For almost everyone, social media play an important role in both private and professional life. However, not everyone realises that social media can also have an impact on finding a new job.
First impressions are very important, and these days employers can form an opinion about you even before you come in for an interview, just by visiting your online profiles. How do you make sure you leave a good impression online? And how can you make the most of social media to develop your career? Robert Walters offers some tips on each social media channel.
Organisations use social media to recruit
Social media is not just used by candidates. Companies also use them to look for the ideal candidate. More than half of employers would consult the social media profiles of their potential employees before recruiting them. This is mainly done via LinkedIn, but there is certainly a chance that your future employer will also take a look at your other social media profiles.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the most important professional social media channels. It is considered a place for professionals to connect with others in their field, discuss topics related to their industry and build their online reputation. Many employers will therefore look on LinkedIn to get a sense of someone before deciding whether to offer them an interview.
Your LinkedIn account can actually be seen as an online version of your CV. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and up to date, including your education and work history.
In addition, use your profile to highlight the most important responsibilities and achievements in your career to attract the attention of an employer. Joining groups relevant to your field can also help you stand out.
Facebook
70% of employers believe that Facebook should be used for personal interactions and not for professional ones. Nevertheless, making sure your Facebook page is not accessible to people outside your social circle is a wise precaution.
Make sure you are aware of what others can see on your page. Stay tuned to Facebook's privacy settings and make sure your photos, posts and tags are hidden from non-friends as much as possible.
There have been cases of people losing their jobs because of comments or posts they made on Facebook. It is best not to post anything that your employer should not see and just use common sense. If something is bothering you, talk to your manager about it so he or she can help resolve the issue, but don't post it on social media.
Twitter and Instagram
Unless you work in a marketing, digital or communications role, these channels, like Facebook, are considered more suitable for personal use. For digital marketers and communication professionals, an active presence on Twitter and Instagram can even be a strong selling point to future employers. When you are involved in online discussions related to your field, you show that you are knowledgeable about social media with skills that you can transfer into a marketing role.
For professionals in other fields, as with Facebook, it can be important to protect your account. It is perfectly possible to hide personal information from the public on these platforms. Keep in mind that employers can still extract information even from a private profile. Think for example of your profile picture or the text you write in your bio.
But if you take all of the above into account, the chances of not being invited for a job interview because of your online profiles will be a lot slimmer and you will be one step closer to your next challenge.
Want to know more?
Check out our other tips & advice or contact one of our consultants for specialist advice.
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