This post comes from Jordan C., who interned in the marketing department at Reynolds .

Through high school and college students are told how important the appearance of their social media accounts are when it comes to their future and landing a job. But how truly important are they?

The answer is extremely.

Employers now look at an applicant’s social media accounts to get a feel of their personality and who they are. Having a strong social media presence is vital to getting your dream job.

Here are some top tips on how to prepare your social media accounts to get hired:

1. Choose which accounts will be professional and which will be personal.

Social media is an outlet where you can show off the fun things you’re doing, your accomplishments, and your life updates. It’s also a place for employers to discover more about you. A great idea is designating one or two social media accounts for personal life posts, and the other accounts for professional life posts. Facebook and Instagram are typically more personal platforms, so making those accounts private and using them for your personal life is a great option. Twitter, Google+, and even a personal website like Wix.com are strong choices for professional accounts. You can keep these public and use them to show off your skills and accomplishments related to employment.

2. Get a LinkedIn account.

LinkedIn accounts are vital to showcasing your professional skills. If you don’t already have a LinkedIn account, get one as soon as possible. It is a great platform to use to connect and network with other professionals, job search, and stay updated with the latest news in your career field. A previous professor of mine said, “LinkedIn is the basis of any professional brand.” If you are trying to make a professional brand for yourself, LinkedIn is where you need to start.

3. Post content relevant to your career field.

An important aspect of getting hired is being knowledgeable about news and updates in your career field. Something that often gets overlooked is posting relevant content, such as news, articles, or statistics to your social media platforms. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ are great platforms for this type of content.

Next Stop: Landing that Dream Job

Use these tips to adjust your social media accounts in order to prepare you for the hiring process. Represent yourself well, create a brand for yourself, and use a professional headshot for profile pictures. Following these steps and taking your professional brand seriously will help you to land your dream job.