Have you looked at your social media profiles through the eyes of a hiring manager or recruiter? What do you see?
In a *survey of more than 1,400 recruiters, 92% indicated that they use social media to both source and screen potential employees. Also, some U.S. companies now ask applicants to agree to a social media background check as a part of the hiring process.
So, what does this mean for you, the jobseeker?
Think of Google as your “first resume.” If a potential employer performs a Google search on you and finds any red flags, that information will trump your perfectly crafted cover letter and resume, every time.
Would a social media screening confirm an employer’s positive perception of you, or raise some questions about whether or not to proceed with your candidacy?
If you aren’t certain, here are 3 steps to help ensure your social media image is as professional as you are:
- Scrub your profiles of anything that could be perceived as inappropriate, lewd, or offensive. Delete or untag anything that might be seen as unprofessional. This could include pictures, posts, or tweets.
- Restrict others’ ability to tag you in pictures.
- Preview anything posted to your timelines before you approve it for public consumption.
- Use Facebook’s “View As..” button which can be found in the lower right hand corner of your cover photo. See yourself as public sees you.
2) Claim Yourself
- Check to see if your name is owned by anyone else as a website URL. If it isn’t, claim it today before some other, less professional “you” does!
- Claim your vanity URLs on your social media accounts.
3) Brand Yourself
- Use the same form of your name for all social media. If you have a common name, you may also want to use your middle name, middle initial, or unique nickname.
- Choose a professional photo, ideally a headshot of you alone, and use the same image across social media platforms. This consistency in your branding will be noticed by employers.
- Create a professional headline: one to two sentences that capture who you are/what goals you plan to pursue/the value you offer.
- Increase your visibility by completing your profiles and posting updates related to your career accomplishments and goals.
- Start and maintain a blog dedicated to your career interests. Blogs can help build your network and distinguish you from others.
- Be careful when posting any comments to online forums or discussions. Keep it upbeat and positive and refrain from cursing and excessive complaining. Think about the online you – would you want to work with that person?
- Aim for quality over quantity when posting.
- Post diverse content with a goal of providing useful information to colleagues such an insight, a recommendation, or links to articles of interest, videos, or books.
- Follow industry leaders and comment on their updates.
- Connect digital profiles to maximize exposure.
*Jobvite, Social Recruiting Survey Results 2015