Is Your Social Media Profile Hampering Your Career?

Like it or not, your social media profile is now part of the recruitment process.

In this item we review how Social Media is gaining ground as an assessment and reference tool in the job application process.

Surveys carried out have revealed that many recruiters and potential employers google applicant names and then look at their social media accounts. The most obvious one is LinkedIn and most people are fairly professional about what appears on their LinkedIn profile. But it doesn’t stop there, LinkedIn is not the only social medial profile most applicants have, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are all used frequently by applicants and accessed by recruiters and potential employers. According to a recent UK survey of over 4000 HR professionals by jobs board Monster and YouGov, over a third of employers have turned down candidates due to their social media profile; with a staggering 67% of employers googling potential employees during the recruitment process.

Now you may agree or disagree with that approach, however if you make your social media pages public then it’s hard to argue that people shouldn’t look at them.

Q. So what effect can your social media page have on your job application?

A. Quite a lot. It can reveal as much, and sometimes more, of your character than any interview will. Unfortunately it can also create the opportunity for you to be misjudged. So avoid reviewing them at your peril.

The big take-home is that how you appear on social media can actually damage your chances of success with a job application, even to the extent of not getting an interview, BUT if you use it well it can really promote you as an applicant and even give you an edge.

Social media working well

A great example of social media working well, being fun yet getting a great message across was when James Corden was joined by Michelle Obama in Carpool Karaoke. Yes, it was 14 minutes of fun but at around the 8 minute mark Michelle Obama promoted her message about the importance of girls receiving and valuing education. So you don’t have to be a stick in the mud with your social media, just use it wisely to support your cause, not do it damage.

Do’s and Don’ts when navigating the social media impact on your job application profile:

• Google yourself and check out what pops up. Follow the links and see what any recruiter or potential employer will see.
• Be pragmatic and keep an open mind. Review what you see and look at it through the eyes of an employer or recruiter. You may feel it shouldn’t matter and that it’s personal stuff but the reality is that social media is now part of a suite of recruitment processes that can be used to assess a candidate’s suitability.
• Wow, what a selfie! Remember that great night at Bondi?! Fun they may be but are your photos what you want your new employer to see? Remember first impressions. No point in dressing up professionally for the interview if all the recruiter can visualise following a visit to your Facebook page is you after a few drinks wearing little else but a drunken grin. For sure it’s fine to have personal photos just make sure they are appropriate and reflective of the you that’s applying for a job.
• Review your comments and what you’re written for content and style. How are you coming across? And if you comment on other pages be sensible and thoughtful in what you write.
• Avoid negativity and complaints. No potential employer wants to see you rant in public. Discretion is a big part of being in HR and online rants will leave potential employers feeling nervous.
• Do showcase your knowledge and expertise. Demonstrate you are social media savvy by using discretion and commenting with knowledge, insight and good judgement.
• Don’t make it all about you. Demonstrate you are following reputable groups and groups of interest to your profession and if you are an active networker, let that shine through.
• Be proactive. Share posts and publish articles. Use endorsements wisely and be selective.
• Demonstrate that you are active within the HR community and your professional self development.
• Make sure your privacy settings are set as you want them to be. Maximum privacy settings won’t safeguard you from all eyes but it will help.

Last resort? If you’re worried that any of your social media accounts could damage your job search, then consider suspending or deleting your accounts.

However, if you feel this is your best course of action then also question why you’re having to do this. So much of HR calls for good judgement and your social media accounts should reflect yours.