Social media impacts every single person’s life on this planet, there are over 2.206 billion active users, a global penetration of 30% – In the UK alone 96% of adults are on Facebook and 1 billion people Worldwide log onto Instagram monthly. As a recruiter I am often asked about the impact of social media on job applications – shall I change my settings to private? Shall I hide people from being able to search for me? Shall I delete those terrible old posts with my tongue piercing and bright pink hair?
Social media can provoke a prejudgement on someone before meeting them – whether you like it or not. Will this be your friend or foe? Career builder conducted a survey last year and found 37% of employers use social networks to screen potential job candidates. This means 2 in 5 companies browse your social media to evaluate your character and personality! Some employers even base their hiring decision on what they may or may not find. This can both be beneficial and harmful to a candidate for example 29% of employers said they found something they liked on a candidates profile which prompted them to offer the job. However 1 out of 3 of the employers will drop a candidate due to something they saw on him or her online! 68% of potential employers will look at your Facebook or Instagram during the screening process – let’s keep the pictures nice and friendly!
From a recruiter’s point of view – it can be both harmful and beneficial to a job search. Social media can expose things a potential employer may not like to see – for example that drunken night out at university in 2011 you do not want to remember – let alone the CEO of a company you are applying to! However, also not being able to find a social media account can also be just as damaging – If employers search and cannot find you their thoughts are why are they not on facebook? I can find X person now, they look nice so I will call them instead… Do you get my point?
My thoughts on my own social media account is to not say anything I would not say in front of my Mother (the fact I have my mum on all social media also helps this along very nicely) – cheers Mum 😉 Delete those old pictures and status’s from 2am in the morning after Oceana! Think of your social media as a representation of yourself – how would you like to be perceived?
For further advice on how to make the best use of your social media profiles to maximise your chances of securing your dream job, feel free to contact me.
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