How to Put Social Media on Your Resume

If you're wondering how to put social media on your resume, you're not alone. More hiring managers are checking profiles before interviews even happen, and that means your online presence has the power to either support or undermine your job search. This guide breaks down when to include social links, which platforms to highlight, and how to make them count so you can show up professionally online and on paper.

Why Social Media Belongs on the Modern Resume

Your social media presence is a part of your professional story. According to Huntr's Job Search Trends report, 65% of successful resumes have a LinkedIn link included in them. That means your profiles are likely being viewed before your resume ever lands in someone’s inbox.

This shift creates a real opportunity. Instead of treating social media like something to hide or ignore, job seekers can use it to reinforce the same strengths they list on their professional resume. Whether it's showcasing projects on GitHub, sharing insights on LinkedIn, or curating content on Instagram, professional social media accounts can give hiring managers a fuller picture of who you are and how you think.

By strategically including social media on your resume, you're not just dropping in extra links. You're offering potential employers a way to see your initiative, communication style, and industry engagement in action. When done well, a strong online presence helps you stand out, not because you're online, but because you're intentional about how you show up.

When (and When Not) to Include Social Media on Your Resume

If it Strengthens Your Candidacy

Include social media on your resume only if it adds clear professional value. For roles that involve content creation, communication, or strategy, like marketing, design, or tech, your platforms can help tell a fuller story. A well-curated LinkedIn profile that shows consistent thought leadership, a portfolio on Instagram that highlights visual skills, or a GitHub repo with live projects are all assets. These kinds of professional social media accounts show hiring managers how you think, create, and contribute.

If you’re applying to a role where a strong online presence is expected, such as a social media professional, content strategist, or community manager, your profiles are your resume. They should reflect your personal brand, show engagement with relevant topics, and include examples of your relevant skills or past social media marketing wins.

If It Distracts from Your Professional Image

Skip it if the platform doesn’t align with your professional goals. If your profile hasn’t been updated in a year, contains personal rants, or is filled with unrelated content, it can work against you. Hiring managers look for consistency between your resume and your social media profiles. Mismatched tones, outdated bios, or questionable posts can raise red flags and undermine your professional image.

Before you link to anything, ask yourself: Would this help or hurt my job application? If it’s not clear that your social media adds to your credibility or if it could confuse potential employers about your brand identity, it’s better to leave it off. Clean, focused resumes win.

Which Social Media Platforms Make Sense to List

LinkedIn: The One You Should Always Include

Your LinkedIn profile is non-negotiable. Every job seeker should include it when figuring out how to put social media on a resume. It's the only professional social media account that hiring teams expect to see. It backs up your job description, adds depth to your experience, and often includes endorsements, certifications, and recommendations. Ensure your profile photo is professional, your summary aligns with your resume, and your activity reflects current interests. Recruiters are likely already looking, so make it easy for them to find the right impression.

X: Good for Industry Voices and Thought Leaders

If you're active in discussions relevant to your field, X can support your personal brand. This is especially true for marketers, journalists, and public-facing professionals who post about trends, commentary, or career advice. If you use your account to share ideas, highlight wins, or engage in industry conversations, it's worth listing. But be selective. Only include it if the content fits your target job description and shows industry engagement. Potential employers will check your social media profiles with curiosity, not forgiveness.

Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok: Ideal for Visual Creatives

For designers, content creators, stylists, or anyone in visual storytelling, these social media platforms can become a live portfolio. If you’re showcasing content creation, engagement metrics, or behind-the-scenes processes, they help prove your creative range. These channels are especially useful when applying to roles that rely on user engagement or creative strategy. If you use multiple social media channels, only list the ones that show your best, most relevant work, and keep the aesthetic clean and on-brand.

GitHub and Behance: Show, Don’t Tell for Developers and Designers

When you're applying for tech or design roles, nothing beats showing your actual work. A GitHub profile with clear repositories or a polished Behance portfolio carries more weight than buzzwords. These social media accounts demonstrate your hard skills, professional experience, and ability to build or design from the ground up. If a hiring manager can see your code, mockups, or final products directly, you're doing the work of your resume for them. Think of it as applying with proof.

What to Leave Off: Platforms That Don’t Belong

Not everything belongs on a professional resume. Facebook, Reddit, and Snapchat usually offer little value in a job search unless you manage a business page or moderate a relevant online group. For most people, these social media platforms lean more personal than professional. Sharing them can blur your brand identity, confuse hiring managers, or invite scrutiny that doesn’t help you. If a platform doesn't clearly support your social media presence or career goals, skip it. Less is more when it’s intentional.

(Pro Tip: Use Huntr’s Job Tailored Resumes tool to instantly create resumes that match the role—social links included only when they add real value.)

How to Format Social Media Links on Your Resume

Option 1: Add to Your Contact Section

If you're including just one or two social media links, the simplest approach is to tuck them into your contact section. Place them next to your email, phone number, and location. This keeps your professional resume tight and efficient. For example:

John Smith[email protected] | linkedin.com/in/johnsmith | github.com/johnsmith

Use clean formatting without extra words or full raw URLs. Keep it scannable, and avoid turning this section into a wall of text. Bullet points or vertical bars work well for separation.

Option 2: Create a “Social Media” or “Portfolio” Section

If you want to showcase multiple social media channels, add a dedicated section titled “Social Media” or “Online Portfolio.” This works especially well for creatives, marketers, or anyone whose work spans platforms. A typical layout might look like:

Social MediaLinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/usernameInstagram – instagram.com/yourportfolioYouTube – youtube.com/yourchannel

If your job title depends on content or audience building, this format gives room to show depth without cluttering your main resume. For example, a marketing team candidate might link to campaign highlights across platforms, all in one spot.

Tips for Clean, Clickable Links

Whatever format you choose, your social media links need to be functional and professional. Use short URLs where possible. Avoid pasting long, messy links directly into your resume. Ensure all links are clickable in the PDF version and follow hyperlink best practices; test everything before you send.

Label links with the platform name, not just the raw address. This keeps your resume error-free, improves readability, and helps with applicant tracking systems that scan resumes for clear, labeled data.

(Pro Tip: Store all your tailored resumes and the right social media links for each in one place with Huntr’s Resume Storage and PDF export tools.)

What Hiring Managers Look for in Your Social Profiles

Alignment with Industry and Role

Hiring managers want to see that your social media presence supports the role you're applying for. If your resume says you're a data-driven marketer, your posts should reflect that interest, whether it's sharing campaign insights or commenting on trends. Profiles that align with the job description, show off relevant skills, and reflect your professional experience signal that you're intentional, not just online. A strong social media strategy reinforces your fit without needing extra explanation.

Personal Brand Consistency

Everything from your bio and profile photo to the content you share contributes to your personal brand. If your resume is polished but your Twitter bio reads like a joke account, that disconnect creates confusion. Hiring managers are scanning for consistent messaging, not perfection, but cohesion. Keep your brand voice and brand identity aligned across platforms so your job application feels like a clear story, not a mixed signal.

Activity and Engagement

A silent or outdated account can raise more questions than answers. Keep your active social media profiles fresh with occasional posts, comments, or shares. You don’t need to post daily, but signs of life matter. User engagement, like thoughtful replies or content that gets traction, shows you’re involved and paying attention. If you're sharing work wins, project outcomes, or ideas with measurable impact, which is even better, those are real-world key performance indicators that stand out to recruiters.

Extra Tips for Making Social Media Work for You

Audit Before You Add

Before you paste any links into your resume, take a moment to Google yourself. Hiring managers will. A social media audit helps you catch outdated bios, off-brand posts, or content that doesn’t reflect your professional image. Clean up anything that could raise questions or create confusion. Think of it as proofreading your online presence, just like you would for an error-free resume. Every link you include should support your personal brand and strengthen your job application.

(Pro Tip: Before you hit send, run your resume through Huntr’s AI Resume Review for fast, targeted feedback like a second set of expert eyes.)

Keep It Updated

If your last post was from two years ago, skip the link. Outdated content makes it look like you’ve checked out. Social media profiles should reflect your most current work, interests, or perspective. Whether it’s your portfolio, professional experience, or relevant skills, show that you’re actively engaged. Potential employers are looking for signs of initiative and curiosity. Don’t give them digital silence.

Quality Over Quantity

You don’t need to list every platform you’ve ever touched. Pick the ones that showcase your strengths and leave the rest out. A focused selection of professional social media accounts sends a clearer message than five scattered links. Aim for consistency in tone, visuals, and purpose. It’s better to show depth on two social media platforms than a surface-level presence across many. Strong, relevant links are what help you stand out.

Conclusion

Including social media on your resume isn’t about showing off, it’s about showing up with clarity, intention, and proof of your skills in action. When done thoughtfully, it can enhance your application, strengthen your personal brand, and give hiring managers the context they need to say yes. And if organizing all of that sounds overwhelming, consider signing up for Huntr today to build your resume where you can include social media and portfolio links with ease.