Gone are the days where employers rely solely on resumes to find the perfect candidate. Recruiters now use the social networking presence of potential hires to determine professionalism and culture fit. A recent study showed that nine out of 10 recruiters research job candidates’ social media pages before making a hire. Of the hiring managers using social media to screen candidates, almost half of them have found information that caused them to not extend an offer.
These tips will help you make the right first impression:
Post the Right Pictures
Pictures make up 43 percent of social media content. Imagery provides a window into your interests, hobbies and the networks you keep. Of course, because social media can be personal, some pictures of your life should remain just that: personal. Before you post any picture or content, consider how it will be viewed by a potential employer. He or she will be looking for a company representative, so reserve public images for things like your philanthropic work, conference attendance and career fair presence.
Don’t Be a Dud
You have a social media account. Now, do something with it. Director of marketing at eZanga, Michelle Brammer, says, “Being active shows they know how to engage with an audience.”
Employers want to see that you are actively engaged on all of your social media sites. Go ahead and post the scenery picture from that Grand Canyon trip to your Instagram and comment on the funny link your friend shared on your timeline. Also, consider joining industry- specific LinkedIn and Facebook groups; don’t forget to follow hashtags and interact with other members on Twitter, too. If you have your eye on a company, connect with its company pages on all social platforms.
Stay Positive
Simply being active on your account is not enough. It’s important to remain positive, especially when it comes to your current employer or company. When they see negative activity, they fear you might not have the right level of commitment or loyalty, and assume you eventually will say the same thing about them. In fact, 31 percent of employers won’t hire candidates if they have bad-mouthed a previous company. In general, it’s a good idea to keep everything mostly positive on social media.
Update Your Profile
All of your social media profiles should be continually updated. Edit your information to reflect current and previous employment and contact details. Show potential employers that you have had jobs similar to the one you are applying for, especially on LinkedIn, where your skills and professional career are the forefront.
Be sure to have a recent profile picture on all of your social media accounts as well. According to Hootsuite, your profile picture is the first thing an employer will notice, so you want to make sure it is up to date and leaves a good first impression.
Grammar, Grammar, Grammar.
It may be an informal network, but you still should do your best to speak competently. If an employer comes across improper grammar or textspeak, there’s a good chance he or she will wonder what your actual writing ability is like. In a recent survey, 36 percent of employers said that they are more inclined to hire a person with solid communication skills. So, it’s not something to take lightly.
There is a good chance that your social media presence is a part of the deciding factor when it comes to getting a job. Show future employers that you are the perfect fit for their company by posting the right pictures, being active, staying positive, updating your profile and having solid communication skills. Improve your social media skills and you will be one step closer to landing a job.
