Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, and according to one survey, it’s a prominent feature in modern day job searching processes as well. In fact, this may help explain why half of the active job seekers out there use social networking sites daily and more than one third of employers use these sites as part of their hiring process.
Potential employers have the opportunity of getting a glimpse of who you are (without you knowing about it) on sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter. They are allowed to have a behind the scenes look at the real you – outside of the confines of a resume or interview – just like job seekers are afforded an opportunity to learn more about the companies they’re interested in, among other things.
Is Social Media Even a Good Place to Find a Job?
When used as a networking tool, social media platforms can be a great way to help you find current job openings at companies you’re really interested in. Professionals network and ‘meet’ hundreds of people online, and here’s why it’s important for you – as a job seeker – to leverage its power:
- It’ll show potential employers that you’re up to speed with the internet and social media capabilities
- It’ll help you develop and showcase your personal brand online
- It may connect you to opportunities that were never posted on job boards
- It’ll help you build professional network contacts, which are essential to your job search
- It’ll make you visible too hiring managers and recruiters
If you’re not continuously paying attention to your online reputation, you may be fighting a losing battle when it comes to landing your dream job. Things like inappropriate photos, proof of drug usage or binge drinking, and badmouthing or bigoted commenting on posts are all things which can smear your profile full of digital dirt and deter potential employers.
To help you put your best digital foot forward, here are a few tips to help you keep your online presence as positive as possible…
Understand Who You Are Online
Your social media profiles are somewhat complex given the fact that you are not in full control of what shows up unless you purposely monitor and edit it. Some of your profile information is created by you; the rest is made up out of friends tagging you in posts and photos as well as random strangers, those employed at the school you attended, your former employers, and even the local media. Your first course of action should be doing a basic search of your name online in order to see what your potential employers would be seeing if they searched for you online.
Wash & Rinse
Have a look at what shows up on your social media profiles and then get rid of any online dirt that you don’t want recruiters seeing. Un-tag yourself in posts that contain any unprofessional content. Review any mentions of your name online and delete whenever you find them to be uncomplimentary to the professional image you’re trying to create. If these ‘weak’ spots can’t be removed, they might help you prepare answers to any questions a potential employer may have during the interview process.
Perk Up Your Privacy
Yes, you want to be visible online to a potential employer, but there are privacy settings (for all social media channels) which may help you take control over just how much the outside world can see.
Keep Up Appearances
Your social media accounts need to be current and relevant, so make sure that you’re regularly posting, sharing, and commenting on articles which are related to your profession. You want to come across as someone who is up to speed with their industry and connected with the leaders in their field, so be consistent in your efforts. As a side note here: make sure you’ve read through the link you’re sharing before you post in order to validate it actually supports the image you are trying to portray to potential employers.
Final Thoughts
Instead of simply looking for jobs online, start shifting your focus towards finding people and networking with the right ones. You have to put effort into creating and maintaining a comprehensive, up-to-date profile for each of your social media accounts, and now that you know how social media can help your job search efforts, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t start polishing your online presence today!