The emergence of the internet has opened up all kinds of avenues that were could not be foreseen before the 21st century. Social media platforms have become rampant, which has led to an unexpected phenomenon: the analysis of information available there for hiring purposes.
How recruitment has changed
Organizations have increasingly begun utilizing social media to gain more information about applicants. They have access to more details and they can mold their recruitment strategy accordingly. This is why it is imperative for employees to have a good presence online.
The vast majority of candidates have a LinkedIn profile, in addition to having accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Only a fraction of individuals makes the deliberate choice of not having a social media presence.
Tips for applicants
Since individuals tend to consider their social media profiles as personal in nature, there is a good chance that recruiters are likely to find more about how the candidates are beyond their resumes.
The best course of action for job seekers is to peruse through their social media channels beforehand. Auditing your accounts may be helpful in case you have made contentious statements or uploaded provocative pictures. Either of these will be considered a red flag by prospective employers and will be frowned upon.
In principle, research has shown that the three main platforms employers are most likely to examine are LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. While the former is a professional, employment-oriented portal, the other two are not which is why it is worth going over your profiles before you start applying for jobs.
In case you do find a post that is inflammatory, you don’t have to erase your profile entirely! You simply cannot scan years’ worth of posts and the fear that employers may find something incendiary will remain, it’s important not to act hastily.
According to employers, deleting your profile is certainly not recommended for applicants. This is primarily because they are not inclined to approach applicants if they cannot be found online. Generally, employers expect that applicants will have some kind of presence on social media channels.
Not having a profile is perceived as suspicious as if they applicant does not wish to disclose certain information. Also, erasing your profile doesn’t always guarantee that the data has been completely removed. Therefore, the best practice is to maintain clean social media accounts.
Mistakes to avoid
There are various errors that applicants could make which may prove detrimental to their chances of securing the best jobs on offer. Indiscretions like uploading images showing drug use will leave an overwhelmingly negative impression on viewers.
For example, research has indicated that most recruiters were unimpressed when they came across pictures showing the use of marijuana. Likewise, lengthy political rants should also be avoided at all costs. Most employers see this as a warning sign.
Moreover, the same can be said for inane grammatical errors. For instance, if your profile is comprised of a childish name or contains spelling errors, employers will not take kindly to it. It’s imperative to spell everything correctly whenever you are posting online.
Much like marijuana use, the exhibition of alcohol consumption also has adverse effects for applicants. If your pictures depict excessive partying and the use of alcoholic beverages, it will hinder your chances considerably.
Lastly, being pompous and displaying your opulent purchases on your profile is a non-starter. Employers do not like someone who shows off and will be dissuaded from pursuing your application further.
Uploading revealing pictures of yourself, posting selfies in abundance, and having a negligible social media presence are other traits that recruiters do not condone.
Best practices
On the contrary, there are certain aspects that applicants should show more of. Utilizing social media as a means to impress recruiters can prove beneficial. The idea is to show your professionalism and diligence through your posts.
For starters, candidates can post samples of their written or design work on their profiles. If you’re an art student, making a habit of uploading your work on your Instagram or LinkedIn page will help you get noticed. The internet has become a visual medium, which means videos and images are far more likely to captivate viewers, as opposed to text.
If you are involved in charitable acts or engaged in some form of volunteering endeavors, this should be shown on your social media channels. In addition to having excellent academic performances, recruiters give preference to applicants who are involved in extracurricular activities.
Ultimately, using your best judgment when it comes to social media posts is pivotal. If you are doubtful about something, it is better not to post it. You may get those likes and comments for certain posts, but they may hamper your job prospects.
Although it may seem like employers are deliberately looking for reasons not to hire applicants, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The main intention of conducting social media screenings is to gauge the applicant’s viability for the role. Since so much of professional interaction is done online, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers want to hire applicants who have a sound social media presence.
If you’re seeking a new role, look no further than Prodoo! It is the ideal solution for applicants online.
