, what are the ramifications?

A few weeks ago, I returned from one of the greatest adventures of my life. With a friend who couldn't care less about advertising, I set out on a motorcycle that I barely knew how to ride for one exciting month. What I found were answers to questions I didn't know I had, a deeper understanding of myself and what I want, and some new critical thoughts on advertising.