Have you ever experienced deleting your social media posts because you added a friend on Facebook? Are you afraid that a newly added friend will judge you because of your previous posts and photos? That’s how it is for those who are trying to apply for a job. If you aren’t doing this when applying for a job, you probably should start curating your online presence now.
Research showed that more than 77% of recruiters use social media to recruit talents and 20% use it to learn more about the candidates. So, it matters to employers whether you spent your college vacations volunteering in a residential care home or galivanting around the beaches in Miami. Although it may sound unconventional and a bit unethical, why shouldn’t employers use the information if it is readily available?
So for those who are looking for a job, it’s practical to use your social media profiles to further your agendas. Liking industry-related news, for example, will go a long way toward letting employers see that you are what they need. Forget about the old-school method of checking references, drug use, and criminal records. Employers and their hiring managers are on social media, so why wouldn’t they use that to make the hiring process simpler?
Google Yourself
Have you tried searching for your name on Google? What did you find? Dig a little deeper by putting your name in quotes. This will yield pages with the same words in the same order. This is useful when you are trying to find a specific name or phrase. If you have a common name, however, it will take more time to find what you are looking for. So, what did you find about yourself? These are the same things that a prospective employer will see about you.
Build Your LinkedIn Profile
One of the first things that employers will do is not to look at your Facebook page but your LinkedIn profile. Unless you live under a rock, you should have a LinkedIn profile. This unlike Facebook because it shows your professional credentials. Why are you right for the job? What is your educational attainment? What are your professional achievements? LinkedIn is one of the quickest ways for an employer to verify your professional identity.
Some of the things you have to watch out for is your profile picture. It should be professional looking. You should also be honest on your LinkedIn profile. Never lie and said you finished your master’s degree when you are still lacking in credentials.
Take a Look at Your Facebook Page
Although you set your settings on private, your page is still visible to people in general. They may not see your page’s content, but they will see your cover and profile photo. Facebook sometimes automatically enables page visitors to see tagged photos of you. Double-check your settings to remove this.
What are the rules when it comes to posting on Facebook? Never complain about your boss and your job. Never make fun of anybody (in the office or somewhere else). Be careful about the kinds of photos you post, too. How do you decide whether to post a photo or not? When you don’t want your parents to see it, it’s also not suited for a potential employer’s eyes.
Engage on Twitter
Do you dream about working for a particular organization? Don’t just dream about it, follow that company on Twitter, and engage with it every chance you get. You can set your Twitter on public, so prospective employers will see what your interests are. They need to know that you’re up to date with the latest trends in the industry. If you’re not comfortable making your personal tweets public, create two Twitter profiles—one for personal use and another for professional use.
How Employers Are Using the Info They Get from Social Media
Employers are looking at your social media to find out what kind of person or employee you are. Do your colleagues love you? Are you valued in your current company? They want to make sure you will fit the office culture. This will prevent tensions and arguments between you and the current members of the team in the future.
Be careful what you post on social media. As much as it is your right to post whatever you want on your page, others can use this information against you. If you don’t want to lose the opportunity of getting your dream job, be as responsible as you can be when posting photos, news, and comments.
