2 WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AFFECT YOUR JOB SEARCH

2 WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AFFECT YOUR JOB SEARCH – POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY

Jeff Mignault • April 13, 2017

Whether you like it or not, social media has become an important part of the job search process. Candidates use social media to look for jobs, and sites like LinkedIn have become great resources. Companies also use social media to take a deeper look at candidates, identify potential candidates and promote open positions.

“Social media is a key player in the job search process today. Sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ allow employers to get a glimpse of who you are outside the confines of a résumé, cover letter, or interview—while they offer job seekers the opportunity to learn about companies they’re interested in; connect with current and former employees; and hear about job openings instantaneously, among other things,” says Jacquelyn Smith on Forbes.

There are two general ways social media can affect your job search – positively or negatively. We’ll take a look at both in this blog.

POSITIVE WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AFFECT YOUR JOB SEARCH

1. COMPANIES RECRUIT YOU:

Social media has made it very easy for companies to search for and connect with potential candidates, allowing you to be passively recruited.

2. YOU CAN PROMOTE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND:

A strong personal brand is increasingly important today. Social media allows you to show off your credentials.

3. YOU CAN DIFFERENTIATE FROM OTHER CANDIDATES:

Social media allows you to differentiate from other candidates by showing that you are active in your field, have a blog, contribute to industry publications, and more.

4. GIVES A COMPANY A REASON TO HIRE YOU:

Choosing between candidates is not easy. Sometimes, something you post on social media or something in your profile can give a company a reason to hire you over another candidate.

NEGATIVE WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA CAN AFFECT YOUR JOB SEARCH

1. TOO MUCH OF A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR PERSONAL LIFE:

Even if you don’t have anything “bad” on your social profiles, they can give employers too much of a glimpse into your personal life, and sometimes it can give them a negative or unfavorable impression about you.

2. YOU COULD BE CAUGHT STRETCHING THE TRUTH:

People lie on their resumes and during a job interview. In fact, about 88% of recruiters and HR staff have found some form of misrepresentation on a candidate’s resume. Social media gives companies a chance to perform a pseudo fact check and look for inconsistencies.

3. GIVES A COMPANY A REASON NOT TO HIRE YOU:

Companies use social media as a way to screen employees. With so many applications, they are looking for ways to thin out the candidate pool. Don’t give them a reason to eliminate you from contention. Keep your profiles clean and professional.